ABC News, Rather Snubbed at Bush Luncheon

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[RatherBiased.com]

ABC, Rather Snubbed at Luncheon

During most important meetings, the seating arrangements often say more about what the hosts think of you than anything than anything else. This was particularly true at a recent White House luncheon for the bigwigs of television news where, it seems, the Bush Administration made its views known about whom it likes.

In a little-noticed article in the Style section of last week's Washington Post, society columnist Lloyd Grove gave the low-down on who sat where at the preview session before the president's State of the Union Address.

Grove's take:

"We wondered why Tom Brokaw and Jim Lehrer could literally rub elbows with the Big Guy, while Peter Jennings had to crane his neck. And did Dan Rather mind being all the way at the end, where it was hard to see what Ari Fleischer was doing?"

Our take:

According to the seating chart, of the eleven journalists in the room, the three who got the worst treatment were Peter Jennings, George Stephanopoulos--both of ABC News--and Dan Rather. Not only were they seated away from the president, located in the middle, they also had an even harder time taking part in the discussion with press secretary Ari Fleischer, who was at the head of the table and directed the informal meeting.

From the looks of it, it seems as though the White House was trying to express its displeasure with ABC News for making a prominent Clinton strategist the host of its Sunday show and the most visible political correspondent on ABC. Conservatives have also been complaining about Jennings's coverage of the Bush Administration's Iraq policies. With both of its representatives on the outs with the White House, ABC was the only network that saw both of its reporters seated poorly.

It's also no secret that the second Bush admin isn't particularly friendly with Rather. That probably comes as no surprise since Rather has expressed skepticism about Bush from the beginning--from doubting his competence with allusions to an "Uncle Cheney, who runs an awful lot of things" to remarks about Bush being "elected or selected, whichever word you prefer." Rather's voluntary speech at a Democratic fundraiser in April of 2001 likely didn't help things, either, especially after Ari Fleischer said of his appearance, "That's an issue that the media needs to grapple with."

We're not sure if ABC and Rather received less chicken, too.

[bmwcyle]

Some of them should have needed food tasters.

[exmarine]

I would have not allowed them a seat. Jennings and Rather are fascistic liberals as far as I'm concerned. As Michael Savage says, liberals are just as REAL an enemy of America at OBL.

[JoeSixPack1]

Some them should only be, food tasters.

[Dr._Joseph_Warren]

Don't forget Dan Rather's verbal ambush of Bush-senior in an live interview during the '92 campaign.

Rather is a total a$$.

[The Great Satan]

That is a cool graphic.

[caisson71]

The SOBs were lucky to be there in the first place.

[Cicero]

Clinton arranged to have some half dozen or so reporters fired because they crossed him. He leaned on their bosses, presumably with blackmail threats about potential problems with the regulatory agencies. The cowardly press never complained about this, or about Reno's habit of knocking down news photographers, or about clinton's bombing of the Belgrade TV station that had been so hospitable to them earlier.

So let's hope Rather and Jennings don't start complaining now.

[fooman]

I am surprised Hume and Snow got such bad seats, unless sitting near Ari is considered a huge plum

[The Wizard]

I would have had Britt next to me

[Revelation 911]

Don't forget Dan Rather's verbal ambush of Bush-senior in an live interview during the '92 campaign.

never have - I still get angry when I remember seeing it live

[WaterDragon]

heh-heh-heh!

[Arpege92]

I seem to recall a time when Rush Limbaugh's news camera's were not allowed into the press room when Clintoon was president!

[jimkress]

Rather has expressed skepticism about Bush from the beginning

When annoucing the 2000 election results, it was all that Rather could do to not break down in a fit of hysterical weeping. It was amazing watching him trying to contain his grief that his buddy algore had not won.

[Jewels1091]

Did anyone hear Jennings tell Chris Matthews last night that some of the info Powell gave at the UN simply was not true???? Like he has the contacts our intell has????

[Jewels1091]

Sorry, it was Donahue not Matthews...I was flipping channels and happened to catch that part.

[LibWhacker]

Should've made Rather sit on the floor and beg for table scraps.

[Thane_Banquo]

I would have loved it if Bush brought in Rush Limbaugh, said to the media, "This guy's work is more relevant than all of yours put together," and then left to play golf with Rush.

[job]

You should have seen Catie Kouric, looked liked she was choking on a great big horse t&$d!!!! Even left the set before they went to break, she was so disgusted.

[elbucko]

When announcing the 2000 election results, it was all that Rather could do to not break down in a fit of hysterical weeping.

It was a wonderful moment in TV journalism. I couldn't stop laughing for an hour.