Well readers, I don’t know what I can add to the ongoing story about the possibly fake documents. Let’s see what Big Media has to say. From the Washington Post (registration req.):
Documents unearthed by CBS News that raise doubts about whether President Bush fulfilled his obligations to the Texas Air National Guard include several features suggesting that they were generated by a computer or word processor rather than a Vietnam War-era typewriter, experts said yesterday.Experts consulted by a range of news organizations pointed out typographical and formatting questions about four documents as they considered the possibility that they were forged. The widow of the National Guard officer whose signature is on the bottom of the documents also disputed their authenticity.
OK. Standard stuff, but the Post can’t resist getting this in:
If demonstrated to be authentic, the documents would contradict several long-standing claims by the White House about an episode in Bush’s National Guard service in 1972, when he abruptly gave up flying and moved from Texas to Alabama to take part in a political campaign. The CBS documents purport to show that Killian, who was Bush’s squadron commander, was unhappy with Bush for his performance toward meeting his National Guard commitments and resisted pressure from his superiors to “sugarcoat” the record. (Emphasis added)
Can’t you just feel them hoping the story is true? Now let’s watch while they do some serious buck-passing and back-pedaling:
After their initial airing on the “CBS Evening News” and “60 Minutes II” programs Wednesday night, the documents were picked up by other news organizations, including The Post. A front-page story in The Post yesterday noted that CBS declined to provide details about the source of the documents, the authenticity of which could not be independently confirmed. (Emphasis added)
You see? They think their collective rear end is covered because they “noted” that CBS wouldn’t tell them anything. This is but one example of the left-leaning media being in cahoots. As long as CBS says something is so, the Post irresponsibly splashes unconfirmed junk on its pages.
I have a suggestion for environmentalist tree-huggers, who must be bored out of their minds with the Kerry campaign. If you’re into saving trees, how about protesting leftist rags like the Post and demand they stop wasting precious trees churning out pernicious pulp that’s not even fit to wrap a smelly pike?
That was fun.
Update: Dan Rather is sticking to his story: the documents are authentic. Does this mean no investigation?
Check out Allahpundit’s keyboard graphic.
Update: Speaking of leftist media, Discriminations notes how the Post does a little spinning. With its own poll!
