Rather's CBS Colleagues in 'Deep Distress'

NewsMax .com ^ | 9/14/04 | Carl Limbacher

[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.

[RBroadfoot]

"I figure he'll go about another year and then retire. They don't want him to "resign" and ruin his career ... but his days are officially numbered. They'll wait until it all blows over and then give him a ceremonial retirement."

Naw, he'll wait until Bush gets re-elected, and then forge some documents to "prove" that the Bush Administration used the PATRIOT Act, the FCC, or something to force him off the air ... big corporate media and all that in the mix as well. Dan hates Bush, and he wouldn't miss a final opportunity to smear him.

[RonF]

In earlier years, such as in the '60's, news organizations were not considered a profit center by the networks. The idea then was to provide information, not to sell product or to entertain. When the latter two considerations overrode the first consideration, we got what we now have with CBSNBCABCFox.

[Big Digger]

This "genuine professionals" business is crap. If they were truly news professionals they wouldn't be in the tank for Kerry. If there are any professionals left at CBS (doubtful) they'd better start throwing the partisan hacks over the side. And by the way this garbage CBS is trying to peddle about the possibility that a 1973-era IBM Selectric, Executive, or Composer could have written these memos is BS. There is a web page you can Google by a WP expert who still owns an IBM Composer and he has tried and failed to replicate these memos. Also there is another blogger who at last count was offering $37,500 cash to anyone who can replicate these memos on circa 1973 equipment. No takers so far. Can CBS ignore these readily available facts indefinitely? Not if we don't let them!

[Nevermore]

I disagree: Danny was very purposeful about ignoring standard journalistic practice. It was an obvious hit piece built on obviously flawed material, with no pretense of skepticism, no background work, etc. This was, in fact, malicious.

[Common Tator]

Click here for the 'tator take on the decline and fall of Dan Rather

[DrDavid]

There was a time when CBS and the Associated Press were the pinnacle of the profession. Now I'm not sure what they are.

The other pinnacle!

[Uncle Jaque]

Ok Amigos;

I've had about enough of this PC/BS from CBS!!!

This just went out to the FCC FWIW.

Whaddaya think, eh?

---

OPEN LETTER TO THE FCC

---

Sept. 14, 2004

TO: fccinfo@fcc.gov

To Whom it may concern - FCC:

To whom should I address my indignation of the blatantly politically
biased misrepresentation of "News" by CBS Television, and in particular
the indefensibly slanderous allegations about President George W. BUSH
expressed as "News" by Anchorman Dan RATHER?

Mr. RATHER's obvious political bias in his delivery style and choice of
content for his "news" programming have been offensive to me for years
(I only watch him under duress; my Wife insists of watching his 6PM
Newscast on Channel 13 here in Maine).

But his latest diatribe, using what are becoming increasingly obvious to
be forged documents to support his contentions, have far exceeded his
typicaly poor taste and journalistic incompetence.

I submit to you that I seriously consider Mr. RATHER's latest attempt to
unseat a sitting President of the United States of America by the use
of fabricated allegations of dereliction of duty during Mr. BUSH's
Military service in the Texas Air National Guard using FORGED documents
to advance his spurious allegations, during a time of national emergency
and WAR, to be sufficient to establish a reasonable suspicion of willful
sedition and TREASON against not only our President, but the concept of
Constitutional Democracy itself.

Mr. RATHER and CBS have wantonly and repeatedly violated the trust of
the American People by advancing their political agendas by use of
regular propaganda techniques under the guise of legitimate "news" over
the public broadcast media, in clear violation, I submit, of the FCC
regulations and standards of conduct by a broadcaster entrusted by their
Federal license to operate in the "Public Interest".

Please consider this as a formal request by an American Citizen (and
regular Voter) to investigate the intentions and conduct of the CBS
Television Network as well as Mr. RATHER, and take whatever regulatory
and/or legal action is deemed judicially appropriate.

Thank You;

("Uncle Jaque") etc.

[RightOnline]

Ol' Dan's deep in something, alright......but it isn't "distress".

[Lancey Howard]

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 didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday," Mike added. Please....
How could somebody who's been around as long as Mike not see what a bitter, partisan hack Dan Rather is? Rather's advanced years have only made him reckless and pathetic. Whew.... What a way to go out. You would think SOMEBODY at CBS would have been watching out for Rather before things got to this point. Too late now.

[tm22721]

This reminds me of the Lewinsky affair after Clinton denied his affair but everybody knew the truth. There is an elephant in the living room but nobody can admit they see it yet.

Rather is a condemned man.

Can't wait for the liberals' typical candlelight vigil.

BUMP

[ladtx]

Let me make my point a little more clear.

Rather has become so blinded by his own liberalism that he has lost all ability (assuming he ever had any) to judge a story on its merits. He has been able to get away with this fatal flaw because he's been unchallenged in the past. Now with talk radio and primarily the internet this glaring deficiency in his character has come under the spotlight. Like I said before, his own prejudices have finally caught up with him.

[Sicon]

"My opinion is Rather is personally involved in a conspiracy to influence the outcome of the 2004 US Presidential election."

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Sal]

Way good letter to the FCC!

[beyond the sea]

Another network source described the atmosphere at Black Rock as one of "deep concern."

That's even worse than Dash-hole's "I am concerned, Tim."

LOL!

[danamco]

My opinion? Dan Rather has his back against the wall because he knows the memos are forgeries. I believe he was working with someone from the kerry campaign (Corporal Cueball, perhaps???) or the DNC (could you imagine Terry Mcauliffe, perhaps???) to damage GWB. My opinion is Rather is personally involved in a conspiracy to influence the outcome of the 2004 US Presidential election


You bet! And he was caught cold handed in the conspiracy with his pants right down!! The suspenders did NOT help him this time, either!!!

[JayNorth]

"I've talked to colleagues who would love to see more of a defense," he told the Times.

Is it just me, or does that line sound exactly like the RATs recent whining about how the evil Republicans were running all these negative ads and they kept telling F'n "you've got to fight back"?

[beyond the sea]

I noticed Greta had a "missing girl" story on last night.

Greta's show sucks! What a waste of time. It's an insult........Peterson, Jackson, Kobe, Peterson, Jackson ...............etc. Sickening.............

FoxNews ought to be grossed out at themselves. What a waste of air time!!!!!!!!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Solid news gathering brought credibility and listener/viewer loyalty. That was the payback.

[freepertoo]

Salant in his own words: "Our job is to give people not what they want, but what WE decide they ought to have."

Better take another look at Salant.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Cronkite had a unique gig at CBS. By 1968, he hated LBJ but was still a card carrying Liberal. He would have done or said just about anything to poison the well in Viet Nam.