Posted on 09/13/2004 8:58:32 AM PDT by ShelleyAa
Look.
This is what the FCC is for, and we PAY them to do their job.
YANK the CBS broadcasting license. Black propaganda is not "ethical".
Yes, that IS the issue. Who dunnit (forged the docs)is certainly an important question -- but not the most important, by far.
The most serious questions that CBS's malfeasance raises are:
1. How could CBS, a mainstream broadcaster with(austensibly) substantial resources, experience, savvy, and wherewithal have been duped for 6 weeks by forgeries so OBVIOUS that internet bloggers spotted the HUGE problems within 60 minutes of being posted on the web?
2. Given the tremendous interests at stake in a US Presidential election, and with only 8 weeks left, how could CBS risk running a story based on such poorly vetted documentary evidence?
3. In Dan Rather's response to initial criticism of the memos he states that they decided to run the story based on a "proponderance of evidence." In a legal setting such a standard requires only that the weight of evidence be 51% probable that the complaint is true - is that the appropriate evidentiary standard for CBS to use when the consequence may be the removal of a sitting President? Is that the standard that CBS applies to all its stories?
4. Dan Rather and CBS have a history of demonstrated bias against Republicans. Rather's infamous Texas Democratic fund-raising appearance was well publicized and is well known. Nevertheless, CBS sees fit to keep Rather on as their News bureau top dog. Memo-gate appears to be the act of a highly partisan journalist who, blinded by his apparent hatred for anything Bush, was willing to risk his own reputation and that of the CBS network by putting out there documents that are out-and-out frauds. Can anybody trust this man ever again?
5. Not satisfied with the potential damage this fiasco has already created, Rather insists that he stands by the story until OTHERS prove the documents false! If this isn't the epitome of journalistic arrogance I can't imagine what would be! Apparently Dan Rather and CBS live in the world of "bizarro journalism" where reporters have no responsibility for substantiating the authenticity of the evidence they rely on! Those they don't like are guilty until proven innocent!
6. What this fraudulent CBS story implies is that CBS News and Dan Rather are no longer residents of the Fourth Estate, it seems they have moved to the Fifth Column!
I like a slightly differing theory which I would append to your #4 as #4a thusly:
4) Someone did this, figuring it would get discovered, in an effort to discredit CBS.
4a) Someone in the Hillary camp did this , figuring it would get discovered, in an effort to discredit the Kerry campaign.
CBS is now trapped; if they reveal the (Hillary) source of the forged memos then Kerry AND Hillary will NEVER be president and CBS will be be damaged immensely (ad income).
Whoever runs for President from the Democratic side is going to buy ads on CBS. It doesn't matter whether it's Hillary or not.
I have no idea what connection, if any, the DNC has to these docs. As far as DU and Michael Moore go, they'd rally around anything that seemed to discredit Bush, regardless of any connection they had to their origin or distribution.
I have no idea what connection, if any, the DNC has to these docs. As far as DU and Michael Moore go, they'd rally around anything that seemed to discredit Bush, regardless of any connection they had to their origin or distribution.
You forgot to include Fox.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.