Posted on 09/20/2004 5:05:36 PM PDT by lunatic12
Edited on 09/20/2004 7:11:40 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MON SEPT 20, 2004 20:02:09 ET XXXXX
BUSH OFFICIALS WANT CBSNEWS MODERATOR OFF DEBATE Just hours after CBSNEWS admitted it cannot prove the authenticity of documents used in a 60 MINUTES story about President Bush's National Guard service, top Bush advisers are recommending a CBS reporter be removed as moderator of a planned presidential debate, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
At question is the approved Oct. 13 debate at Arizona State University in Tempe with Bob Schieffer, chief Washington correspondent for CBSNEWS, moderating.
"Considering the circumstances, we should definitely ask that Schieffer be replaced," a top Bush adviser told the president on Monday, according to a well-placed source.
The well-placed source continued: "Who can trust these CBS people to play it straight [during the debate]? I suspect they will be out for revenge."
The president is said to have not made any decision whether to seek a removal of the planned CBSNEWS moderator.
Developing...
Before everyone gets excited, they could just be making a point. If CBS still moderates a debate don't be surprised.
It's good either way. They are pointing out CBS is suspect. If CBS still moderates a debate they will be under scrutiny in a way no other organization would be.
Schieffer Flashback:
http://www.mrc.org/cyberalerts/2004/cyb20040823.asp
Probed Bush Guard Record, But Now Want Bush to Condemn Swift Ads
On the first Face the Nation after President Bush's Air National Guard service became a big media scandal in February, CBS's Bob Schieffer focused on the substance, demanding to know what recently released records revealed. He did not demand that the Kerry team condemn the pursuit of the issue or DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe for accusing Bush of being "AWOL" and, in fact, his co-host, Time's Karen Tumulty, outlined how the subject helped the Kerry campaign in its denigration of Bush character. But a bit more than six months later, on the first Face the Nation after the broadcast networks finally got around to the charges from the anti-Kerry Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Schieffer and his co-host, the Boston Globe's Nina Easton, didn't care about the substance of Kerry's record as both instead demanded to know why President Bush hadn't condemned the group's ads. Easton was more concerned about Kerry's plight, noting he had "finally" condemned the ads. She still worried: "Do you think he waited too long? Do you think the damage has already been done?"
The February 15 Face the Nation didn't feature any elected officials as the program started with a session on gay marriage with Dr. James Dobson. Later, with Tumulty and Boston Globe reporter Walter Robinson, Schieffer cited the "dramatic release late on a Friday night of these hundreds of pages of records" by the White House and he asked Robinson: "Did you find anything new in those records?" Schieffer soon pressed Robinson on Bush's 30-year-old records: "What has all this turned up? Was the President not at these Guard meetings? Is there actual proof of that? Or is it we just don't know what happened here?"
Tumulty chimed in with an approving assessment of how the Bush Guard story helps Kerry advance his denigration of Bush: "They're also trying to draw the contrast the way they want it drawn. Their apparent nominee is a man who, although he opposed the war, went to Vietnam and served. President Bush supported the war and went into the National Guard at a time when it was a near guarantee you wouldn't have to go to Vietnam. I think that this is the contrast that the Democrats are going to want to ride on this very important issue of character."
But on Sunday's Face the Nation, the CBS team wasn't interested in how the anti-Kerry ads may help Bush. Instead, co-host Nina Easton of the Boston Globe worried about how the ads hurt Kerry as she vexed to Democratic Senator Carl Levin, who came aboard with Republican Senator Pat Roberts primarily to discuss reorganization of the intelligence agencies, about how Kerry "finally issued a harsh condemnation and suggested the Bush campaign was behind these attacks. Do you think he waited too long? Do you think the damage has already been done?"
Easton turned to Republican Senator Pat Roberts and demanded: "Why doesn't the Bush White House condemn the ads? Why doesn't President Bush condemn those ads?" Schieffer picked up on Easton's point, and pressed Roberts about how "every time somebody asks an official, from President Bush right on down, they give this very carefully crafted answer. They say, 'we condemn all these ads,' but they will not condemn this ad specifically. Why is that?"
In the second segment on the August 22 show, Schieffer and Easton interviewed Kerry's two daughters. Schieffer's first inquiry to them: "All of us wonder what is it like to be out there when you hear these attacks on your dad? How do you handle that?"
I saw the last part of it. Maybe his ratings have gone down since so many of us stopped watching him religiously so he's swinging the other way tonight.
I can't stand him so I couldn't really care less.
Don't "misunderestimate" President Bush, he'll be fine.
Bet you it is because of this....
CBS' Bob Schieffer:
"I did my closing commentary on Face the Nation on these new polls that are out that show that George Bush has opened up a nine point lead over Kerry and I noted that it is really unusual and that most of the indicators in the polls, most people think that the country is gong in the wrong direction. Most people are worried about the economy and there is a plurality that believes that George Bush is handling the Iraq war in the wrong way."
CBS' Bob Schieffer:
What's happened at the White House??? They're actually acting like they don't enjoy being slapped around, kicked and spit on anymore. About frikkin' time...
There should definitely be consequences to their actions from the White House. You obviously can't remove CBS's White House correspondent but this is a valid sanction for their actions.
Mess with the bull, get the horns. CBS has lost all semblance of credibility with this fiasco and they need to continue paying a very public price for their mistake. Murrow is rolling in his grave.
Have you noticed the incredible silence of Walter Cronkite on this issue?
Good for them!
Brit, You The Man!
I think we should start a steady drum beat for Brit Hume.
This is one issue they definately need to tackle. Bob Schieffer should not be moderating the 3rd debate. I sent this email to the GOP last week:
Please dispute the CPD over their choice of Bob Schieffer of CBS News to moderate the third presidential debate being held at Arizona State University. Viacom is the 14th largest contributor to the Kerry campaign and owns CBS News which is nightly committing blatant partisanship in their reporting. It is entirely possible that Viacom is pressuring Dan Rather to stonewall the issue of the now infamously forged records concerning President Bush's military service. The format of the debate grants the moderator discretion to ask follow-up questions which in effect grants Viacom control over the outcome of the 3rd and last crucial debate.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter.
A whole debate just on those? Not all foreign policy? Ugh.
Great way to keep the Rather Forgeries in the headlines for a few more weeks.
Nobody ever has to wonder if GWB has a pair.
It won't go away. On the contrary, I think the bloggers and other new media constituents will see it to its proper conclusion: Rather's and Mapes' resignations or terminations.
Personally I want CBS "off" television. I have previously given them zero creditability on anything but football games. You can damn well be sure that henceforth I will check football scores with another station, before I take CBS's word for them.
This is huge and reflects negatively on CBS, Kerry, the DNC et al.
Should be Brit.
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