IS THERE ANYONE AT CBS WITH ANY INTEGRITY AND COURAGE?

September 12, 2004 | Nick Vlachos

[nikos1121]

When asked what is the most important part of any news story, Joseph Pulitzer replied, "Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy."

I've always thought that whether it's selling newspapers, a documentary, a speech to the Rotary Club, or used cars, if you want to have viewers tomorrow try deceit, if you want to have viewers ten years from tomorrow, try honesty.

I have read about as much as anyone on the subject of the Bush National Guard memos. In fact, starting today I'll stop the reading. The excellent discussions and technical research presented here and now in several major news sources leaves very little doubt in my mind, that the memos are fakes. In fact, when you weigh the evidence it comes down very very heavy on the side that believes the memos are fakes.

More troubling to me is the fact that a major network, CBS, one that I grew up respecting, is appearing more and more like a tabloid. To put this in simple terms, consider this. CBS based this important story on:

1. Three memos from an un-named source 2. Written by a deceased person 3. That are photocopies and not originals

This alone should have raised red flags. I mean, we're not talking about a story for the STAR or the National Enquirer here, we're talking about CBS NEWS. Is this their new standard of excellence? Is this the kind of reporting that we can now expect on the CBS EVENING NEWS and 60 MINUTES?

I'm not a journalist, but I can tell you that if I had spent years in school training to be one, or years on the job as one, and I found myself in a department at some newspaper or TV station where this was going on, I would say to myself "Something is really wrong here." Maybe I might even get a ping of emotion and say, "it's time to speak up or shut up."

Which brings me to the purpose of this posting. I ask:

IS THERE ANYONE AT CBS, ANYONE WITH ANY INTEGRITY AND COURAGE, WHO WILL COME FORTH AND SAY, "COLLEAGUES, SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. THIS IS NOT THE STANDARD OF TV JOURNALISM THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW. THESE MEMOS ARE "POSSIBLY" FAKE AND THE WAY THEY WERE REVIEWED AND PRODUCED IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO US AND THREATENS TO UNDERMINE THE WORK THAT WE ALL TRY TO DO. WE SHOULD RESPOND TO THOSE OUT THERE WHO ARE RAISING CONCERNS AND INVESTIGATE THIS MORE FULLY AND IF THE PREPONDERENCE OF EVIDENCE IS THAT THEY ARE FAKE, THEN WE SHOULD RETRACT OUR SUPPORT OF THEM."

IS THERE NOT ONE YOUNG REPORTER THERE AT CBS WHO IS TROUBLED BY THIS? IS THERE NOT ONE WHO WILL COME FORTH, KNOWING THAT THEY MAY LOSE THEIR JOB FOR DOING SO, TO SAY "THIS IS WRONG AND I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF A DEPARTMENT THAT OPERATES THIS WAY."

It is inconceivable to me, that no one at CBS News, (including people like Morris Schafer, Mike Wallace, etc etc.) had doubts on the validity of these memos. I can only assume that no one wanted to go up against Rather or maybe they figured that if given enough rope Rather would hang himself. Either way, this is clearly a crossroads for CBS and the people working there.

Where is that one reporter at CBS with some moral courage? I'm waiting to hear form you.

Nick A. Vlachos

[nikos1121]

"I think the the White House should play hardball with CBS.

Schaeffer is scheduled to moderate one of the debates. I would tell the debate team that by no means will we participate in a debate with CBS involvement. I would then hope the White House would pull all there talking heads off any CBS show and refuse to take questions from any CBS White House reporters."

My gut reaction is to agree with you, but this president has taken the high road in every instance and I think it shows his leadership. Reagan was the same way.

I think if asked about the memos, Bush should speak warmly of his association with Killion and say emphatically that he believes the memos to be fakes. Then take the next question and go on.

nick

[Elijah Jones]

Former CBS reporter Bernie Goldberg tried to set the record straight in his book "Bias" -- and got slapped around by the MSM ...

[nikos1121]

"It's been a long time since Peggy Noonan wrote radio commenatry for Dan. But she may have a good idea."

Yes, I miss her. I got the hint of her writing in Bush's Republican Convention speech, didn't you? I'd love to hear what she would say about Rather. Does anyone know if she has a public email address?

nick

[bert]

Integrity and courage have nothing to do with CBS.

CBS is a committed partizen intent on bringinging down the Bush Administration. CBS is not an apple pie and mom organization. CBS is a left wing organization dedicated to the causes near and dear to extremist liberals.

