Rather Digs In

Matt Drudge provides what he says is a transcript of a Dan Rather CNN interview from earlier today:

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS ANCHOR: I know that this story is true. I believe that the witnesses and the documents are authentic. We wouldn’t have gone to air if they would not have been. There isn’t going to be — there’s no — what you’re saying apology?

QUESTION: Apology or any kind of retraction or…

RATHER: Not even discussed, nor should it be. I want to make clear to you, I want to make clear to you if I have not made clear to you, that this story is true, and that more important questions than how we got the story, which is where those who don’t like the story like to put the emphasis, the more important question is what are the answers to the questions raised in the story, which I just gave you earlier.

The headline on the front page is priceless:

FILED UNDER: 2004 Election, Media, , , , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Paul says:

    “provides what he says is a transcript”

    It’s legit- I blogged it over an hour ago.

  2. James Joyner says:

    Good deal. I’m suspicious of stuff without hyperlinks. What kind of blogger is that Drudge guy, anyway?

  3. Beldar says:

    Credit where due: To my knowledge, the superscript showed up first on PoliPundit last night at 10:27pm (not sure what time zone), then on PrestoPundit, who properly backlinked and credited, as I did at 1:47am Central (with instructions for the .html challenged). I think in the space of less than 18 hours, though, it’s gone mainstream/public domain.

  4. Beldar says:

    Oh, I should mention that the superscript first showed up in the name “Rathergate” as the name for the scandal — slightly different context than Drudge. (And he may have come up with the idea independently, I dunno; who ever knows with Drudge?)

  5. James Joyner says:

    Yeah, I stumbled on the PoliPundit reference quite by accident and blogged on it at almost the same time you were posting your comment.

  6. Rodney Dill says:

    The Drudge picture of Rather has changed now, but the one where it looked like Rather had stuck the pencil into the side of his head was priceless

  7. ralph roperti says:

    our democracy and our republic is being threaten by an administration that lives in secrecy.

    Your story on the pres. will stand and the truth will win out in the end. Do not give in.Freedom of the press must be up hold! We must show our short falls as a democracy or we will become a facist gov. over night. G.Bush and the vice pres. must answer to the people what they have do wrong and not lie. Truth will win out with people like you. GOD BLESS!

  8. ralph roperti says:

    our democracy and our republic is being threaten by an administration that lives in secrecy.

    Your story on the pres. will stand and the truth will win out in the end. Do not give in.Freedom of the press must be up hold! We must show our short falls as a democracy or we will become a facist gov. over night. G.Bush and the vice pres. must answer to the people what they have do wrong and not lie. Truth will win out with people like you. GOD BLESS!