Posted on 09/19/2004 10:13:53 PM PDT by Cableguy
ABC News' president has cautioned reporters that their mission in reporting on the CBS document story is not to stick it to a competitor.
ABC is hot on the story, breaking ground by unearthing a document examiner who warned a CBS producer of the Bush records questionable status, but nobody's gloating.
In a memo sent last week, ABC News President David Westin issued a directive for covering the allegedly forged memos cited on 60 Minutes.
We need to stick as close to the facts and what we know about them as possible, he wrote, because, noting, ABC could be in the hot seat next time. How best to sum up CBSs dilemma? Westin chose to paraphrase Churchill: When boys are throwing rocks at a frog, it may seem like good fun to the boys, but to the frog, it's serious business." While ABC may not be able to turn a frog into a prince, it is willing to vindicate a competitor. If CBS News is wrong, we owe it to everyone to make the point; if theyre right, we owe it to everyone to make that point as well.
When boys are throwing rocks at a frog, it may seem like good fun to the boys, but to the frog, it's serious business."
Bitch, please.....we have and will continue to throw rocks. WE DONT NEED YOU ANYMORE!!!!
Yes, by all means, let's be fair to CBS. We can still stick it to President Bush though, every chance we get - fair or not.
Of course not. That part is pure fringe benefit.
Yep, Westin used the wrong analogy when comparing us to rock-throwing boys and comparing Dan Rather to the frog.
A more approriate analogy is David versus Goliath.
CBS News is going to admit they are wrong on Monday and it's going to be gloat-city at ABC. ABC News went after CBS News' throat on this story, even more than Fox. In print media, it was the aggressive Washington Post reliving its Watergate 'glory days' that surprised everyone by producing good articles.
The Emmy for Best Investigative Reporting should be shared between Free Republic, Little Green Footballs, Powerline blog, and Allahpundit.
When we were kids we'd shove firecrackers down the frog's throat. Rather ate the firecracker on his own.
Until then, learn a lesson and don't let your hatred of President Bush overwhelm your fear of pajama wearing Americans.
I'll be waiting for Harkin's apology for waving the fake documents and calling Bush a liar ....waiting....waiting ....waiting ....waiting..zzzzz
I guess I meant Pulitzer.
ABC news has actually did an astoundingly good job on this story, especially "The Note".
Yes, ABC News scented blood straight off. Fox News was 'rather' disappointing, if you pardon the pun. CNN and MSNBC were to be expected - worthless.
heh-heh. . . hell with rocks. . . heh-heh. . . how bout a little Frog Baseball?
-ccm
Fox was too busy covering the latest developments in the Laci Peterson case to cover Memogate.
FOX has been rubbing Dan's nose in this SH*T on the hour; you must not be watching very often.
But give ABC and the WashPost credit for hammering the story home.
Fox couldn't lead on this story because of the leftwing perception that Fox is a tool of the right.
"You've GOT to be KIDDING!!!
FOX has been rubbing Dan's nose in this SH*T on the hour; you must not be watching very often.
But give ABC and the WashPost credit for hammering the story home.
Fox couldn't lead on this story because of the leftwing perception that Fox is a tool of the right."
You're probably right about the perception of Fox. Was it Fox News itself or commentators on Fox news shows that were hammering CBS news? It seemed more like ABC News was doing it officially. Fox was running second best. CNN and MSNBC were really behind on the whole thing.
Interesting how Westin has to admonish his reporters to "stick to the facts". Silly me, I thought thats what all reporters were supposed to do.
They are doing some "CYA", he correctly states that "next time it may be ABC".
They are scared.
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.