ick Thornburgh, the former attorney general selected by CBS to help investigate a flawed report broadcast earlier this month on "60 Minutes,'' sharply criticized that program in a memoir published last year.Posted on 09/23/2004 8:53:26 PM PDT by Dont Mention the War
ick Thornburgh, the former attorney general selected by CBS to help investigate a flawed report broadcast earlier this month on "60 Minutes,'' sharply criticized that program in a memoir published last year.
In the book, "Where the Evidence Leads'' (University of Pittsburgh Press), Mr. Thornburgh described "60 Minutes" as having "chimed in with its usual sensationalized treatment'' in a 1992 report about the Justice Department's handling of an investigation into illegal lending by an Italian bank.
When, as Mr. Thornburgh writes in the book, "60 Minutes'' later sought to interview him because he had been an under secretary general of the United Nations, Mr. Thornburgh demurred, "because of my previous shabby treatment on it, turning down even a personal plea from Mike Wallace himself.''
In a telephone interview yesterday, Mr. Wallace said he considered Mr. Thornburgh an inappropriate choice to lead an independent investigation, but not because of what he had written.
"It occurs to me that on the team of investigators should be someone who has experience with how a television piece is put together,'' Mr. Wallace said. "He has none, as far as I know.''
Reached last night, Mr. Thornburgh said he had no comment.
A spokeswoman for CBS News, Sandra Genelius, said that before accepting the appointment, Mr. Thornburgh had advised the president of CBS News, Andrew Heyward, that he had written about "60 Minutes'' in his book. Ms. Genelius characterized Mr. Thornburgh's handling of the matter with Mr. Heyward as "further testament to his integrity.''
On Wednesday, CBS announced that Mr. Thornburgh and Louis D. Boccardi, a former top executive of The Associated Press, would be the two-member panel that would examine a report, first broadcast on "60 Minutes,'' that raised new questions about President Bush's service in the National Guard. The network now says the report was based on documents it cannot authenticate and should not have broadcast.
After Mr. Thornburgh's appointment was first announced, Dan Rather, the anchor on the broadcast who initially vouched for the documents undergirding it, was said by several colleagues and associates to be upset by the choice. He was reacting, in part, to Mr. Thornburgh's having served two Republican presidents - Mr. Bush's father and Richard M. Nixon - with whom Mr. Rather had clashed publicly.
But colleagues said Mr. Rather's ire abated on Wednesday.
If you did nothing wrong, there's nothing to worry about, Danny Boy.
That's because he was finally informed about the Rove / Thornburgh lawsuit and then realized the fix was in.
After he learned that Karl Rove sued Thornburg and has a Judgement for $170,000 against him.
I have mixed feelings about the Commission. I think it's meant to shut us up, to demonstrate an illusion they are serious about correcting error. Well, if that were true Rather wouldn't be on air and Mapes wouldn't still be working behind the scenes.
I do think it is simply amazing the NYT's focuses on the Republican, and not the Democrat. Or maybe I don't. I find it typical. I also wonder why a person that obviously noticed the troubles within CBS prior to the forgeries is supposed to be considered unfit for the job. Seems to me qualifies him for the position.
This is standard liberal stuff, attack the Republican investigator. Meanwhile, the Jamie Gorelicks and so forth who actually do have violent conflicts of interest just skate in under the radar screen. The liberals know their dirty business and practice it well.
I wish everyone would tempert the cynicism just a bit. Dick Thornburgh is a stand-up guy. I can't think of a better choice. Do you really think the non-Freeping world would accept an inquiry led by Ken Starr? Or Robert Bork? I'm less concerned with his politics than with his reputation. He's as close to a paragon of ethical rectitude as we have in the party. So what if he's not the most conservative Republican around. He's no RINO, that's for sure. He will be thorough, accurate and fair. CBS will be slammed.
I received this today from Grassfire and I'm forwarding it If anyone else wants to sign the petition, there's a link.
After intense citizen pressure, Dan Rather and CBS News
finally "apologized" for what has become known as Memogate.
But Grassfire is not accepting this "sorry" apology that
came across as insincere and arrogant. That's why Grassfire
is urging citizens to increase their pressure on network
executives until sufficient action is taken by signing our
national petition calling for CBS to suspend Dan Rather
until after the election.
Please add your name to this petition by clicking here:
http://www.grassfire.org/56/petition.asp?RID=3839263
+ + 50,000 and Counting
In the days since we’ve launched this petition, response has
been stunning with 53,226 signatures!
Citizens are angered that Dan Rather would blatantly attempt
to dupe them during this critical time, and many believe
his destructive actions have disqualified him from commenting
or reporting on the election.
Grassfire agrees, and is hoping to flood CBS News offices
with at least 100,000 petitions in the coming days!
But we need your help.
After adding your name to our petition, please do
the following:
+ + Action Item #1-- Call/Write CBS News Now
After adding your name to our petition, please contact the
network and demand they suspend Dan Rather until after the
election.
Mr. Andrew Heyward, President
CBS News
524 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-4321
+ + Action Item #2--Alert Your Friends!
Please pass this message on to your friends and urge them to
add their name to this petition. Already more than 50,000 have
responded, and we want to double those numbers before presenting
them to CBS executives.
Have your friends click here to sign:
http://www.grassfire.org/56/petition.asp?RID=3839263
Thank you for taking immediate action on this issue!
Grassfire
P.S. Over the next few days we hope to rally an additional 50,000
signers to this petition. Your efforts can greatly impact that
number, and increase our pressure on CBS. Please forward this
message to as many friends and family as you can.
+ + Visit our Home Page for the latest updates:
http://www.grassfire.org
+ + Comments? Questions?
http://www.grassfire.org/email.asp?ind=10
+ + + + +
Grassfire.org Alliance is a non-profit 501(c)4 issues advocacy
organization dedicated to equipping our 1.5 million-strong
network of grassroots conservatives with the tools that give you a
real impact on the key issues of our day. Gifts to Grassfire.org
are not tax deductible.
I am against this whole commission thing since it is an obvious phony stalling attempt but this crap is so transparent.
Mike, maybe you're right...
John Ashcroft ought to look into the matter instead.
It was the other way around. It was Boccardi's retirement party, and Dan got up and gave a fawning speech about how wonderful Lou is.
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.