Kerry Allies Tied to Forged Document Scandal

By Jeff Gannon
Talon News
September 21, 2004

Evidence continues to emerge that shows members of Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign had knowledge of the forged documents that CBS obtained from an embittered Texas Democrat. On Monday, the network apologized for using the documents to support claims that President George W. Bush received special treatment to get into the Texas Air National Guard and shirked his duty, but Democrats continued to trumpet the charges.

Republican suspicions that CBS and the Kerry campaign shared information about the documents prior to the September 8 airing of "60 Minutes" got a boost from statements made by an adviser to the Massachusetts Democrat. Joe Lockhart, a press secretary for former President Bill Clinton who was recently added to the campaign, told the Associated Press that he contacted Bill Burkett about the documents at the suggestion of CBS producer Mary Mapes.

Lockhart said that Mapes suggested that he contact Burkett before CBS aired the story.

He said the producer told him, "There's a guy who is being helpful on the story who wants to talk to you."

Lockhart said that Mapes told him that there were some records "that might move the story forward" but didn't describe what the documents said.

Lockhart added that during a brief conversation, Burkett offered advice "on how to deal with the Vietnam issue and the Swift boat" allegations.

Lockhart recalled that the former Guardsman said, "These guys play tough and we have to put the Vietnam experience into context and have Kerry talk about it more."

But Lockhart denied talking to Burkett about Bush's Guard records.

"It's baseless to say the Kerry campaign had anything to do with this," he said.

Another Kerry ally, former Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA), also admitted to a conversation last month with Burkett.

Burkett told Cleland that he had information about Bush to counter charges against Kerry's Vietnam War service. Cleland said he gave Burkett's contact information to the campaign's research department.

Carl Cameron, a Fox News reporter following the Kerry campaign, said that the Massachusetts senator "was pushing this 60 Minutes piece as a 'must see' to his traveling press for several weeks prior to it coming out."

The CBS broadcast coincided with the debut of a Democratic National Committee ad called "Operation Fortunate Son."

Like the accusations made in the forged documents, the ad implies favorable treatment for the young Bush and his failure to fulfill his obligations to the Texas Air National Guard.