First, it was cBS and the fake document scandals. Then it was ABC and Mark Halperin’s memo encouraging journalists to use their position to help Kerry. Now NBC appears ready to help Kerry down the stretch.

During an interview with Tom Brokaw, John Kerry slipped up and admitted his military records hadn’t been fully disclosed.

Brokaw: Someone has analyzed the President’s military aptitude tests and yours, and concluded that he has a higher IQ than you do.

Kerry: That’s great. More power. I don’t know how they’ve done it, because my record is not public. So I don’t know where you’re getting that from.

That transcript was Updated: 6:41 p.m. ET Oct. 28, 2004

Then the buzz started. People started pointing to this line to illustrate that despite John Kerry’s claims, he really hadn’t released all of his military records. (Nevermind the claim Brokaw made that Bush has a higher IQ than Kerry)

So NBC has decided that fiction will do less damage to the Kerry camp. They have now published an updated transcript that omits the offending Kerry words:

Brokaw: “Someone has analyzed the president’s military aptitude tests and yours, and concluded that he has a higher IQ than you do.”

Kerry: “That’s great. More power. I don’t know how they’ve done it.”

That transcript was Updated: 7:54 p.m. ET Oct. 31, 2004

They simply decided to remove Kerry’s reference to his hidden and private military records.

And so, just 24 hours before the 2004 election, the final MSM holdout has moved to the Kerry column. Thank you for finally coming clean on your bias. At least there can be no question now.