[StayAt HomeMother]

Not a reporter but a commentator: Last night the Washington DC local CBS affiliate addressed the National Guard "controversy" on its talking heads program, "Inside Washington."

Moderator's questions to the panel: Did President Bush have preference getting in? Fulfill his obligations?

Moderator said Globe & AP said no, he did not meet obligation.

Screechy liberal female Nina Totenberg said No, and he probably did not fulfill his obligation, but she doesn't care -- but it is an issue because the SwiftVets have questioned the service of a genuine war hero. [Her phrase, not mine.]

Krauthammer then said Pres Bush may have missed some drills but that is not a scandal. He said what IS a scandal is CBS using false documents that can only be produced by a modern word processor.

He was then cut off and the next panelist went off on a tangent about Kerry needing to get back on target.

Remember this was on a CBS station.

[Hardastarboard]

I've read some of the reactions at DU as well, and they are universal in their praise of Rather. But he's NOT a Democrat, you see. He's just a newsman.

[nikos1121]

The decision to do the right thing at CBS will come - if it comes at all -will come from outside the news division.

"Further up the food chain will dawn the inescapable realization that severe, long term damage is being done. Damage not just to CBS news' reputation, but to the profit making power of the brand.

This is turning into a crisis for the brand akin to the Tylenol tampering case that J&J had to deal with several years ago."

I agree with you. It will also come from the outside media. If we see the likes of ABC and NBC and major papers keeping the story alive, then CBS is going to go down with it. That' why I am still amazed that they are standing by thier story. If they were duped, which it looks clearly that they were, then admit and the story is over.

In fact, it raises Rather back to be a TV journalist again with a modicum of integrity.

nick

[The Real Eddie01]

I was in your shoes once. I debated the left on issues everyday. Two pieces of input helped me understand the puzzle I faced.

First, a conservative poster pointed our that liberal's lie.
(yes, I was naive)

Second, I discovered the list of disfunctional behaviors surrounding "Groupthink". They all seemed to fit the left. After all when truth is ignored and dissenters are discredited, your not left with much else to conclude.

Then one day I had an epiphany...

"Liberal's lie about everything all the time."

I have been happy ever since. My mind is always open to new ideas, but these are the goggles I put on every day and they do not fail me.

Eddie01

[js1138]

For all you guy out there who work for CBS and are lurking: this is no longer about integrity or courage. It's about your career and whether you can stay out of jail.

When CBS obtained the memos, they fit a the pattern that CBS had come to believe matched Bush's early life. It was easy to believe the memos were authentic. A few phone calls and you had a couple of people who didn't actually say they were bogus. Never mind that your authentication was circular.

The signature on one of the documents may be authentic. Why not; the documents were digitally copied. Easy enough to paste in a copy of a real signature.

So armed with an authenticated signature, you call Hodges and tell him you have documents that have been verified by a handwriting expert. He misinterprets this to mean the memos are handwritten. Face with the assumption you have done your homework, he says, If that's what Killian wrote, then that's what he thought. Now Hodges is an authenticator.

I hope that some of you at CBS are smart enough to detect the fallacy here. Hodges becomes an authenticator because you told him the documents were authentic. You skipped over the part where he argued the sentiments in the documents didn't match his recollection.

So now you have committed a second level of fraud. Receiving the forged documents might have been done in good faith, but now you have compounded the fraud by engaging in a fraudulent round of "authentication". Your are now entering the realm of criminal conspiracy.

A lesser organization than CBS could get away with sloppy journalism. Put it on the corrections page and let it pass. But of course you haven't done even that. In the face of overwhelming expert opinion, and the investigations conducted by all the other major news organizations, you have decided not to conduct your own investigation.

At this point your organization is recklessly disregarding the facts, and using forged military documents to affect a federal election. Those of you who are privy to the internal decision making process at CBS are accessories to a felony. If you do not come forward before the FBI begins to investigate, you may find yourselves in the same boat as Martha Stewart.

Keep watching this space. You may have some hope that a miracle will occur, and the magic typewriter will be found. It won't be found because no such typewriter ever existed. In a week or so, all the experts will have weighed in, and none of them will be on your side.

At some point you will have to choose between Dan Rather and yourselves and your families.

[MinuteGal]

The title question is already answered. No, there is no integrity or courage at CBS.

The next logical question is "where is the integrity or courage at the massive companies and corporations who sponsor CBS commercials, pumping millions of dollars into CBS coffers for ads?"

