This is a bit "fat" for a blogment(c) post...but for anyone out there that thinks this isn't typical of CBS...

- "60 Minutes" may have a sterling reputation (cough cough) in journalism, but it has been burned before by forged documents. In 1997 it broadcast a report alleging that U.S. Customs Service inspectors looked the other way as drugs crossed the Mexican border at San Diego. The story's prize exhibit was a memo from Rudy Comacho, head of the San Diego customs office, ordering that vehicles belonging to one trucking company should be given special leniency in crossing the border. The memo was given to "60 Minutes" by Mike Horner, a former customs inspector who had left the service five years earlier. When asked by CBS for additional proof, he sent another copy with an official stamp on it.
CBS did not interview Mr. Camacho for its story. "It was horrible for him," says Bill Anthony, at the time head of public affairs for the Customs Service. "For 18 months, internal affairs and the Secret Service had him under a cloud while they established that Horner had forged the document out of bitterness over how he'd been treated." In 2000, Mr. Horner admitted he forged the memo "for media exposure" and was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison. "Mr. Camacho's reputation was tarnished significantly," Judge Judith Keep noted.

Mr. Camacho sued CBS and eventually settled for an undisclosed sum. In 1999 Leslie Stahl read an apology on the air: "We have concluded we were deceived, and ultimately, so were you, the viewers."

Supprise Suuuupprise.....

My e-mail to CBS's Scam Site:

"Dan Rather, he of the crazy eyes, is in the tank for Kerry. His pushing of the now fully discredited Bush memos is perhaps the BIGGEST SCAM GOING TODAY. Question: Is it illegal to intentionally attempt to affect the outcome of an election by recklessly pushing a fraudulent story? Please reply."

Still awaiting reply.

I wouldn't hold your breath ...

Got my reply:

Your message

To: scams@cbs.com
Subject: Hot Tip
Sent: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 XXXX

did not reach the following recipient(s):

scams@cbs.com on Mon, 13 Sep 2004 XXXX

The recipient name is not recognized
The MTS-ID of the original message is: XXX
Unknown Recipient

looks like CBS has just about thrown in the towel:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/06/politics/main641481.shtml

considering CBS's reaction so far, this article is shockingly balanced. No blaming "right wing nuts" in it.. they even quote a person stating their "disgust" with 60 Minutes. Has there been a coup in the newsroom???

it seems theyre even mocking Dan.. check the sidebar quote, which recounts their last remaining justification for hawking these memos as authentic : "CBS said, the official record shows that Mr. Bush was suspended from flying on Aug. 1, 1972. That date matches the one on a memo given to CBS News, ordering that Mr. Bush be suspended."

By that criteria, if the document had mentioned that Pearl Harbor happened on Dec 7 1941, then this means the memo is probably authentic! I get the feeling some CBS staffers want this over with quickly.. otherwise being a "CBS journalist" will be like being a "White House intern" in the 90's.

I sent this:

Hi,
Please investigate a scam for us.
The other night there was this fellow on TV who was trying to disenfranchise voters by spreading false information so voter would not be able make informed decisions. We believe his name was Dan Rather.
Although we have already organized a boycott against the advertizers that paid for this man to perpetrate this fraud, we thought that you might be able to stop this madman before he destroys what little credibility his company has left.
Thank you,

Sent to my Local CBS Station, and a variant to CBS Scams

60 Minutes and Dan Rather are either the victims of or the perpetrators of a hoax. There is no way the Killian memos were produced on equipment that could have been found or would have been used in an ordinary office environment. You could do them yourself in MS Word in 10 minutes, Beyond all doubt the documents are forgeries.
You are required by your FCC license to provide "honest" news reporting. Providing air time for forged documents prvoided by political operatives to slander a sitting president and influence an election should clearly be an issue in your next license renewal.

In the meantime, I am refusing to watch your station and encouraging all of my friends to do the same. ABC has provided some honest coverage of this issue and will get our business until your license review.

You can turn this situation around by:

1. Providing honest local news coverage on the Fraud presented on your airwaves by 60 minutes without your consent.

2. Urging CBS Network to reire Dan Rather and fire Mary Mapes

In 70 hours your network has managed to flush 70 years of hard-won credibility. Only the most extreme effort will save this sinking ship.

Unfortunately, I am requesting you investigate yourself, apparently there is a so called news reporter named "Dan" that really has come to a point in his career where it should be over. How long has he been getting away with his type of reporting. His job is to report the news and that is all. Our President deserves Mr. Rather's respect and had total disregard for him. It's time for us to call for Mr. Dan's resignation. CBS will not be on my television screen again, until this has been accomplished. All sources of this report should also be revealed.

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME, DAN RATHER AND CBS NEWS

REPORTING A FORGED DOCUMMENT BASHING G.W.BUSH

WHICH IS THEIR AGENDA. THE LETTER IS A FRAUD, IS

ILLEGAL AND CRIMINAL