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.
Unfortuneately the big boys at the DNC are too smart to be caught this easily. They've got at least two iron clad cut-outs between them and Dan. This will never be a criminal matter and there will be no hard nosed cops able to get the cut-outs to role on Carville and Terry.
Only one "Hah"-that deserves a Jackie Gleason "Har-de-har-har."
Rather intentionally concocted this farce; and, before someone comes back with a "Well, how do you know he did?"-I'll say that my instincts tell me he did because of his rabid partisanship. Rather has previously attacked Nixon and Bush 41 in an attempt to influence Presidential politics and this is no exception. You don't see him attack Democrats, do you?
Bingo. They're distressed because he got caught.
I think this story was part of a much larger attempt to discredit Bush. The sugar coating memo was a feint. The real purpose was to raise questions about why he missed the physical. Kitty's book coming out, immediately following that story, was meant to plant a seed that Bush missed the physical because of drug use. The rest of the campaign would be spent answering questions about drug use while in the guard. Talk about smear tactics and dirty tricks; if you connect the dots this was an organized attempt to smear Bush in the worst way. Kudos to the bloggers who blew it apart before they could take it to the next level.
only if they are professionals in reaaaly nice pajamas.
==="You're dealing with genuine professionals.===
Professional Political whores.
Congressman Billybob
There is no shortage of tall buildings in NY (hint, hint).
Ping
Green is ground & black bites.
Sounds like there might be some people at CBS that may not want to 'go down with the ship'!
I'm there!
Dan's hatred of Bush drove him to the edge of the cliff.
And Free Republic pushed him over.
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