Statement From Media Research Center President Brent Bozell Reacting to CBS News Statement - Press Release - September 20, 2004 - Media Research Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Media Research Center President Brent Bozell [2] issued the following statement reacting to the statement issued by CBS News with regard to the developing document scandal which erupted after CBSs story on President Bushs National Guard service.

It is good to hear Dan Rather and Andrew Heyward apologize and acknowledge this is only the first step, but CBS has a long way to go before this is put to rest.

Dan Rather and CBS suggest they were misled as if they are the victims here. They were not misled. Their sources were dubious at best so much so that their primary source was never cited publicly and they were certainly partisan with a political agenda against the President. CBS did not check all of their facts, and even their own experts told them not to go with this story. CBS also had on-the-record statements from Lt.Col. Jerry Killians own son who said the story wasnt true and still they were repeating the discredited sentiments a week later.

Dan Rather has said: If I knew then what I know now I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question. Mr. Rather, what you know now is what you knew then. The documents were not a credible basis for this story and CBS had no business airing this attack on President Bush. CBS is not the victim here, the victims are the President, his family, and the general public that was misled.

This issue will only be resolved when the public knows not just why CBS fell for this fraud but who exactly was behind this smear. CBS owes it to the public to take definitive action against all in its ranks who are culpable no matter how high up the blame goes. Then, and only then, will the public have confidence that stories reported by CBS are based on fact, not fiction.