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.
Then, I say to them..... grow some cajones like Bernie Goldberg did, and SPEAK OUT!
Carl From Oyster Bay was on Scarborough Country last night and gave Free Republic a prominent mention.
""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."
Nice try Mike W. Not a single person, who's been paying attention to this, will believe that!
You're so right. For Rather to continue this farce in the face of overWHELMing evidence is just unbelievable. I know this guy is obscenely biased, but good God in Heaven......just how stupid does he really think we are????????????
The suits at CBS must be total numbskulls to allow this to continue. It's just insanity.
It don't get much worse than making up lies in order to influence a presidential election. That is the stuff of Banana Republics. Everyone from the top at CBS needs to fall for this. This is the Media version of Enron and Watergate.
Professional what? Professional Propagandists or Professional Criminals?
Nor when they continue to broadcast the lies on their radio stations knowing full well that these documents have been seriously in question for almost a week now. I heard it again this morning on our local talk radio station...they are still touting Hodges as supporting these documents. I was screaming at the radio.
What did Rather know and when did he know it?
Rather, as pointed out, last evening reiterated his position that the TNG documents are authentic. It's obvious he's maintaining this indefensible position because his insufferable arrogance will not allow him to do otherwise. Problem for him ... his position is so blatantly wrong that even his allies in the MSM can't give him the benefit of the doubt and maintain any shred of credibility ... even his cohorts at CBS are ready to bail. If there was one scintilla of wiggle room for Rather (and the obviously forged TNG documents) he would get the benefit of the doubt ... however, there isn't.
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If Dan's 'colleagues' had any integrity, they would be on the curb outside of Black Rock with the protest signs.
You think Rather got the forgeries from somebody in the Kerry campaign? Someone he trusts. Someone like, perhaps, his daughter????
That would be Carl L.?
They may be in "Deep Distress" over this, but until they get out of their "Deep Denial" that this was an innocent mistake, they are doomed to laughingstock status.
Even if you are pissed, you have to say you're distressed and concerned in order to keep your job when it comes to The Dan. Just look at what happened to Berne Goldberg when he publically pointed out what everyone knew about leftist bias.
Rather assumes the position as the shiite hits the fan.
Actually, I'm entertaining the possibility that this whole thing was aimed at Rather, not Bush, to try to discredit him and CBS. There's no way of telling for sure right now, of course.
Get this...AP is who is going to be giving election numbers to the networks on November 2nd. The AP is the one source that would not give Bush Florida in the wee small hours of the morning in 2000 even when everybody else did. I heard that Fox is not going to depend on the AP. That is good.
Sandy Berger, now Danny Boy! The brazen stupidity of these people is amazing!.....
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