Posted on 09/14/2004 6:16:18 AM PDT by kattracks
Publicly Dan Rather's CBS colleagues are putting up a brave front as the disgraced newsman desperately tried again last night to defend himself against charges he used forged documents in a bid to discredit President Bush's military record.
But at CBS headquarters in New York the anxiety level has hit the red zone, with even Rather's allies saying they're dazed and confused over his shaky performance. "I'm distressed," one longtime CBS correspondent, who asked not to be identified, told the New York Times.
Another network source described the atmosphere at Black Rock as one of "deep concern."
"I'd say [it's] not panic," he quickly added. "We all want it to be right. Dan really put himself on the line and I can't imagine him knowingly defending something he knew not to be the case."
Another CBS source said there was increasing nervousness over the star anchorman's decision to stonewall on an independent investigation into his dubious Guard report.
"I've talked to colleagues who would love to see more of a defense," he told the Times.
Even Rather's longtime "60 Minutes" colleague, Mike Wallace, found it hard to defend his embattled co-worker.
"I'm confused by some of what I've heard today," he offered, before insisting that if Rather's documents were indeed forged, it was an innocent mistake.
"You're dealing with genuine professionals. The last thing in the world that any of these people would want is to phony something," he told the Times.
I'm not really good at describing people, but he does look professional. He also made an excellent presentation.
*very* quiet indeed. Remember the scene from "Rear Window", where the dog is found dead and all the neighbors come outside when the owner starts screaming at them. Except one. It's the one who doesn't show up that is the most logical.
You can tell Bill desperately want back in the club. If there was any way he could ... he'd save Blather. O'Reiley truly is a pompous ass.
Now that would be rich. I doubt it is anything more than Rather trying to save face while waiting for this to blow over, but could one imagine the implications of this material coming from the democrats? Both Kerry and network news would be toast - any remaining shreds of credibility gone, and the dems would have a black eye that may linger for at least four years.
Dan Rather has damaged his beloved Democrats beyond repair, another nail in the liberal coffin. He was a buffoon in Vietnam and Afghanistan and he is a buffoon today. Park it Dan, just go home.
If they think that I think they're the paragons of pristine honesty and integrity, then they are ignorant. O'Reilly gave that same crapola last night.
If he "was looking out for us" then why don't I call him daddy? We don't need Papa Doc, we got us Papa Bill.
There are others who do their job and do it far better. They are MAKING THEMSELVES obsolete.
If it was an "innocent mistake" .. one would think a Journalist would want to correct the record
In a manner like unto 'ladies of the evening'.
Of course it is genius! It's a copy.
The "original" is as likely to surface as the Ark of the Covenant.
The longer he is there, the quicker the demise of CBS. He's now the face of phony liberal biased news.
Isn't that two things? LOL.
Pro DNC/anti-Bush propaganda organs, plain and simple.
Doesn't Paul Begala have a home in Austin, Texas?
Please.
Pray for W and Our Troops
I can!
I'm beginning to think that someone at CBS created the forged documents to support the story they've been working on for the last two years. If the docs had come from an "unimpeachable source" as CBS contends, then why the need to hire a document expert before they released them? My suspicion is that they hired a document expert to see if they could fool him. After they got assurances that they had fooled their "expert" they ran with the story thinking they could fool everyone.
Hey CBS, prove me wrong!
Sort of reminds me of the movie, "Guide for the Married Man" when Robert Morse is teaching the virtuous Walter Matthau the art of the adulterous husband. "Even when caught red handed, Deny, Deny, Deny.
IF Captain Dan was not in on the manufacturing of the documents, he should be feverishly ferreting out who it is that has destroyed his career instead of pretending the emperor is still sporting a designer wardrobe.
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.