On Scandal at Penn State:Hey CBS News When You Don't Have It, Don't Hype It, Lessons From Watergate

There’s an exemplary scene in the movie version of “All the President’s Men” that goes basically like this: Washington Post reporters Woodward and Bernstein have been working their asses off on one of their stories about the Watergate scandal. They are pushing to have the story put on the front page of the paper. Ben Bradlee, the Post’s editor, reads the story and asks them a few questions. He then crosses out some words and adds some others and orders the story to be run, but to be buried inside the paper.

Bernstein goes ballistic, arguing that it’s a front page story. Bradlee, says no, they had overhyped what they had, they had NOT really nailed it, and it wasn’t a front page story. The argument goes on until Woodward finally says to Bernstein (and I’m paraphrasing here), “Stop it. He’s right.”

It’s an important lesson for journalists. And sometimes it’s tough to resist the temptation not to hype material that is not worthy, especially when you’re in a very competitive situation on a breaking news story.

A high-paid CBS reporter actually used "snow globe" on-camera, to "help" McQueary describe his "feelings" amidst the PS pedophile scandal.

CBS' Arman Ketayan might be onto something----maybe PS keeps winning by sheer stupidity?

Those newsclips of McQ cavorting with the players is priceless-----he's like " look at me, a nobody, on the PS field with all these really neat football players."

When is McQ gonna realize he is one big dupe that enabled Sandusky? Maybe a few lawsuits will help clear what passes for his (gag) mind.

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JUST A REMINDER Don't let the predator, or his duped enablers, talk you out of calling the police and reporting these activities.

Souless predators are amazingly persuasive -- and take pride in their ability to dupe people. That's how they entice their victims....... and that's how they get people to cover for them.

Don't be taken in by a charming predator...or his braindead enablers.

REALTIME TALE It was recently revealed ----- an alarmed mother found Sandusky took her son out of class without her permission on three occassions. When she approached the school, she was told she was being unduly alarmed, b/c "Jerry has a heart of gold. "

She insisted they call the police. But the braindead dupes talked her out of reporting it b/c "that would hurt poor Jerry," they said.

Heh——so true, Joe.

But the point was made-—this dupe actually was convinced (by the cunning Sandusky) that he was a great guy.

What creeps me out——none of these dupes ever had one iota of a concern for the abused kids. Their first thought should have been——”let’s make sure the kids are OK.”

Protecting Sandusky was the overriding concern at all levels——exactly how he planned it.

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