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.
Media have NO right to be part of the political process, more than any other person. If they want to be exempt from criticism, let them become dictators in some OTHER country.
Eleanor equates being told the truth with intimidation. Pity.
its called ACCOUNTABILITY A$$hole
I think the "media" should return to the basics of journalism and report facts. But I'm not going to get that.
And there is no way Freepers are gonna stop calling MSM on the carpet for their lies and biased reporting. Ta Da.
Boo-freakin'-hoo.
notice how the worst lefty felines are almost always dropped off the uglee tree?
As long as CBS retains Rather, their entire organization has no credibility in terms of their objectivity, so Schieffer is likewise dubious. If CBS wants to improve its image, it can do one simple thing, something similar to what other media organizations have done to their employees in similar situations: they can fire Rather. Until then, they need to quit whining about peoples' skepticism regarding their objectivity.
SHRILL shill, who loves Bill and Hill!
That's a great idea. Maybe you should team up with "Seeking the Truth" who does the FReep stuff and expand the line. How about pajamas with your logo with something like "Pajama Brigade" or "Pajama Posse" added, along with screen name?
**Conservatives Should Stop 'Intimidating' the Media, Newsweek Editor Says**
Why?
**Conservatives Should Stop 'Intimidating' the Media, Newsweek Editor Says**
Why? We're at war -- don't you media types get it?
Could somebody post a score card?
Column 1 . . . . . . . . . Column 2
Where the left . . . . . .Where the Right
has successfully . . . . .has successfully
intimidated the . . . . . .intimidate the
Media .. . . . . . . . . . .Media
1. Dr Laura . . . . . . . 1.
2. College papers. . . . 2.
College name _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
Where the left has . . . .Where the right has
tried unsuccessfully . . .tried unsuccessfully
1. Rush Limbaugh. . . . . 1.
2. Sean Hannity . . . . . .2.
3.
Ah, don't they mean STANDING UP to the media?
Intimidation - LOL!
The left intimidates. The right exposes.
well there's no need to be intimidating to get our point across. If anything it would be better if were polite and self-ingratiating when presenting our case.
If the media are telling the truth, then how can they be intimidated by inquiries? Either they have the confidence of their integrity, or the insecurity of their incompetence.
Most likely, they're just finding out what bloggers already knew: You've gotta have your facts straight, and have a forehead like flint...or you'll get totally trashed by your peers. Nothing like feedback to make you honest.
Note to Eleanor: That uncomfortable feeling that you're experiencing? It's the last vestige of your conscience.
I heard that Schieffer went into a "purple-faced rage" when he found out about BoycottCBS.com trying to remove him from the debates... </tongue-in-cheek>
bump
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