Posted on 11/24/2004 6:52:48 AM PST by Revelation 911
This isn't Dan Rather's first time in hot water
Some hunters may well cringe while recalling when the broadcast journalist hosted the 1975 CBS special titled "Guns of Autumn"
By Ron Schara Host of ESPN2's "Backroads with Ron & Raven"
Dan Rather's fall from journalistic grace happened — for some of us — a long time ago. The evening of Sept. 5, 1975, to be exact.
On that night, a much younger and very dashing Dan Rather was the host of a CBS special titled "Guns of Autumn."
As some of us gathered that night to watch, those of us who called ourselves hunters were both proud to be a prime-time subject (a mighty rare event) and apprehensive about what dirty laundry a national network like CBS News, the home of heroes like Edward R. Murrow, might uncover about hunting or those who call themselves hunters.
But back then, I trusted Dan Rather, the journalist. He'd be fair, I figured.
Being a proud Texan, Rather would understand a bad seed or two shows up in any field of fine cotton, and he'd keep the pros and cons as balanced as a cowboy on a bucking bronc.
I was wrong; the cowboy hit the dirt. When the program ended, I realized Dan Rather had lent his journalistic credibility to a hatchet job on America's hunters. "Guns of Autumn" wasn't an examination of hunting; it was largely a one-hour condemnation of hunting.
I remember I kept waiting to hear interviews from knowledgeable and thoughtful resource leaders, who would tell America about the many and historic conservation achievements of hunters.
I wanted Americans to know that America's wildlife-management programs are the best in the world, thanks largely to the hunting fraternity.
I was waiting for Rather to explore the spirit and soul of folks who kill their own meat, while most Americans only stalk the meat counter. It never happened.
Instead, "Guns of Autumn" became a prime-time embarrassment to hunters from Maine to Washington.
A New York Times reviewer the next day said "Guns of Autumn" was like a television program that wanted to explore the human love story but filmed it all in a whorehouse.
For Dan Rather, perhaps it was the best little whorehouse in Texas. While Rather today is apologizing for his lack of judgment over the fake Bush documents, I'm not expecting any, "I'm sorry' for the Guns of Autumn show."
A hunter in America today has learned not to expect much positive coverage of so-called blood sports.
Hunters mostly make the 10 o'clock news these days if they shoot somebody or themselves. If they save a wetland or preserve a prairie or teach a kid to be safe with a gun — well, who cares? Dan Rather and CBS News didn't.
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Ron Schara may be reached at ron@mnbound.com.
Its only ironic that while the Guns of Autumn launched a National career, the same partisan nonsense would sink him.
It reinforces the notion that the political landscape has changed and Dan has been too pig headed to accept the honorable position of reporting the news in a manner that lends itself to objectivity.....
dont get yer knickers in a twist
The times they are a-changin', indeed. And what an unusual quote from an NYT reviewer... but that was the seventies when there were still some rational people at the Times.
Yes, times have indeed changed. In the real world, before liberalism became an epidemic of mass proportion, bums like Rather and his producer would HAVE BEEN FIRED ON THE SPOT FOR OBVIOUS SLANDER AND LIBEL, AND JUST OUTRIGHT LYING...ALL MAJOR FEDERAL OFFENSES, UNDER FCC LAW, which our great AG (or GWB) chose not to prosecute them for. If you or I had done that, we would be in a Federal Hotel for the rest of our lives. So Danny-Lib and his producer, can commit all the crimes they want to, as they did, and just get away with it.
So it appears that the BIG LIBERAL DOUBLE STANDARD still is in practice and works for the MSM. Sad day for America when criminals like this can just TALK, then WALK any time they want to.
Looks like both Kerry and Rather will have a goose to cook this season. Ron Schara is an upstanding conservationist and Minnesotan - I'm glad he wrote this.
I'm worried that the Rather resignation is just not getting
enough different threads in our forum.
I do - it was a real hit piece - and caused quit a stir....even back then, before everyone was "enviro conscious"
Im honestly glad to see him go and Im glad it was over the Bush doc issue - there will be no rewrite of history, and as we look back on Edward R. Murrow or newscasters of yesteryear - Rather will always be remembered as the big boy who had his hat handed to him over forged documents
maybe Clinton will lend him a wing of the Library and Massage parlor
Rather has been nothing but a leftist propagandist from the start and he could easily get away with his lies and distortions of reality before the new media transended him.
Give it time. The Rather resignation will pick up steam between now and he signs off in March of next year. Look for Rather's last sign-off* to be the most self-indulgent drivel you've ever seen or heard on the airwaves. I can't wait.
Ironically, when you run the phrase sign-off through the Free Republic spell check, one of your options is the word "snuff." (heh-heh)
I know - Im sorry - but its been like Christmas for freepers lately - Bush wins, Arafat croaks, Rather bails
You can always tell when Rather is lying. His lips move.
There's been more threads started about this nutty jerk
in the last 24 hours than about all the goings-on in the
Middle East.
"I remember I kept waiting to hear interviews from knowledgeable and thoughtful resource leaders, who would tell America about the many and historic conservation achievements of hunters."
Hits the nail on the head. I'm not a hunter but I also realize those that do hunt perform a valuable service as well as getting some meat for the dinner table. I appreciate not having to dodge the deer on the way to work at O dark thirty in the morning any more than I have to. How many people have tangled with deer in their cars over the years. If it weren't for hunters these instances would be even more frequent. As another result car insurance doesn't go up faster than it does. So I want to say to all you hunters out there. Thank you.
Dan was the one man machine that took CBS to the lowest ratings ever. He was detrimental in making Fox News a sucess. With the false AWOL documents he launched the largest conservative 'get out the vote' for Bush in history. Thanks Danny Boy!
again, my apologies if Ive offended you
I remember this piece of garbage and have never forgotten. Good riddance. Rather should have been fired years ago.
I wasn't ragging on you but just look back a few pages
of threads and you'll be amazed at the number of Rather threads.
He's got more threads on this forum than viewers.
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