CBS IS STONEWALLING TO CONCEAL ITS BIAS

NY POST ^ | September 19, 2004 | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[Liz]

THE ISSUE: Documents about Bush's military service, aired by CBS.

***

Let's get to the bottom line on "Memogate": Dan Rather and CBS had an agenda in running the story ("Bad Week at Black Rock," Editorial, Sept. 17). Consequently, any admission that the documents are fake would also amount to a confession that they had an agenda in the first place. Hence, the stonewalling. The issues of bias and credibility cannot be separated. The existence of the former led to the absence of the latter. Philip Corso Manhattan

*****

Reporters have gone to prison rather than give up their sources. I understand that. In fact, it's principled. But what principle underlies the decision to protect a source who has perpetrated a lie against a news organization and, by extension, the public, in the hopes of destroying a president? How can such a "source" be deserving of protection? All that protecting such a source will do is encourage the use of fraudulent documents and phony leads to get reputable news organizations to aid in the destruction of one's opponents. In CBS' world, no one would be safe from scurrilous charges. CBS did not only harm itself. By insisting that it must protect the source of almost certainly faked documents, it has done harm to public discourse. CBS has chosen to abandon the search for truth. Frances Edwards Ridgewood, N.J.

*****

How deliciously ironic that Rather should be taught a lesson from the Nixon era in the twilight of his career. Rather, of all people, should know that the cover-up is worse than the crime. His secretiveness and obstinance show that he really is biased. And his recent ratings show that the American people are punishing him for it. Bill Candee Manhattan

[occutegirl]

From what I understand, state shield laws would not protect a source who provided forgeries, so if CBS admits they are forgeries, they have to give up the source.

[SE Mom]

"I have never forgiven them for the Salem Witch Trial that was Watergate..."

That it was a witch trial may be so- but what I remember is the integrity of the Republicans on the committee- it broke their hearts...but they were equally as determined to find the facts as were the Dems...

[occutegirl]

Cleland says he referred Burkett to the Kerry camp. He says you get people like all the time and you never know if they are legit. That, I tend to believe.
There was one statement by Burkett that the Kerry camp turned him away.
I tend to believe that as well.
It seems more likely CBS went fishing.

[Fiddlstix]

Whoa. The real news here is that there are people in Manhattan who get it.

Well said.
(LOL)

[occutegirl]

I am just sort of thinking it through out loud, what would be most likely.

[Mr. K]

Dan "Ted Baxter" Rather is just hoping he will wake up Monday and it will no longer be news

We CANT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN

Rather should be FIRED

[Loyalist]

I am thinking that if Burkett provided the documents, someone credible must have vouched for them. I do not think it could have been straight from Burkett to CBS because Burkett would no have been credible enough for CBS assistant producers who would have been doing the leg work.

The CBS producers who were working on this story spent five years on it without tangible results. They were also rabid partisans, for the most part. Put those two facts together, and they would almost certainly have accepted Bill Burkett's claims at face value.

[crushelits]

[occutegirl]

No one should watch CBS news and CBS should be barred from all political events, press conferences, debates, all of it.

[occutegirl]

Also, when how long has Burkett known this David Van Os? When did he become his attorney?
Was Van Os the conduit between the Kerry camp and Max Cleland?
Wouldn't what went on between Van Os and Burkett be "attorney client privilege"?

[MOgirl]

Hello,

I have thought for years that many of the "anonymous sources" simply do not exist. They are made-up. Who would know? How could you prove the existence of "somebody"? You can't. CBS truly believed that they could pull this off, because they have done it before.

Glad to be here, MOgirl

[DaiHuy]

Well it may work better, but your first post was more accurate.