CBS owes president apology

Washington Times ^ | Wednesday, September 22, 2004 | Joe M. Allbaugh

[JohnHuang2]

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com

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CBS owes president apology

By Joe M. Allbaugh
Published September 22, 2004

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George W. Bush has twice served his country loyally. He is doing so now as its 43rd president, and he did so as a member of the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.
    The recent allegations against Mr. Bush regarding his National Guard service are nothing new. And, as has been proven before, they are without merit. The truth is that Mr. Bush performed his Guard duty with honor during a difficult time in our country. Furthermore, he now serves our country with dignity and honor as president and commander-in-chief during an equally difficult time.
    For anyone who might question the integrity and honor of service in the National Guard, I call on you to remember that in the days after the terrorist attacks on September 11, it was the brave men and women of the National Guard from many states who patrolled the skies over our nation's cities. The members of the National Guard are ready to protect this country at a moment's notice, just as Mr. Bush was trained to do and just as many are doing around the globe today.
    CBS News has learned an all-too-painful lesson that is taught to first-year journalism students: The message means nothing if the facts are wrong and the source has no credibility. In our society, either you have credibility or you don't. Bill Burkett has no credibility.

[kcvl]

Mr. Burkett has, in the past, simply made up stories about President Bush and about me. He has claimed that he overheard me calling for the "sanitizing" of George Bush's Guard records. I can assure you that I never told anyone to cleanse Mr. Bush's records. My parents taught me early on that credibility and integrity are not to be compromised. I learned that lesson well.

SNIP

It's curious to me that CBS News appears to be more concerned about its own credibility with its viewers than in correcting the wrongs it has done. Simply put, CBS has a responsibility to verify the facts of a story before it is broadcast, not two weeks after it is questioned.

This whole affair reminds me of the kid whose mother accuses him of sneaking cookies before dinner. He insists he's innocent and puts up a bold defense until she hands him a mirror and points out the crumbs on his cheeks. Even then, he only says he's sorry he got caught.


SNIP

Now that these accusations have been proven false, once again, hopefully we as Americans can come to appreciate the great loyalty and dedication of President Bush.

[Henry Krinkle]

[PGalt]

Bump, thanks, LOL...welcome aboard!

[Bonaparte]

I truly believe Dan Rather would rather spend the rest of his life in prison than personally apologize to George Bush. He hates him that much.

[JohnHuang2]

lol

[Dan Lacey]

[JohnHuang2]

I believe you're right. Rather isn't man enough, besides.

[Deb]

?

[Bonaparte]

LOL! I recently read a book in which the author tells the story of Bush actually walking on water and the New York Times reporting it the next day with the headline, "Bush Can't Swim."

That's how the MSM operates. And Rather is no exception.

[river rat]

I'll accept that option!
Semper Fi

[beyond the sea]

This whole affair reminds me of the kid whose mother accuses him of sneaking cookies before dinner. He insists he's innocent and puts up a bold defense until she hands him a mirror and points out the crumbs on his cheeks.

CBS should rub the crumbs off their cheeks, and go to their room.

[beyond the sea]

If CBS wants to restore its credibility it needs to go one step further. The network and its anchorman need to recognize the harm created by its sloppy journalism and its arrogant stonewalling and apologize publicly and directly to Mr. Bush.

He should apologize to the President! But he won't. If he did apologize to the President, Rather knows Bush would win in a landslide. It would mean that much all over America, as the sluggish stench of an election fix by the DNC/CBS would spread all over the country. If Rather apologizes to G.W., I'll kiss Barbra Streisand's feet.

Nah!

[GailA]

From my email

(Sung to the tune from the Beverly Hillbillies)

Come and listen to my story 'bout a man named Dan,
The documents were fake and he didn't give a damn;
He put 'em on the air, an' he thought he'd done the job,
But up from the web come a howlin' mob.

Blogs, that is.
Web logs.
Checkin' facts.

Well, the first thing you know ol' Dan's a-runnin' fast;
Made a false report an' it bit him in the ass;
He said 'dog-gonnit, I done thought I'd get away!'
But it turned out to be his a-reckonin' day.

Busted, that is.
Red-faced.
Mud in the eye.

Well, now it's time to say goodbye to Dan and all his men;
And they would like to shoot you folks for turnin' them in;
You're all invited back next week to watch the Evening News,
And see which correspondent's picked to fill Dan's empty shoes.

