Rather's career put in harsh light

Baltimore Sun ^ | March 5, 2005 | David Zurawik, Sun Television Critic

[Cincinatus' Wife]

........."This was a man who moved with a surefootedness and determination that if it wasn't ruthlessness, it was just short of it."

Terrence Smith.... said that for two decades the take on Rather was "great reporter, awkward anchor."

"And, yet, nobody said it in public.... "Now you hear some of the most senior and respected voices at CBS - Andy Rooney, Mike Wallace and Walter Cronkite - saying these things. ... So, the question is: Why the bruising comments as he goes out the door?"

Smith suggests that while the flawed story on Bush is a key part of the explanation, the "real answer" goes beyond that: "In the end, I think it goes to a very deep-seated anxiety in people who spent their entire career at CBS News about where the institution is headed. I think they really fault management for all the trouble and uncertainty, but the comments are being laid at Dan's door."

Susan Zirinsky, a staunch Rather supporter and executive producer of Wednesday night's retrospective, also attributed some of the negative assessments of Rather to the volatility of a news division in transition. "This is a hard time at CBS. People feel very sad that Dan is leaving. His leaving has pushed CBS to take a look at where the evolution of news is, and I think some people may not be prepared for that."

....many television journalists say that it is sad to see Rather's tenure ending in this manner. "I think it's tragic that a guy who worked as hard as he did would have his career capped like this, because the Bush report is going to be what he's remembered for," Fenton said. "He'll carry this with him to his obituary. ... Tragic - that's the only word for it."

[cloud8]

Just wanted to add a coupla things to this thread...

Thanks to Bernard Goldberg for helping to make Dan's exit a reality. It took a lot of courage to pen that first WSJ op-ed.

Rather's big break covering the JFK assassination was a result of his--to put it mildly--"tendentious and unprincipled" reporting. Posted here.

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

[carlr]

"authenticated if we'd had more time."

And why did`nt they have time to get a story attacking the President authenticated?
After the successful Republican convention,the dead dem convention and Kerry squirming from the scrutiny of the Swift Boat Vets they saw President Bush opening a 15-20 point lead.They felt they had to take their shot.
Not that much of a risk to them as a whole.If they did nothing or it did`nt work the result would be the same,President Bush wins.If it did work they would be have the man they wanted as President plus reclaim some of the power that had ebbed since the days of Watergate.

[leilani]

John Roberts also said:"The level of criticism and, in some cases, vitriol that is being leveled at Dan from some of his valued colleagues is completely inappropriate and uncalled for - particularly at this point in time."

What hubris! If he weren't so dumb, he'd realize that he's probably next: John Roberts was up to his eyeballs in the bogus guard story & its coverup, imperiously brushing off all criticisms & arrogantly defending their "unimpeachable sources" as beyond reproach.He was on the front lines insisting that CBS was accountable to no one, least of all the lowly public. There is no question that he shares Rather's cavalierly irresponsible attitude towards factual accuracy, journalistic integrity and professional ethics and as long as Roberts (Rather Lite) remains at CBS, they'll never be able to repair their image. Clearly, Dan Rather isn't the only one who still doesn't "get it" at Black Rock.

[G.Mason]

"John Roberts also said:"The level of criticism and, in some cases, vitriol that is being leveled ... " Excellent assessment.

What really pisses me off is the fact that these pretenders of "news" reporting agencies, and their talking heads, have been spewing lies for as long as I have been alive.

They have been vomiting anti-American propaganda, disguised as news, since before Senator Joseph McCarthy's struggles with Communist influence from Hollywood.

Truth to be known, had we, the United States of America, finished WWII, and taken out the USSR, these enemies of America, here at home, would have been eliminated, to a point.

McCarthy, Patton, Washington and Jefferson, while patriots all, were imperfect men.

It, however takes men to keep a country.

Now the internet has come under scrutiny by the inept Congress. Instant knowledge at the common man's fingertips is scaring the Hell out of these charlatans.

It isn't only Mubarak, or Assad who are worried about President Bush and the march towards freedom.

[Goodgirlinred]

Yep! That really shows how bad CBS News is! Of course all three major networks are bad. I keep telling my mother that, but she won't listen. I try to tell her FOX is the best, but she thinks they are too far to the right. Go figure.

[Lancey Howard]

Smith suggests that while the flawed story on Bush is a key part of the explanation

The scumbags who write for liberal toilet papers like the Sun will NEVER get it as long as they insist that the failed attempt by Dan Rather and CBS to smear a sitting President and fix a Presidential election using forged military documents was merely a "flawed story".

[Lancey Howard]

Walter Cronkite gave birth to Rather and his ilk.
And now he can't stand to watch his own handiwork.

[doug from upland]

He still won't admit it was a forgery.

[hosepipe]

Rather is just the tip of the Slimeberg at cBS.. nBS.. aBS.. and pBS...

[Liberty Valance]

Dear Dan,
kiss my butt and call it a love story

[Lawgvr1955]

I read Bias a couple years ago. Excellent book.