CBS News backpedaling

Drudge reported last night that sources have told him that CBS is launching an internal investigation to get to the bottom of the forged documents.

CBS NEWS executives have launched an internal investigation into whether its premiere news program 60 MINUTES aired fabricated documents relating to Bush's National Guard service, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

"The reputation and integrity of the entire news division is at stake, if we are in error, it will be corrected," a top CBS source explained late Thursday.

The source, who asked not to be named, described CBSNEWS anchor and 60 MINUTES correspondent Dan Rather as being privately "shell-shocked" by the increasing likelihood that the documents in question were fraudulent.

Rather, who anchored the segment presenting new information on the president's military service, will personally correct the record on-air, if need be, the source explained from New York.

I especially liked the quote about Rather being "shell-shocked". They're in trouble and they know it. They ran with a story without checking the authenticity of it. They claimed that they did but it's very apparent that they didn't. I'm sure they'll come out with some plausible reason why they were duped but it'll have to be some spin artist to make this one ok. Rather and CBS News has proven itself, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are nothing more than a bunch of partisans out to try and help Kerry in his campaign. Their credibility is lost. Just because they don't operate under the 527 law doesn't mean they aren't any better than moveon.org or any of the others, they're just sneakier about it.

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This story, of course, has been Powerline's baby and they're keeping close tabs on it.

Captain's Quarters is following the story.

And, of course, Blogs For Bush