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.
Sorry to disagree with you RonF but I don't think any Bush supporter would take a chance hoping the doc's would be discredited.
See my #167 above.
We can dream, I suppose.
But alas; I don't think we need hold our breath, here.
Does a bear dump in the woods?
Is the Pope Catholic?
Is Dan Rather a partisan, discredited phony?
I called my local CBS affiliate to lodge my concern about the fake memos being used by 60 minutes. The lady answering the phone was ... silent and never really said a word except good bye.
SeeBS, SayBS, AreBS
The Charmin and plungers are working overtime at CBS.
He knew his news. Elitist ? Probably.
Any objective journalist would simply say, "I've been duped" and move on. The fact he is desperately hanging on to a thread is very revealing. I don't think he'll ever recover from this one - and I think it should be a very valuable lesson to others in the so called "main stream media".
Please, there is NO WAY this came from any source other than the Kerryites. THAT is exactly why there was no forensic investigation of the papers. RATher completely trusted his source so much so that he went out on a very weak limb. ANY other source would have been thoroughly investigated.
It is becoming clear that the docs were supplied by Col. Burkett, a mental case. RATher would have been better off listening to the drunk guy howling at the moon and begging for handouts on State street.
It is remarkable that some here cannot stop looking the gift horse in the mouth. Such speculation is idiotic and a waste of time and energy.
Can you trust someone who makes a comment like that?
I have a very good understanding of the left. Dan Rather is the embodiment of what they are. Read my post at #171.
Carvile and Begala haven't been heard from during this flap.
Are they keeping a low profile because they don't want to answer any potentially damaging questions?
Come on James, where is your pumpkin head. Come out, come out wherever you are...
Ummmm, in what font is that article formatted? Was that done with a word processor?
You're right. Both my parents and my in-laws are in the enemy's camp. They didn't start out as bad people but the darkness they live in has grown deeper and deeper. In Rather's case however he is one of the masters. He now loves the darkness and calls it 'the light' as he draws more and more folks in with him.
In Europe the darkness is now so widespread that soon they will sent armies to attack israel.
What will we (the US) do. Which way will we turn. This election will tell us a lot.
vox populi -- Hey CBS, this is the voice of the people speaking. We're tired of you shoving Abu Ghraib down our throat to discredit out military and its mission, and we see thru your sorry attempt to smear out Commander in Chief and thereby create a more favorable political climate for your boy John Fraud Kerry.
A caller on Boortz today spoke of the forensic aspect of the documents. Nothing new, but he gave me some things to think about.
There is no way this was wrttien by a person familar with military procedure. He/she may have be familiar with general military operations, but not procedures.
He said to remember...they were not written for those in the time period of the early 1970's. They were written for us, the people of 2004. Hence, they are written to point us in a general direction of thought.
I am having my doubts these memos came from anyone in the Air Force, TANG, or any other branch of the Armed Forces. These were written by an amatuer. Way too sloppy.
This story has been in the Public Domain for years and years. A google search will list all of the charges the dems have been making. The only thing new is the slant.
So we need to make a list of suspects and eliminate them according to their military experience. And then we need to proceed from there. This will be done only by a process of elimination. The facts might bear out who did not write the memo. But as long as we are looking for who did write that memo, we may never discover the truth.
"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.
Did he steal that line from the New York Times?
I agree that Dan was snookered.
I agree that Dan was snookered.
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.