[cyncooper]

Well, Woodward surfaces.

After a couple weeks of Richard Clarke taking a quote from Woodward's book, "Bush at War" out of context and using it to bash the president, Condoleezza Rice put the quote in proper context during her testimony last Thursday. Bob Woodward did not seek in the interim between Clarke and Rice testifying to clarify it on his own.

Then we find that Bob Woodward co-authored a front-page story in May 2002 giving the title and context of the August 2001 PDB. The PDB was misrepresented by democrats and media as a revelation from Rice's testimony when it has been known for literally years. Again, Woodward did not appear on the scene to set the record straight.

Link to thread on Woodward 2002 article:

Aug. Memo Focused On Attacks in U.S. Lack of Fresh Information Frustrated Bush (2002/PDB)

[dirtboy]

The DRUDGE REPORT was first to raise the VIACOMCBSSIMONSCHUSTER issue in connection with a previous cross-promotion launch at CBS.

Like hell, Drudge, FR was on it days before you ran it.

[Lee'sGhost]

Amazing. Ten years ago the few who knew about the conflict of interest issue would have been hard pressed to find a forum and in turn there would be no "bruhaha" and in turn CBS would have ran the Woodward piece without the disclaimer.

Folks, we've come a long, long way.

[dirtboy]

But Hewitt tells NYT Bill Carter he was not aware Clarke's book was even owned by Hewitt's very own company. Hewitt said he did not know Clarke's publisher FREE PRESS was part of SIMON & SCHUSTER. "Who the heck was Free Press?" Hewitt explains.

Hewitt must think we're all fools to believe this nonsense. Three anti-Bush books published by Viacom subsidiaries. Three 60 Minutes interviews, the one with Clarke being not one but TWO segments long. But we're supposed to believe that there isn't any connection whatsoever, that Viacom execs didn't call up Hewitt and tell him to shill their books on his program.

The term "plausible deniabilty" isn't even in play here. There is absolutely NOTHING plausible about this denial - and I'm gonna look to see if we can find a quote from Hewitt anywhere that he shows knowledge of Free Press's ownership by Viacom.

[MizSterious]

I'd like to see the disclaimer saying that Woodward is another partison hack doing grunt work for the Kerry campaign, and that much of what he says will be slanted, biased, or fabricated.

Sorta like "Deep Throat."

[freedom4me]

I say we have a "designated watcher" for 60 Minutes who posts the info. I don't want to boost CBS's ratings in anyway. Actually, I do that with many programs. I don't watch and then just scan the posts on FR.

My motto: ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, PBS...TURN 'EM OFF.

Actually, I'm thinking of making that into a bumper sticker.

[Feiny]

CBS has purchased the movie rights to Clarkes book. I can't wait to see which liberal actor plays him.

[GBA]

"But this time, even though 60 MINUTES Executive Producer Don Hewitt still argues that he does not believe it is necessary to do so, CBS will acknowledge that its parent company owns the book and will profit from any and all sales!"

See, yet another reason why I can't trust the media. He doen NOT believe it is necessary to acknowledge the connection between the parent company and its book being promoted on its 60 minutes program. Just like he probably thinks he can honestly report on Bush when wishes he were Monica. No biased reporting from CBS whatsoever. Yeah, whatever, dude.

[NYCVirago]

Hewitt said he did not know Clarke's publisher FREE PRESS was part of SIMON & SCHUSTER.

I wonder if the Times will mention in their article that they themselves pointed out this connection *before* Clarke's appearance on 60 Minutes.

[mewzilla]

...even though 60 MINUTES Executive Producer Don Hewitt still argues that he does not believe it is necessary to do so...

That says it all. SSDD at CBS.

[dirtboy]

Hewitt said he did not know Clarke's publisher FREE PRESS was part of SIMON & SCHUSTER. "Who the heck was Free Press?" Hewitt explains.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell: "I didn't know my driver was going 100 mph!"

[StarFan]

The Woodward interview is already taped and it will "make big news," Hewitt predicted.

Stomach did flip flops when reading this as I'd wager the 'big news' will NOT be favorable to GWB.