Floor Speech - September 22, 2004

JOE LOCKHART SHOULD LEAVE THE KERRY CAMPAIGN

Mr. Speaker, 

CBS has publicly apologized for airing the story on President Bush's National Guard service which relied on fraudulent documents. 

The fallout from this story will be felt for a long time. CBS has discredited itself as a news organization.

Some were surprised to learn that the man who produced those forged documents, Bill Burkett, was in contact with the Kerry campaign. 

A series of e-mails has surfaced showing that Burkett spoke with Max Cleland, an adviser to John Kerry's presidential campaign about assisting the Democrats with a counter attack on Bush.

Also, a senior adviser to Kerry, Joe Lockhart, said that on the advice of CBS producer Mary Mapes, he spoke with Burkett about Vietnam and the Presidential campaign shortly before the piece aired. 

Lockhart's role in this attack is particularly disturbing.

Fraudulent political attacks by anyone are reprehensible. 

Joe Lockhart is talented and intelligent, but I believe he should excuse himself from the Kerry campaign.