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Harry Smith Angry over Dan Rather's Job
NewsMax ^ | 2/4/05 | Carl Limbacher

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 "he’d 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 story’s 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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 60minutes; andrewheyward; bush; cbs; danrather; harrysmith; memogate; ratherbiased; rathergate
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To: wagglebee
Harry Smith wants Dan's job--that's what this is, I bet. And he wouldn't be a terrible choice really. People know him and recognize him--and some even like him (not me). CBS could do a lot worse if the chose pretty boy John Roberts.
21 posted on 02/04/2005 8:23:32 PM PST by silent_jonny
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To: ken21

Great perspective!


22 posted on 02/04/2005 8:24:29 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee

thanks.


23 posted on 02/04/2005 8:25:00 PM PST by ken21 (most news today is either stupid or evil.)
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To: ken21

Now if we could only get Sandy the Burglar back in the news, it really pisses me off the way that episode just disappeared.


24 posted on 02/04/2005 8:26:21 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee

yeah, that's interesting.

i'd forgotten about him.

like a thief in the clinton night...


25 posted on 02/04/2005 8:27:38 PM PST by ken21 (most news today is either stupid or evil.)
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To: wagglebee

Good for you, Harry.
_____________

If CBS really wanted to keep the ship from sinking they'd try to get someone like Brian Lamb to anchor something.

I kind of like the idea of having someone new every week. I'll bet management could get an endless parade of guest hosts who would do a week for no pay.

But, what the hell do I know?


26 posted on 02/04/2005 8:33:15 PM PST by leadpenny
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To: leadpenny

I was hoping they would get Bill O'Reilly, that way I'd never have to see him again.


27 posted on 02/04/2005 8:34:46 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee

Yeah, that would be one week I wouldn't watch for sure.


28 posted on 02/04/2005 8:39:28 PM PST by leadpenny
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To: Txsleuth
I looked it up locally. Fox News Sunday is still on at 9AM my time. I guess he was referring specifically to Boston
(Howie Carr's base).

Anyway, it's followed by a behind the scenes look at the Superbowl broadcast prep, Untold Superbowl
stories, Tony Hawk (skateboarding?), Best Damn..., and finally the 4 hour pre-game.

29 posted on 02/04/2005 8:40:12 PM PST by Calvin Locke
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To: silent_jonny

Smith is tolerable, though I would prefer Scott Pelley if the replacement comes direct from CBS.

John Roberts is a definite no-no.


30 posted on 02/04/2005 8:40:55 PM PST by rwfromkansas ("War is an ugly thing, but...the decayed feeling...which thinks nothing worth war, is worse." -Mill)
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To: wagglebee
Sorry, but this is still utter bullcrap. What Rather & co. did was to fabricate evidence in order to subvert a U.S. Presidental election. This isn't mere libel or slander. This is sedition, if not treason. The entire CBS News organization should be under a full-bore RICO investigation by the Justice Department. Dan Rather's retirement plans should involve learning how to earn extra Twinkies for good behavior at SuperMax.
31 posted on 02/04/2005 8:41:41 PM PST by Physicist
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To: Physicist

I agree. If Fox News had fabricated documents on sKerry's military record there would be several dozen Congressional investigations, the FCC would yank their license and people would be going to prison. Ratherbiased and company got less than a slap on the hand.


32 posted on 02/04/2005 8:44:57 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: southernnorthcarolina

You got that right.......look what they did to Bernie Goldberg.


33 posted on 02/04/2005 8:47:12 PM PST by nopardons
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To: wagglebee
Meanwhile, the Democrats have no idea what the American people mean by moral values.
34 posted on 02/04/2005 8:56:20 PM PST by Savage Beast (My parents, grandparents, and great grandparents were Democrats. My children are Republicans.)
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To: ken21

Bye, Dan.


35 posted on 02/04/2005 9:04:13 PM PST by Paladin2 (SeeBS News - We Decide, We Create, We Report - In that order! - ABC - Already Been Caught)
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To: TUX
Slouching to obscurity.

Excellent point/comment. ..note to MSM: Reform or die.

36 posted on 02/04/2005 9:59:59 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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To: Txsleuth
The only way I would EVER watch CBS for anything would be if they hired Ann Coulter to do the Evening News---

Heck! ..w/ Ann Coulter Editing/Anchoring (while gaining #1 in news rating, no more B.S.) the CBS News, I would tape almost every segment. ..any pic? you know the rules. :)

37 posted on 02/04/2005 10:09:33 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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To: Stentor

And since they are primarily news readers, what does "stupid" have to do with it? (Jon Stewart)


38 posted on 02/04/2005 10:16:03 PM PST by DCPatriot (I don't do politically correct very well either.)
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To: skinkinthegrass

I know I broke the rule, but I don't have any pics of Ann Coulter.

I am sorry and I apoligize to all for breaking the rule, I just hope the admin. lets me stay on FR. he he


39 posted on 02/04/2005 10:17:12 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
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To: Calvin Locke

Is that true???


40 posted on 02/04/2005 10:19:45 PM PST by doug from upland (I would trust a 9-year old Iraqi to give me a ride before I'd trust Ted Kennedy)
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