CBS Report on Fake Memos Set for Release

Updates

From Hugh Hewitt a Memo to CBS: Release a draft of the Rathergate report to a half-dozen bloggers for pre-publication comment (on the condition that they not comment on the report until it is released. ...

Ratherbiased has more: "We can say based on conversations with sources familiar with the network's operations, that the report is in its final stages of preparation. "

After appearing on Hugh Hewitt with Powerline's John Hinderaker, Charles on LGF writes, "Will the report try to claim the memos could possibly be real? I agreed with John Hinderaker that they might. If the faulty analysis by Utah State professor David Hailey is included somehow, we’ll know that the snow machine has been turned on."

The big question is what was the involvement of the Democratic Party with the Memos [more here]. Charles comments,

Hindrocket has a more detailed post that provides a brief background for those trying to remember what Rathergate involves. He is also pessimistic about the report:

I view CBS more as a willing "victim" who allowed their feverish desire to discredit the president cloud their judgement. Yes, two document experts warned CBS that the memos were questionable and their third expert never authenticated them (he later admitted the memos could be fake). Yes, Rather did put his trust in an unreliable witness who had a vested interest in seeing the President taken down. Yes, I'm probably on thin ice, yet, I maintain that the bias exhibited by Rather and Mapes and their belief that their story was true became the compelling evidence they relied upon. The memos simply fit what they already "knew" to be true and were immediately accepted as authentic.

Another pessimist, Paul from Wizbangblog opines, "I've been meaning to write a pessimist's view of the upcoming report-- I think many blogger will be outraged. But it looks like we'll see soon enough."

Finally Jim Geraghty via Hugh Hewitt has a great list of questions bloggers have been dying to ask. I appreciate these three:

• Why did CBS feel it was unnecessary to mention in their original report that they did not have the originals, and only had access to photocopies?


• Has CBS discussed apologizing to President Bush, as his reputation was attacked based on fraudulent documents?


• We were told Mary Mapes persuaded Joe Lockhart and Max Cleland to call memo source Bill Burkett. Was that effort in exchange for the memo? Does CBS usually trade favors for information from sources? Is there a network policy on this? Just how involved was the Kerry campaign in gathering the facts for this story?