As our regular readers will recall, this blog was named as a result of the original Rathergate Report which chalked the errors at CBS up to “myopic zeal” rather than ill intention or some form of malice. They didn’t know that the alleged Killian memo was a forgery. And then came the “fake but accurate” mantra (the classic C&F editorial cartoon here).

But now we have something truly amazing, and that is that Mary Mapes continues to insist that she is not convinced the memos were fake. Now apparently, the onus is on the viewer to disprove the truth of an assertion made by a newscaster rather than the burden being on the news producers to prove the authenticity. It’s nearly beyond comprehension that she would take this position (other than to drum up controversy to sell her new book).

Here is the Good Morning America transcript excerpt. (And Ian’s got the video, as usual).

BRIAN ROSS: Do you still think that story was true?

MARY MAPES: The story, absolutely.

ROSS:This seems remarkable to me that you would sit here now and say you still find that story to be up to your standards.

MAPES: I’m perfectly willing to believe that those documents were forgeries if there was proof that I haven’t seen.

ROSS: But isn’t it the other way around, don’t you have to prove they are authentic?

MAPES: Well, I think that’s what critics of this story would say. I know more now than I did then and I think, I think they have not been proved to be false yet.

ROSS: Have they proved to be authentic though, isn’t that really what journalists do?

MAPES: No, I don’t think that’s the standard.

Bernie Goldberg was on H&C last night discussing the situation. Colmes tried this approach (again, via Political Teen).

Later in the segment Colmes tries to make the point that conservatives are hypocrites for not criticizing the forgeries that took us to war. If that was the case, than why are liberals not outraged about the memos that were driven by an overzealous producer who had an agenda? I guess Alan is too caught up in his DNC talking points memo to not realize the double standard.

Jeremy Pepper incredulously reads the WaPo story, and responds with:

Here is a woman that is able to find a conspiracy against her around every corner, and yet does not own up to anything. And, while I do not find CBS’ handling of the affair to be anything to hold up as a great example of crisis communications, at least they did not pass the buck so readily. They might not have fully owned up to the mistakes, but Mapes refuses to at least admit to her part in the crisis and still believes she is right.

Right on the Left Coast thinks she should hook up with the fired Judy Miller, who agreed to leave the Times (Her farewell has been posted on her site).

Check out the alternative book cover here.

Gabe reacts to the story:

Hey just like OJ is still looking for the real killer, Mapes is out there looking for real documents! Honestly I was fully unaware that journalists were under no obligation to present legitimate information when doing TV reporting.

And INDC (via MM and Insty) even finds factual errors in her book (Bill excerpts from page 201):

The Freepers swarmed CBS not because it was right or fair but because they could.

On Web sites such as Powerline, INDC Journal, Allahpundit, and Spacetownusa, the bravehearts of the blogging world worked anonymously in what appeared to be huge numbers, in unison, to destroy the Bush-Guard story, to uphold one another’s wild and hateful claims, to outshout, outargue, and outblog anyone who dared to disagree. And on their Web sites there is no disagreement. They hate in unison, they speak with one angry voice, they each make themselves bigger by staying as close together as possible.

And then goes on to point out:

Even in forced retirement, Mapes continues her legacy of accuracy, as neither Powerline, nor Spacetown, nor INDC Journal worked anonymously during the scandal. I invite everyone to revisit my September archives and peruse the “wild and hateful claims” made by INDC.

And as we reported way back on March 3, of 2005, when she was shopping her book, OpinionMeister said:

You have to feel sorry for a publisher who buys a book that later proves to be a fraud, but how can you feel sorry for a publisher who buys a book that was proven to be a fraud before the rights were purchased.

(Today, even after all of the publicity, it’s ranked 896 on the Amazon hit parade).

UPDATE: Shape of Days reminds us that Michelle Malkin predicted this back on September 16th, 2004.