Should Republicans go ahead and add Supreme Court Justices to head off Democrats

Burkett, Van Os stories appear to be inconsistent

Michael Hedges, Houston Chronicle:

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In an interview with CBS Monday night, Burkett admitted he lied about who had given him the documents after he was "pressured" by the network. "I simply threw out a name," he said. The report did not name the person Burkett now says gave him the tainted memos.

But Burkett said he "insisted" that CBS should authenticate the documents before airing them, something Rather conceded the network did not do.

Kerry's campaign denied any involvement in the CBS report. But at least two prominent members of Kerry's campaign admitted to contacts with Burkett in the days before the CBS broadcast.

Kerry adviser Joe Lockhart, told the Associated Press Monday night that he talked with Burkett at the suggestion of a CBS producer shortly before the CBS report. Lockhart denied that the issue of the documents came up. Lockhart said he does not recall talking to Burkett about Bush's Guard records, adding "it's baseless to say the Kerry campaign had anything to do with this."

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White House communications director Dan Bartlett called the contact between CBS News and Lockhart "a stunning and deeply troubling development" and said Kerry should hold accountable those involved in helping CBS obtain the documents, the AP reported late Monday.

CBS has not said how Burkett became their source. Rather would only say on the air Monday, "He did not come to us, we went to him."

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Burkett has had ties with Texas Democrats over the years, and has frequently attacked Bush on liberal Web sites. His longtime attorney, David Van Os of San Antonio, is a Democratic candidate for the Texas Supreme Court, an office he has sought before.

Neither Burkett nor Van Os returned calls for comment Monday. But Van Os told Cox News Service that Burkett got the documents from a stranger who handed them to him in a sealed envelope at the Houston rodeo earlier this year. He said Burkett now regrets giving the documents to CBS.

A stranger who insisted that Burkett not reaveal his name? Why would Burkett feel obligated to someone he does not know who hands him an envelope? Investigators should take a look at Mr. Burkett's hard drive.