A classic example of the Tactics of Diversion.

Of course, what gets lost in all of this is that, even though the document turned out to be bogus, the story itself, about Bush ducking out of his National Guard obligations, is true. The document was not the only basis for the charge, it was merely one of several pieces of evidence, and the only one that turned out to be bogus. Even before that document showed up, it was well establishe that Bush had been disqualified from flying because he didn't show up for his required physical, many Guard members remembered that he wasn't at meetings, a welcome was planned for him (the son of a VIP) when he transfered to Alabama and he didn't show up, several of his guard-mates testified that, although he was a fairly pleasant fellow and a real party animal, he was cocky and seemed to think the rules didn't apply to him. . . .

Throw a lot of mud at Dan Rather, and while everybody's watching that spectacle, Bush tip-toes unnoticed out of the room.

Could it be that someone handed Rather a dead fish?

Don Firth