Was Rather's Criminal Dishonesty A "Broadcast Hoax?"

9/22/04 | Tacis

[Tacis]

Rather intentionally broadcast information he KNEW to be untrue with the intent of damaging President Bush and weakening Bush's chances for reelection.

The original "60 Minutes" broadcast, it could be argued, was 1st Amendment protected. Each subsequent false and criminal defense of the initial lie was not. A prudent, an honest journalist, in the face of such overwhelming protest and proof would have agreed to reexamine the basics. Not Rather! For 12 nights, he used his exhalted position to to continue to spew false information. CBS and it's affiliates must be held responsible and brought to account for this criminal activity!

The FCC publication, "The Public and Broadcasting" (www.mediaaccess.org/fcc/tutorial.html) has an interesting section (quoted below) on "broadcast hoaxes.:

"Broadcast Hoaxes. Broadcasting false information concerning a crime or a catastrophe violates the FCC's rules if:

* the station knew the information was false;

* broadcasting the false information directly caused substantial public harm; and

* it was foreseeable that broadcasting the false information would cause substantial public harm.

In this context, a "crime" is an act or omission that makes the offender subject to criminal punishment by law, and a "catastrophe" is a disaster or imminent disaster involving violent or sudden events affecting the public. "Public harm" must begin immediately; it must cause direct and actual damage to property or to the health or safety of the general public, or diversion of law enforcement or other public health and safety authorities from their duties."

It is clear to me that all CBS stations and affiliates knew by the second day that Rather's position was based purely on fake forgeries. Rather knew these documents were forgeries, giving him the benefit of the doubt, from the second day. His refusal to back down and recognize that the were fakes was clearly intended to do damge to the President, clearly a "crime" under this text.

[Tacis]

Join me in writing to the FCC to protest this broadcast hoax done by Dan Rather and implemented by every CBS affiliate that broadcast Rather's criminal lies and misinformation for, I'm told, 12 days.

A free society can not accept efforts by rogue political operatives posing as journalists to depose a sitting President. The rogue's employers and enablers can not be allowed to escape the consequences of such criminal broadcast hoax!

[bitt]

kool. show me the way.

[bayourod]

Rather gave his "personal guarantee" that the memos were authentic and the source unimpeachable. What does "personal guarantee" mean? Apparently to Rather it just means saying "sorry" and continuing to stonewall. Dan Rather has lost all credibility as a man, not just as a journalist.

[carlr]

I think this was a result of panic.They(CBS,the Kerry campaign)could`nt believe the effect of the swift boat ad`s and the inept campaign of Sen.Kerry.They saw President Bush pull ahead as people got to know Mr.Kerry`s history and record.I think they were going to try this much later in the fall,probably the week before the election.They rushed with this attack to try to stall the momentum.Thank God for all those who will no longer sit by and keep quiet.Carlr.