Parsing CBS

Here's the problem CBS now has: At first it looked like they had been duped. Now, in order to defend themselves against that charge, they have to actively try to dupe everyone else. Howie Kurtz's piece this morning has excellent reactions from CBS about the new denials from two of the experts they hired, Emily Will and Linda James.

Kurtz reports: "CBS News Senior Vice President Betsy West said last night: 'As far as I know, Linda James raised no objections. She said she'd have to see more documents to render a judgment.' As for Will's account, West said: 'I'm not aware of any substantive objection she raised. Emily Will did not urge us to hold the story.'"

Note CBS's lawyering here:

Will told ABC that "she sent the CBS producer an e-mail message about her concerns and strongly urged the network the night before the broadcast not to use the documents."

CBS seems to be denying this but isn't: "Emily Will did not urge us to hold the story." [emphasis added]

No, she didn't urge them to hold the story, she urged them not to use the documents.