I probably should not mention this until after Dan Rather breaks the story, but ABC News today posted an interview with Walter Staudt, the retired Colonel who admitted George Bush to the National Guard. In a 60 Minutes report, Rather relied on what are now generally considered forged documents to suggest that Bush received special treatment during his National Guard service. One of the questionable documents alleged that Staudt pressured Jerry Jillian to "sugar coat" a review of Bush's performance. Staudt told ABC, "I never pressured anybody about George Bush because I had no reason to."
Rather's main storyline was that Bush gained entry into the National Guard as a result of pressure exerted by friends of the Bush family. In the ABC interview Staudt denied this allegation: "He didn't use political influence to get into the Air National Guard... I don't know how they would know that, because I was the one who did it and I was the one who was there and I didn't talk to any of them." Staudt added that Bush, "... was highly qualified," and that he "... passed all the scrutiny and tests he was given."
Of course, the ABC interview with Staudt didn't really call into question the assertions in Rather's forged documents because Rather has not yet broken the story about the forgery. I for one can not wait until he does so.
Special thanks to John Vecchione for the tip.
Posted by publius at September 17, 2004 06:18 PM