I mentioned the CBS/Dan Rather episode earlier today in connection with the McCain/NYT story, and, lo and behold, Dan Rather has something to say about it:

We've said McCain has a good record; we've all said this is a good man with a good record. Jim Rutenberg, who is the lead reporter on this; Bill Keller, the editor who made the decision: these are not ordinary journalists. These are outstanding journalists and that probably needs to be said. Now, if they can't back it up any further than they have it, then they're in a heap of trouble. But on the record, it deserves to be said: These are very smart journalists.

(h/t: Fishbowl DC)