Posted on 02/04/2005 7:55:30 PM PST by wagglebee
More ugly details are trickling out from behind the scenes at CBS's Rathergate fiasco, with one of the network's top on-air personalities reportedly telling a senior executive that Dan Rather should have been fired.
CBS "Early Show" host Harry Smith is said to have "pointedly confronted" news division chief Andrew Heyward during a staff meeting after three producers were asked to take the fall for Rather's blunder last month.
According to the Web site NewsBlues.com, Smith wanted to know why and how Dan Rather was still able to keep his position on "60 Minutes Wednesday."
Ratherbiased.com, which picked up the story, said Smith was unavailable for comment on his alleged showdown with Heyward.
As NewsMax reported earlier this week, tension at CBS was running high over the decision to let both Rather and Heyward keep their jobs, while producers Josh Howard, Mary Murphy and Betsy West were given a few hours to clean out their desks and vacate their offices.
The decision to paint Rather as out of the loop on the disastrous National Guard report also irked staffers who knew that "hed read multiple drafts of the script for the story [written by producer Mapes], done most of the interviews, and had a thorough knowledge of the storys content and point of view," according to New York Magazine.
Earlier this week CBS announced that veteran newsman and "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer would replace Rather until CBS chairman Les Moonves settles on a permanent replacement.
Last month, Moonves said he was leaning toward a multi-anchor format for the "CBS Evening News" - and even floated the possibility that "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart might be tapped.
Harry Smith: dead man walking. One would have to think his days at the Black Rock are numbered.
Heyward and Moonves need to be fired even more than Rather. They are the people who have presided over this corrupt empire.
John Stewart as anchor. That's a scary thought!
Watch for "The Harry Smith Show"- coming soon to CNBC.
He appears to be a stupid, stupid man.
Either that or he'll be the forth guy on Fox & Friends.
Slouching to obscurity.
Take note of the sponsors (if you can endure watching long enough to take notes), and hit them where it hurts. In the wallet. The only thing the media slimes understand.
I would love to see that--Stewart hosted SNL once and it was one of the painful things I've ever seen :)
He is probably old enough and has enough money to not care. If I had spent 20+ years whoring myself for CBS, I think I'd be ready for a mental breakdown.
FWIW, this Sunday's show is pushed back two hours on broadcast to make room for the pre-pre-pre-game
Superbowl show.
Anyway, the White House had the anchors over for lunch this week with Bush and Cheney.
So, the thing's wrapping up, and Bush finally talks to Rather: "So Dan, are you retiring to Austin?"
Dan says he'll be spending some time there.
Bush says "I'll be retiring in about four years. Maybe I'll see you around." and turns away from him. Zing!
I'm surprised they didn't get Bill Maher to do it. He's as stiff as Kerry, chuckles at his own stupid sarcasm that masquerades poorly as humor, and is about as interesting as a 10-lb. bag of fertilizer.
Next thing you know, CBS will have a show called Crossfire and have Tucker Carlson and Jon Stewart face off on political news of the day, and have guests, and...
Oh, that's right been done, and failed at CNN...
Would have been more entertaining than Dan Rather or Bob Schieffer.
What a CBS coverup, the ghosts of Watergate must be laughing....
The report painted Rather as an innocent overworked doofus just reading what Mary Mapes & crew had handed him right before air time. But it's coming out very differently now, and it's the CBS people turning on their own.
And Maher is OBNOXIOUS. I don't know how he stands himself.
Danny Boy is going to be the new night manager at the Kinko's in Abilene, Texas.
Dang---Fox News show is on at 9:00 A.M. here in Texas, how early does the Super Bowl people think they have to start?
I guess about 8 hours, huh?
The only way I would EVER watch CBS for anything would be if they hired Ann Coulter to do the Evening News---
there's something odd that some people like dan rather never get booted.
i was telling a friend, if rush limbaugh had presented phony documents to out a sitting president, say clinton, he'd be off the air.
my friend said, oh, you're wrong!
yeah, right, i said. remember rush got booted from espn for making a comment about mcnabb?
my friend shut up.
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.