These corporations pay the bloated salaries of Rather, his venal bosses and his weak-kneed co-workers.

I'm waiting with bated breath to see how many sponsors dump CBS after all the disgusting facts come out, yah.

Leni

[nikos1121]

Screechy liberal female Nina Totenberg said No, and he probably did not fulfill his obligation, but she doesn't care -- but it is an issue because the SwiftVets have questioned the service of a genuine war hero. [Her phrase, not mine.]

"Krauthammer then said Pres Bush may have missed some drills but that is not a scandal. He said what IS a scandal is CBS using false documents that can only be produced by a modern word processor.

He was then cut off and the next panelist went off on a tangent about Kerry needing to get back on target.

Rmember this was on a CBS station."

Krauthammer is great. His writings are superb. People forget that if he did miss some drills it was in his 5th and 6th year of service. He flew over 350 hours in various planes, including the very dangerous F102. I wouldn't show up for my flight physical in 1973 inf the war was dying down, they had a glut of pilots and they didn't me. Smart move to stop flying at that point.

No question up to then he serves honorably, received high marks and praise. In fact, there is not one person out there who is saying the contrary.

nick

[joonbug]

How about links to CBS News sponsors? Start emailing them and put the pressure on that way.

[nikos1121]

"I was in your shoes once. I debated the left on issues everyday. Two pieces of input helped me understand the puzzle I faced.

First, a conservative poster pointed our that liberal's lie.
(yes, I was naive)

Second, I discovered the list of disfunctional behaviors surrounding "Groupthink". They all seemed to fit the left. After all when truth is ignored and dissenters are discredited, your not left with much else to conclude.

Then one day I had an epiphany...

"Liberal's lie about everything all the time."

I have been happy ever since. My mind is always open to new ideas, but these are the goggles I put on every day and they do not fail me.

Eddie01"


I would like to think that if the reverse were true, that we conservatives would be fair minded.

I read UNFIT FOR COMMAND. I did not read it with rose colored glasses. I was looking to see if it was a sham or something I could sink my teeth into.

The book angered me, esp the last part about Kerry's ties to modern Viet Nam. This has not been discussed.

I think if the book was garbage, it would not have received much backing from FR bloggers.

nick

[nikos1121]

"Keep watching this space. You may have some hope that a miracle will occur, and the magic typewriter will be found. It won't be found because no such typewriter ever existed. In a week or so, all the experts will have weighed in, and none of them will be on your side.

At some point you will have to choose between Dan Rather and yourselves and your families."

Excellent post. You should post this several more times today so everyone reads it. It's not too late for someone to come forth and speak up. Their methods were wrong to begin with and are counter to what you learn in Journalism 101 and on the street.

nick

[nikos1121]

"The title question is already answered. No, there is no integrity or courage at CBS.
The next logical question is "where is the integrity or courage at the massive companies and corporations who sponsor CBS commercials, pumping millions of dollars into CBS coffers for ads?"

These corporations pay the bloated salaries of Rather, his venal bosses and his weak-kneed co-workers.

I'm waiting with bated breath to see how many sponsors dump CBS after all the disgusting facts come out, yah.

Leni"

Me too. If that happens, it could change things in News TV land overnight. I think it explains why Fox News is doing so well right now.

nick

[Diogenesis]

No.

---

Behind the Curtain at CBS = Counterfeit Broadcasting System

---

(18 USC 494) Falsely Making, Alerting or Forging a Public Record.

(18 USC 494) Uttering or Publishing a False Public Record.

---

[G L Tirebiter]

It will also come from the outside media. If we see the likes of ABC and NBC and major papers keeping the story alive, then CBS is going to go down with it.

This episode has become a gut check for the entire MSM.

If they (and not just FNC) keep up the pressure on CBS, then the senior management at CBS will have to act. If Howie Kurtz and his counterparts pull the covers over their collective heads, this will drag on and on.

I agree. The non-CBS MSM types have an real interest in seeing CBS admit the error of their ways.

I have to say this is really fun to watch as they squirm

[browardchad]

I would tell the debate team that by no means will we participate in a debate with CBS involvement.

I wouldn't: better to let CBS squirm under the microscope of public opinion. You can bet every blogger will be parsing and analyzing Schaeffer's every word and action. It could be lots of fun.

[hispanarepublicana]

I have been cracking my thick skull, trying to come up with an effective and proper FReep that would involve the color yellow (for yellow journalism). (Had to use Windows olive instead of Windows yellow for this post--didn't wanna blind ya'll)