Posted on 10/01/2004 5:38:27 AM PDT by kattracks
Coral Gables, Fla. (CNSNews.com) - The recent controversy involving CBS News's use of apparently forged memos -- and the reaction to the controversy -- prompted a Newsweek editor to demand that conservatives stop trying to "intimidate" the media.
"I think conservatives ought to quit trying to intimidate the rest of the media," said Eleanor Clift, a contributing editor to Newsweek, in an interview with CNSNews.com following Thursday night's presidential debate at the University of Miami.
The liberal Clift was responding to a question about whether CBS News correspondent Bob Schieffer should retain his role as the moderator in the Oct. 13 presidential debate between President George W. Bush and Democratic nominee John F. Kerry.
"Bob Schieffer is one of the most respected newsmen on all sides of the political debate," she said, defending CBS's role in the third and final debate.
A conservative website, BoycottCBS.com, has called for Schieffer's removal from the debate that will take place in Phoenix and suggested NBC's Tim Russert or former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw as possible replacements.
The group notes that the debate commission selected Schieffer before Dan Rather went on "60 Minutes Wednesday" with phony memos discrediting George W. Bush's National Guard service. (Despite questions about the memos' authenticity, Rather says he believes their content is accurate.)
According to BoycottCBS.com, Schieffer has made "troubling statements" about the memo controversy that raise questions about his "appropriateness" as a moderator for the Oct. 13 debate.
"Far from serving as a 'whistleblower' or someone completely separate from the scandal surrounding his friends and colleagues, Schieffer was parroting the CBS News party line a full week after the documents had been exposed as fraudulent," said Mike Paranzino of BoycottCBS.com.
But prominent media figures and politicians attending Thursday's debate defended CBS News.
CNN senior political analyst Jeff Greenfield called Schieffer "about as straight a shooter I know...He is just the gold standard when it comes to a straight up honest reporter," Greenfield told CNSNews.com.
Greenfield acknowledged that CBS News "took a hit" on the Bush National Guard documents, but he insisted that all major media outlets have had similar incidents. "We have all been through this. It's embarrassing. They have to figure out how it happened," Greenfield said.
Anne Lewis, the national chair of the Women's Vote Center, an arm of the Democratic National Committee, doesn't believe CBS has suffered any damage to its credibility.
"CBS stepped up and said, 'Well, we discovered that the documents weren't so.' They said so. I wish that more people in public life would set that example if they come to a wrong conclusion, perhaps," Lewis told CNSNews.com.
"I think that is rather setting an example, and I would like to see other institutions and individuals in high office live up to that," she added.
Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe also defended CBS News. "I don't think CBS has comprised anything," McAuliffe said.
Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie declined to comment on CBS News except to say that President Bush will not request that Schieffer be replaced as the moderator of the final debate.
"We have agreed to the debates as the [presidential debate] commission put them forward -- and the two campaigns negotiated and agreed to -- and we will abide by the agreement," Gillespie said.
Also see:
Swift Boat Vets Should 'Shut Up,' Says Kerry Spokesman (Oct. 1, 2004)
Protester Says She Prefers 'Serial Rapist' to George Bush (Oct. 1, 2004)
E-mail a news tip to Marc Morano.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
In other words, "Stop trying to force the media to be impartial."
"CBS stepped up and said, 'Well, we discovered that the documents weren't so.' They said so. I wish that more people in public life would set that example if they come to a wrong conclusion, perhaps," Lewis told CNSNews.com.
Yes, it's so very NOBLE of them to admit they did wrong after they've been found out. Aren't they the little innocents! Heck, let's set all the prisoners free who admit they were bad boys and made a boo-boo.
Can someone that has more smarts than me come up with a list of key words that when used in a report automatically show that this is the reporters opinion being heard.
i.e. "Which Means" when this phrase is spoken it means that someone is editorialising in my opinion.
Or "basically amounts to" Or maybe just he word "basically"
Does anyone understand What I am saying?
With a list of words that tip off a reader that he/she is not hearing proven facts but hearing someone's opinion. If this list could be written up we can educate other people on how to tell if they are getting facts and how to spot edidtorialisations(is that a word?)
Can anyone come up with something like this?
Please reply to me if you have any words like that.
Thanks for your time,
Its clift.. she is a wench. I cannot stand her columns (she dared bush to compare and contrast their records as commander in chief).. and I cannot stand seeing her of fox.
"I think conservatives ought to quit trying to intimidate the rest of the media," said Eleanor Clift
Barffffffff, now I feel better.
It's called accountability Eleanor? You've had a free ride forever and it is time for the MSM to come off their throne.
Stop crying and give us stories that are factual not advertisements for your causes.
Errrrr -- Eleanor, conservatives have just begun to intimidate the Mainstream Media!
The very fact that you are compelled to comment means that you can't stand the heat in you own kitchen!
Standby Eleanor, the best is yet to come!
HooooAhhhhh!
Spin, pure and simple.
Why is it that the Libs can dish it out, but can't take it?
8 | I think conservatives ought to quit trying to intimidate the rest of the media, said Eleanor Clift |
Is there anything more heartening than the smell of fear emanating from the enemy? If there is, it is her "the rest of the media" quip that implicitly recognizes our position as the media truth squad.
--Boot Hill
Memo to Eleanor Clift, left wing lackey:
Whine whine whine.... bla bla bla... yadda yadda yadda
Let's Ride!
FGS
Hey bud, haven't seen you in a while! :)
Intimidated? A strange notion in the context of propaganda. The media should just stop being intimidated, and do whatever it wants. I am personally pleased tha the media is squandering whatever credibility it had. Good riddance to bad trash.
Don't forget her mention of "the gift of 9/11" that was handed to Bush!
There are too many! Start reading articles from the end. That's where the useful facts usually appear.
I think the MSM should start doing their job and checking their sources. Using blatantly forged documents to justify their positions is fraud, Dan Blather should be brought up on Fraud Charges. This era of I got the news first has got to stop, they need to spend more time researching and verifying, than trying to one-up the competition.
What bags, if I had dogs with faces like theirs, I would shave their behinds and make them walk backwards.
"I think that is rather setting an example, and I would like to see other institutions and individuals in high office live up to that," she added.
What, like Bubba Clinton? Republicans have flayed its own in an effort to maintain integrity Richard Nixon and Trent Lott, to name two, were removed from their positions by Republicans. It is the democRATs that refuse to hold their own to the level they hold everyone else, you included Ms. Lewis.
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