Since the Rathergate story broke, many of us wondered why CBS would accept a sheaf of documents, perform very little due diligence and run with the story. Once exposed CBS reacted very oddly, Rather was preternaturally spooked, it made no sense. Unless the source of the docs was indeed unimpeachable in a different sense, that the source was very high in the Kerry campaign and the manuvuer tightly coordinated with Rather or someone he trusts implicitly in order to leave no trace. The story repesented a win-win for CBS and Kerry's opportunity to respond in kind to the Swifties and dampen Bush's bounce.
Rather/CBS would break the guard story with the provided, damning documents, scooping and leading the MSM news cycle. A predictable MSM feeding frezny would ensue and the DNC would play out a week long burst of Bush ANG material, now touted as the campaign's "Operation Fortunate Son."
Like Liston before them, they didn't factor in the new kid in town, the blogosphere, floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.
UPDATE: Kevin has a more current boxing metaphor.
Posted by feste at September 12, 2004 05:12 PM | TrackBack