CNN is now reporting that CBS can’t vouch for the authenticity of the Bush-National Guard documents.

Which is really too bad. Not that I really care what the documents said, since I think it is pretty clear that Bush did get special treatment, but that the CBS producer spent 5 years trying to get documents to indict Bush’s National Guard service, and the best they could do were documents of dubious veracity. And, after 5 years of searching, it looks like they went to Air in less than 12 hours. Frankly, I’m amazed that they let their journalistic skills slide that much. It doesn’t seem like it would have taken more than a day or so of investigation to uncover the inconsitancies.

I’m not going to blame a “liberal bias.” I blame the desire of the media to take down public figures. I have no doubt that if there was a “smoking gun” on Kerry, it would be in the media just as fast. The key to fighting the claims of “liberal bias,” is good journalistic integrity…something that has been sorely lacking as we have developed the 24 hour new cycle and rich book deals for those who expose public figures.

In fact, this has probably backfired on the Democrats. The Bush campaign is spinning this their way and, with their typical skill, have deflected the attacks. Kerry, meanwhile, is still stuck in the “I’m not Bush” rut. His ads are trying to explain the “Kerry Plan,” but it doesn’t take much to see that there isn’t much substance behing what he is saying.

I realize this is a bizarre conclusion from the opening subject, but I think the way this story has run is very characteristic of this campaign. An anti-Bush or pro-Kerry claim gets turned around and ends up hurting Kerry or making Bush look better. I suspect, at this point, that Kerry is doomed. He has run an anemic campaign that has spent more time reacting to Bush than building Kerry. Too bad the Democrats couldn’t nominate Dean. He would have had a strong run against Bush. He has the character, personality and record to go head to head and would have appealed to voters like myself (the man isn’t as “crazy” as he was made out to be). Instead, the party went with the “safe” choice, like they did 4 years ago. I suspect the outcome is going to be the same.

I’m just hoping that the Kerry campaign isn’t the source of the documents, as I am seeing in some, less-credible reports. That would really be a blow to Kerry.

Update: I’m now seeing that the AP is reporting that Bill Burkett is the source and he says he gave them to a senetor working with the Kerry campaign. I hope they weren’t that dumb.