Dan and the Draft

As if Dan Rather doesn't have enough trouble, he decided to weigh in on this bogus draft claim. This New York Post Editorial (Via The Corner) lays out the whole situation.

Consider: Both President Bush and Sen. John Kerry say they adamantly oppose reinstitution of the military draft, which was ended in 1973. The Pentagon also says it is vehemently opposed to giving up the all-volunteer army.

But that didn't stop "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" and reporter Richard Schlesinger from airing a story Tuesday about a Pennsylvania woman's fears that her sons will be drafted.

So why? Why in the world would they step into this? The Post throws out a few ideas:

Could it be because charges of a secret plan to reinstate the draft just happen to be a key talking point of the Kerry-Edwards campaign?

Former presidential candidate Howard Dean charged that "George Bush is certainly going to have a draft if he goes into a second term."

And ex-Sen. Max Cleland, who has campaigned by John Kerry's side, also said flatly that "America will reinstate the draft" if President Bush is re-elected.

Meanwhile, Kerry himself suggested it is "possible" that Bush will back a draft.

But, again, there isn't the faintest hint of evidence to support such claims.

So now it's getting to the point where most people realize that this draft claim is a bunch of smoke. Why do they keeping bringing it up? Will Kerry be so bold as to mention it in the debate tonight?
I guess will just have to wait and see how desperate he is at that time...