'USA Today' Editor Paulson Defends Paper's Reporting on Bush Military Docs

[UpInArms]

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000629546

NEW YORK USA Today Editor Ken Paulson defended his paper's use of the now-disputed documents related to President George W. Bush's military service, saying the paper "accurately reported" the story.

"The only difference between USA Today and every other newspaper is that we had the documents to look at," said Paulson. "Like every American newspaper, we are trying to determine the authenticity of the documents."

When asked if USA Today erred in any way in its reporting, Paulson was adamant in his defense. "When the White House released the documents Wednesday night, no one including the White House believed they were anything but genuine government records," Paulson said. "When questions were raised later about the authenticity of the documents, USA Today and other responsible news organizations reported the allegations and CBS' response to those claims. That is what we will continue to do."

<snip>

Paulson said the fact that the White House had released some of the memos and "60 Minutes" had reported them as fact made it easier to use them in a story. "We had a higher confidence level then and we only decided to go to press after '60 Minutes' and the White House issued the documents," he said. "We ran a story on Thursday about '60 Minutes' reporting on the documents, and we used the documents to amplify our story."

On Monday, USA Today published one of the more thorough summaries of the dispute thus far, with a point-by-point analysis of the allegations -- including conflicting quotes by experts and interviewees, some of whom have shifted their views just in the space of a few days.

...more...

Interesting that the mudia that so skewered Clinton is so rigorous in its defense of the thief-in-chief. Wow! Look at that "libral" media go!

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. Workin' the refs, again... n/t

[louis-t]

2. and the right wing masses will

continue to say "It's all LIES!!"

[democrat_patriot]

3. Kick *'s a$$.

[VolcanoJen]

4. Anyone have a link to the USAToday Monday article...

... that's referenced in this story? I missed the USA Today report, and I'd really like to look at it.

Thanks in advance!
:D

[UpInArms]

6. USA Today had two stories on this issue

here are the links and excerpts:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-09-10-bush-guard_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA

Posted 9/10/2004 7:32 AM Updated 9/13/2004 4:27 AM

Authenticity of new Bush military papers questioned

WASHINGTON (AP) — CBS News on Friday defended its report about President Bush's service in the Air National Guard, with anchor Dan Rather saying broadcast memos questioned by forensic experts came from "what we consider to be solid sources."

On Friday's CBS Evening News, Rather said that "no definitive evidence" has emerged to prove the documents are forgeries. (Related story: U.S. servicemen react)

"If any definitive evidence comes up, we will report it," Rather said.

The show also showed excerpts of interviews with Marcel Matley, a San Francisco document expert, who said he believed the memos were genuine.

CBS can state "with absolute certainty" that the disputed memos could have been produced on typewriters available in the early 1970s when the memos are purported to have been written, the network said. Rather said the typeface and style of the memos were available on typewriters since well before the 1970s.

...more...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-09-12-bush-documents_x.htm

Posted 9/12/2004 11:07 PM Updated 9/13/2004 11:38 PM

Memos debate eclipses content

WASHINGTON — Questions about President Bush's service in the Texas National Guard have been shunted to the background by a debate over the authenticity of newly disclosed documents that purport to show problems with his performance as a pilot.

Document analysts differ over whether the memos, ostensibly written by Bush's commander, Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, are genuine and could have been produced by typewriters available at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston in 1972 and 1973. Two retired FBI forensic document examiners who studied the memos at USA TODAY's request said Sunday that they probably are forgeries. Four other authorities interviewed by USA TODAY, including typewriter and type font experts, said the technology existed at the time to create the documents. None of the experts consulted offered an unequivocal opinion.

Whether the memos are authentic was further clouded by conflicting or changing stories — or refusal to comment — by some of the people who were Bush's superiors in the Guard. (Related items: Bush's records | CBS defends authenticity of documents)

White House spokesman Dan Bartlett declined to offer an opinion Sunday and said, "We have not conducted an independent analysis of the documents." He said he showed Bush copies of the memos and the president "had no specific recollection of any of the documents I showed him."

Here's a look at some of the key points in dispute.

...more...

[VolcanoJen]

7. Thank you so much, UpInArms!

You're the coolest! :D

[Eloriel]

8. Thanks from me too n/t

[UpInArms]

9. You're welcome VolcanoJen and Eloriel

:hi:

[lebkuchen]

5. The administration that refuses to die

long past its expiration date.