Is CBS News Silencing Fast and Furious Reporter?

Weekly Standard ^ | October 5, 2011 | MARK HEMINGWAY

[Berlin_Freeper]

Yesterday, CBS News investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson told radio show host Laura Ingraham that the White House yelled and swore at her over her reporting on the Fast and Furious gunrunning scandal tied to the deaths of two U.S. law enforcement agents. Attkisson also revealed that she'd also been yelled at by the Justice Department.

Today, I called CBS News in an attempt to interview Attkisson. I was told by CBS News senior vice president of communications Sonya McNair that Attkisson would be unavailable for interviews all week. When I asked why Attkisson would be unavailable, McNair would not say.

I've also heard from a producer at another media outlet that has previously booked Attkisson that they tried to book her since she made news with the Laura Ingraham interview yesterday. They were also told that she would be unavailable.

[thouworm]

“This is on the front page of their website, posted 2 hours ago. She’s still on it.

ATF shuffles personnel amid Fast and Furious “gunwalking” scandal: “We’re gonna hit the reset button”

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20116164-10391695.html";
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That article is no indication she is “still on it.” She is reporting a Gov press release. I have no doubt she will continue to cover the story with breaking news, but reporting on this press release is no indication to what extent she has been hamstrung by CBS.

While all the headlines from the Ingraham interview were “WH Screams at Attkisson,” they missed THIS from Attkisson:

7:33 – Laura: Do we know the exact number [of guns] that went over to Mexico?

Attkisson: We know more than 2,000 in Fast and Furious and I will soon be reporting on the fact that that is not the only case. 2,000 for that operation according to the agents involved.

Bryan Preston picked it up here:

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/10/04/house-republicans-call-for-fast-and-furious-special-counsel/

THIS is the next article to look for from Attkisson! Will CBS allow her to publish THIS next revelation?

[LucyT]

Is CBS News Silencing Fast and Furious Reporter?

Article, also # 7 and # 8.

[MindBender26]

Nothing unusual here. As 20 year reporter, I remind you of “Rule # 27.”

“NEVER BECOME THE STORY”

[PoloSec]

attending a re-education camp?

Yes the next time we hear from her, she will be saying that Laura Ingram took her statements totally out of context.

[Travis McGee]

"The White House and Justice Department will tell you that I'm the only reporter--as they told me--that is not reasonable. They say the Washington Post is reasonable, the LA Times is reasonable, the New York Times is reasonable, I'm the only one who thinks this is a story, and they think I'm unfair and biased by pursuing it."

[Ken H]

Nothing unusual here. As 20 year reporter, I remind you of "Rule # 27."

"NEVER BECOME THE STORY"

Are you putting blame on the reporter here?

If not, please clarify what you mean.

[OneWingedShark]

>Anybody for starting a Kevin O’reilly R.I.P. day waging pool? I’d guess his spooky days are numbered.

14 Dec; IIRC, the date of the death of Brian Terry.
{I pick this date because the admin was so arrogant as to post that obviously faked birth certificate that I can imagine them orchestrating it this way as a sort of taunt that we can’t touch them, ever.}

[little jeremiah]

I saw this on another site but the link goes to a pdf file that I can’t open due to computer/brain problems:

Comment on another site about the memo below:

BTW, have you seen this memo, from one Justice Dept official to another in October 2010? Apparently CBS news got hold of it. The chief (James Trusty) of the Organized Crime and Gang Section of the DOJ, talks to the Deputy Assistant Atty General (Jason Weinstein), about guns being allowed across the border as part of these ATF operations. They are trying to evaluate whether it will simply be seen as “normal”, that guns from U.S. sources are being used in crimes in Mexico, or whether any of the blame will come back to them.

www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/pdf_64.pdf?tag=contentMain;contentBody

Quote from link:

James Trusty
“It’s not going to be any big surprise that a bunch of US guns are being used in MX, so I’m not sure how much grief we get for “guns walking”.

[reagandemocrat]

>>>Anybody for starting a Kevin O’reilly R.I.P. day waging pool?<<<

Is All Hallows Eve taken? If not, put me down for that.

[little jeremiah]

I don’t know why that didn’t come out as a link...

[MindBender26]

Good question. Not placing blame on reporter at all.

If I did a story, I never wanted to put myself “into” the story. I wanted the story to be about the story subject, the issue, the cause, the results, etc.... not me.

Nor did I, except when getting my Emmy, grant interviews to other reporters. My job was to get viewers for my station/network, not theirs!

Not being a hard ass, but that’s reality.

[justiceseeker93]

When I heard the tape of the Sharyl Attkisson interview on Laura Ingraham's show, I thought immediately that Attkisson was probably violating the unwritten code for CBS newsers: she was having a frank and cordial discussion over the airwaves with a conservative talk show host about something that could eventually expose a major scandal in the Obama Administration.

Now, in the world of CBS, this is not a crime to be taken lightly, especially when the "perp" has been part of their organization for so long that deviating from the code could not be considered merely an innocent slip-up. There would be a price to be paid. It could be that Attkisson will be fired, but more likely her bosses will make life tough for her so as to force her to consider resigning. (She would probably be fired, though, if she were male.)

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

except when getting my Emmy,

I did not realize that...congratulations (no matter how belated)! I have enjoyed your comments and perspective for years.

[MindBender26]

You are obviously a VERY poor judge of character!

:)

[MindBender26]

If you like my posts, you are obviously a VERY poor judge of character!

:)

[Ken H]

Good question. Not placing blame on reporter at all.

I don't think that's true.

If I did a story, I never wanted to put myself "into" the story. I wanted the story to be about the story subject, the issue, the cause, the results, etc.... not me.

By trying to intimidate her, the WH and DOJ are at fault for making her a part of the story. Intimidation of the press is newsworthy, don't you think? Yet, you focus on the reporter, rather than the government.

Nor did I, except when getting my Emmy, grant interviews to other reporters. My job was to get viewers for my station/network, not theirs!

There you go again. Reporters are interviewed all the time on other news shows, but you single out this reporter for doing so. Your objection is specious.

Not being a hard ass, but that's reality.

The reality is that you are shifting the focus from the WH and DOJ to the reporter. Why is that?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks justiceseeker93. Possible duplicate ping, sorry if so.

[MindBender26]

If you are a good reporter, story subjects call and scream at you all the time.

A certain Las Vegas hotel owner would routinely call me after a piece ran and tell me that I was tough on him, but fair and honest....

Then he would call me at about 2:00 the next morning when he was smacked out on coke and tell me he was going to have me killed.

A certain cult leader / political candidate would have his henchmen call and threaten for him.

There is a certain DC network reporter who's husband works for the government. She is often critical of O. His career is threatened at least 2-3 times a year.

Goes with the territory. Just makes you dig deeper. When both sides called and yelled at you, that was a good sign you had the story just about right.

PS, Know two reporters who are already working on Obama "tell-all" books. BTW, when he speaks for 10 minutes but says nothing, they call him “Oblather.”

[MindBender26]

Some insight here, from an old network newsie../

The Suits had to approve Attkisson’s appearance before she could appear on another station/network.

They gave it gladly because they knew she is on to a story with legs, and this helps get the word out to people who do not regularly watch CBSEN, (Conservatives.)

That boosts ratings. That boosts income.

Remember, the Suits (except NBC) do not worship a certain religion or political mindset. They worship the Golden Calf.