Y'all come back, now, hear?

[Libertina]

RatherBiased & CBS crew certainly DO owe the President an apology. And they must NOT be allowed anywhere near the debates.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Let me be perfectly clear...

Donate to Swift Boat Vets for the Truth HERE.
Sign Petition against CBS & Dan Rather HERE.
My Campaign Button Page
and My Toons Page [Updated 9-21 / 4:30AM CST]

[EQAndyBuzz]

"LOL! I recently read a book in which the author tells the story of Bush actually walking on water and the New York Times reporting it the next day with the headline, "Bush Can't Swim."
That's how the MSM operates. And Rather is no exception."

That's what I expected from the Pubbie convention. With Bush talking in the round, the Times headline would have been, "President turns back on Constituency"

[Paleo Conservative]

Viacom owner of C^BS: MTV Running Ad Saying Kids Will Be Drafted!!"

Viacom lie debunked here on Snopes.com

[Bonaparte]

Looks like you've mastered the concept, EQ!

Now for just one real-life example from the NYT itself...

The lead...
WASHINGTON, Apr 17 -- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, employing the harshest language against Israel since the Bush administration took office, assailed Israel today for using "excessive and disproportionate" force in seizing a part of Palestinian-held territory in Gaza, and urged its forces to withdraw.

Nobody was quoted to support this characterization of Powell's comments as "harsh" and the phrase "excessive and disproportionate" was used by the NYT to create the impression that Powell was singling out Israel alone for special treatment. He didn't. Further down the column was the following...
While criticism of Israel was the strongest since Mr. Bush has been in office, administration officials took pains to say that the language was carefully moderated.

Then way down near the end of the article, are the only full Powell quotations taken in context...

"We call upon both sides to respect the agreements they have signed," General Powell continued. For the Palestianians, he said, that meant renouncing terrorism and bringing all Palestinian military forces under control. "For the Israelis," he added, "this means respecting their commitment to withdraw from Gaza, according to the agreement signed by Israel and the Palestinians. There can be no military solution to this conflict."

So what was the headline?
POWELL ASSAILS ISRAEL FOR GAZA INCURSION

And what did Powell really say, exactly? Here is the full text of Powell's April 17, 2001 written press release...


U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

April 17, 2001

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL

Situation in the Middle East

The United States is deeply concerned about the events of the last four days in the Middle East, including the Hezbollah attack on Israeli forces at Sheba'a Farms, the Israeli retaliatory attack directed at Syrian positions in Lebanon, the ongoing Palestinian mortar attacks into Israel, and last night's Israeli retaliation in Gaza. The situation is threatening to escalate further, posing the risk of a broader conflict. We call upon all sides to exercise maximum restraint, to reduce tensions, and to take steps to end the violence immediately.

The hostilities last night in Gaza were precipitated by the provocative Palestinian mortar attacks on Israel. The Israeli response was excessive and disproportionate. We call upon both sides to respect the agreements they've signed. For the Palestinians, this includes implementing their commitment to renounce terrorism and violence, to exercise control over all elements of the P.L.O. and the Palestinian Authority, and to discipline violators. For the Israelis, this includes respecting their commitment to withdraw from Gaza according to the terms of the agreements signed by Israel and the Palestinians. There can be no military solution to this conflict. We continue to strongly believe that the resumption of bilateral security cooperation is essential to reduce and eventually end the violence. We are continuing to work with the parties so that they can resume as soon as possible the security discussions they began two weeks ago.

The United States remains prepared to assist the parties in taking steps to reduce the violence, seeking ways to restore trust and confidence, and assisting them in resolving their differences through negotiations.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Powell did not single out Israel for "harsh" criticism. He even-handedly criticized both parties to the conflict and called for peaceful settlement of the dispute. But you sure wouldn't know that from reading the NYT header and lead, would you? The NYT deliberately and maliciously misrepresented Powell's statement and did so by omission, distortion and special ordering of statements to be emphasized. They disguised a biased editorial in the trappings of a "factual" news report. And what did the broadcasting newsies do? Why, most of them, including the networks, dutifully echoed this false report from the NYT. Read the CNN report for yourself.

I could go on and on and on with such examples and I would never reach the end. When I tell people that the NYT is a very poor source for news, they usually look at me quizically. My frustration is just as great as Secretary Powell's must be.