Bush Admin Leaked Tape Story, ABC Believes

[Killarney]

Good article with lots more info on the tape, but I can only include four paragraphs, so I'm focusing on the leak aspect. Also included in the article is that they do not believe it is an American anymore (not Pearlman).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3742-2004Oct27.html
The problem, say ABC News executives, is that they can't determine whether the tape, obtained by a producer, involves a real threat -- or even the identity of the figure on it, a man wearing an ammunition belt and a headdress that obscures his face. The network enlisted the aid of the FBI and CIA but still can't authenticate the 75-minute videotape.

"We're not quite there to broadcast something that would be quite frightening," investigative reporter Brian Ross said yesterday. "I'd love to have the exclusive, but first we'd like to get it right."

Ross and other ABC staffers say they believe that a Bush administration official leaked the story to Internet gossip Matt Drudge as a way of pressuring the network into airing the tape, which would heighten concerns about terrorism in the final week of the president's reelection campaign. They note that whoever gave the information to Drudge had a transcript of the tape.

The debate may not be over. The officials say a source with access to the tape, apparently impatient with ABC, has offered it to another broadcast news organization, which has called the government for guidance.

[Shopaholic]

1. Well, DUH. . .

of COURSE they leaked it. SO where's the outrage by the media that the * junta is using them to try and win this election? Oh, that's right--they all want him to win this election. Still, it was good to see this article and to hear someone from ABC admit that they were being pressured to release this video, which we already know, can't be substantiated as being legit. If this was the *'s October surprise, it sure ain't playing out the way they intended. Hmm--let me guess what the other news organization will be. . . . Faux???? Color me shocked! Shocked I say!

[Catfight]

2. Well there's the proof that Drudge isn't a fact checker just a patsy. nt

[LizW]

3. This tape will air before next Tuesday

Mark my words. The WH will put on enough pressure to get it done.

ABC is smart to smell a rat, but Bushco will just go around them. It took, what, six leaks to get someone to publish Valerie Plame's name. They'll keep the pressure on until someone runs with this tape.

The part of the article where they discuss the language of the person in the tape is priceless:

"They said they sent copies to the FBI and CIA, which have been unable to identify the speaker -- who says he is an American and is brandishing automatic weapons -- after comparing his voice to those of known terrorists. ABC hired two linguists who concluded that English was not the speaker's native tongue. For example, he cited the country of Yemen as 'the Yemen'."

My first thought: "It's W!"

[npincus]

4. I think it's Karl Rove under the mask

look for discarded props in the White House dumpster

[high density]

5. So first they give a non-denial about the Killian memos

and get those on air. The effect of that report basically makes any coverage of Bush's* TANG non-service radioactive and as a bonus they stung Dan Rather at the same time.

Now a few days before the election, the White House tries to railroad ABC into airing a terror tape that can't be authenticated. Wasn't Bush* recently bitching about somebody supposedly not having the facts and rushing to conclusions?

[meisje]

6. Fox News will be the other news organization?

place you bets

[Shopaholic]

7. I bet $1,000 bucks that it's Fox!

No question or doubt in my mind there!

[Killarney]

15. that's my guess, too

[Iceburg]

8. No they won't play it on Fox as they want their voting base out

on Nov 2.

[DrBB]

9. Flash: Reporters discover "skepticism"! May revolutionize field!

Though traditionally regarding themselves as mere stenographers for powerful Republicans, journalists have recently been working with a new principle they call "skepticism."

"See, we don't actually have to believe what they say, just because they are, you know, in charge of the government and from the right wing and stuff," says Bob Hairdo, a recent convert to the method. "Pretty wild, huh?"

But is this new trend sustainable? After all, it's rather impolite, and might get you dropped from Washington's A list.

"Oh, yeah," Mr Hairdo responded for the record. "Huh. Hadn't thought of that."

[Longhorn]

10. If this is a Bush* ploy to try to win the election, isn't it ironic

that it may not work because of what they did to Dan Rather?

"In weighing the evidence, ABC staffers are mindful of the problem at CBS News, which has apologized for rushing on the air with disputed documents about President Bush's National Guard service."

Delicious!

[Insomnicole]

11. Oh, I love it ...

And Sludge really cracks me up. First, CBS is bad because they rushed the memo story live without really vetting it first. Now, ABC is bad because they're being cautious. Sheesh. Make up yer minds, Repukes.

[Flammable Materials]

12. Makes me think of the clip in the new Eminem "Mosh" video ...

... where the cave backdrop behind Osama bin Laden falls down, exposing Rumsfeld and Cheney behind it.

[Francine Frensky]

13. Wow!!! They are INTENTIONALLY trying to scare people

to protect bush. this stuff is just sickening. They have no shame.

Just when you think they can sink no lower....

Just add this to the list of things they'll get away with, though, as their stupid supporters look the other way.

Ostriches.

[durablend]

14. "They'll say (do) ANYTHING to get elected"

Who said that? Oh right, * said that about JK.

Yeah, they're not projecting anything...sure they're not... :eyes:

[Beetwasher]

16. Rove Shot Himself In the Foot & Got Tangled In His Countless Schemes

Rove Shot Himself In the Foot & Got Tangled In His Countless Schemes

After CBS was mercilessly trashed for using supposed forged docs, the media will hopefully not let this video see the light of day. And Drudge has even less cred lately after pushing the bullshit story about the explosives and he's the main source pushing this nonsense. Pathetic, truly pathetic.

This story should be soundly ignored by most media or given little to no attention.

A terrorist with an AMERICAN ACCENT no less? It will be scrutinized to bits before it sees the light of day. Rove is a MORON and low grade hack in way over his head.

Another terror threat video? Yawn.

The BIG story here is the Bush admin. PUSHING THIS VIDEO TO SCARE THE ELECTORATE DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION!!! HELLO!!!

[AmerDem]

17. Let's see everyone go after Rove like they went after CBS.

This time in their over the top desperation they did themselves in.

" They note that whoever gave the information to Drudge had a transcript of the tape." I guess Sludge has some direct ties to the "insurgents" in Iraq.......LOL

[NYCGirl]

18. And here's the best part:

"A U.S. intelligence official said it is possible the tape was produced by an al Qaeda unit called Sahab Production Committee because the video bears the committee's recognizable logo and has been edited and spliced. The official called it "classic al Qaeda propaganda" and said the man on the tape even brings up the issue of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts."


HUH?

[txindy]

19. A person in a mask won't really catch much attention at Halloween

Especially over a weekend. Rove really blew this one. This was so incredibly lame. An hour-long tape made by someone with an American accent. :eyes: