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Rather, Brokaw, Journos Preparing to Hit Reagan Warts
NewsMax.com ^ | 6/09/04 | Carl Limbacher and the Newsmax.com staff

Posted on 06/09/2004 7:51:51 AM PDT by kattracks

Journalists who bashed and trashed Ronald Reagan during the 1980s are biting their tongues this week amidst the outpouring of love and affection towards the GOP icon from a grateful nation.

But the cease fire won't last long, judging by the comments of major network new anchors Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings yesterday.

Rather told the Philadelphia Inquirer the week-long commemoration of Reagan's life was journalistic overkill and hinted that he was anxious to return to stories he thought were more important, like the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

"Even though everybody is respectful and wants to pay homage to the president, life does go on," he groused. "There is other news, like the reality of Iraq. It got very short shrift this weekend."

The CBS newsman blamed "herd journalism" for the media's fixation on Reagan.

NBC's Tom Brokaw suggested that the media's current presentation of the Reagan legacy was far too positive, noting, that while he "was a beloved American leader . . . at the same time our journalistic obligation is to put his whole life and his political career in context."

He told the Inquirer that a single day's worth of tribute to Reagan would have been enough. After that, it was time to examine "scandals" like "Iran-contra [and] his failure to recognize early on the AIDS epidemic."

ABC's Peter Jennings concurred, telling the Inquirer, "If we waited for the president to be buried before doing a critical analysis, the world would move on quite a bit."

Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz seemed to agree that the focus on Reagan was too much, noting during an online chat on Tuesday, "Nixon got two or three days of very heavy coverage, but nothing like this weeklong, nonstop extravaganza."

"If you were too young to remember Reagan and just tuned in since Saturday," he contended, "you'd have very little idea that he was a controversial figure with legions of detractors as well as admirers."

Longtime Reagan watcher and Post reporter Lou Cannon said Reagan critics could look forward to new ammunition to use against their nemesis.

In a separate online chat, Cannon said that still-sealed documents on Reagan's presidency will be released in the coming years, noting, "and what is revealed in these documents may again change our opinions."



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: wait4thebacklash
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1 posted on 06/09/2004 7:51:53 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks

I'm surprised they've even waited this long.


2 posted on 06/09/2004 7:54:03 AM PDT by Lurking in Kansas (Rest in Peace, President Reagan. **Greatest President of the 20th Century**)
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To: Lurking in Kansas

they haven't waited at all, they have been doing this ever since he left office - and it appears they will have another go at revisionist history even after his death.


3 posted on 06/09/2004 7:56:21 AM PDT by oceanview
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To: kattracks
"Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz seemed to agree that the focus on Reagan was too much, noting during an online chat on Tuesday, 'Nixon got two or three days of very heavy coverage, but nothing like this weeklong, nonstop extravaganza.'"

Obviously, Howard does not grasp the historical significance of this great man.

4 posted on 06/09/2004 7:57:17 AM PDT by Freemyland
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To: kattracks

Yes, there is other news. There is good news from Iraq that never gets reported by these guys. They only report the bad news, the same bad news over and over again. So what they are saying about Reagan is BS from their pie holes.


5 posted on 06/09/2004 7:58:21 AM PDT by ampat
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To: kattracks; weegee

They say the victors write the history, but in these times, that no longer seems to be the case. The media writes it, and if it needs changing still more, they rewrite it. Disgusting.


6 posted on 06/09/2004 7:58:36 AM PDT by MizSterious (First, the journalists, THEN the lawyers.)
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To: MizSterious

History will rewrite it once and for all, in spite of the liberal spinmeisters (aka gasbags).


7 posted on 06/09/2004 8:00:11 AM PDT by sarasota
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To: kattracks

8 posted on 06/09/2004 8:01:01 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (I feel more and more like a revolted Charlton Heston, witnessing ape society for the very first time)
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To: kattracks

Rather told the Philadelphia Inquirer the week-long commemoration of Reagan's life was journalistic overkill and hinted that he was anxious to return to stories he thought were more important, like the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.


Yeah, after all Dan, this prison scandal has ONLY been in the news for a month now, and I don't thnik you have reported on ALL the angles yet! It deserves MUCH more reporting than our former 2 term president deserves!! (sarcasm/off)


9 posted on 06/09/2004 8:01:46 AM PDT by curlewbird
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To: All

That's a pretty weird statement when for the last three weeks whenever I click on CSPAN - John Kerry is giving yet another speech.

They have literally signed over to covering ALL the Kerry campaign...

But the old guard networks can't handle a week of pre-funeral Reagan.

Get stuffed boys - your days are over anyway - time for your swan song out the door!


10 posted on 06/09/2004 8:02:38 AM PDT by imintrouble
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To: kattracks
In a separate online chat, Cannon said that still-sealed documents on Reagan's presidency will be released in the coming years, noting, "and what is revealed in these documents may again change our opinions."

Hope springs eternal for these clymers. Dream on.

11 posted on 06/09/2004 8:02:54 AM PDT by cyncooper
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To: kattracks
ABC's Peter Jennings concurred, telling the Inquirer, "If we waited for the president to be buried before doing a critical analysis, the world would move on quite a bit."

And, peeetaah, what would be wrong with that?

12 posted on 06/09/2004 8:03:30 AM PDT by upchuck (Attention politicians of all persuasions: Talk that is not actionable is better left unsaid.)
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To: kattracks

This could work out to conservatives advantage. There are reports that people are growing increasingly skeptical of the "mainstream" media, and Reagan is very well liked. This could be the straw that breaks the camel's back, and hopefully we have waves of people rejecting the left wing media, also voting more conservatively as a backlash.


13 posted on 06/09/2004 8:05:31 AM PDT by Fierce Allegiance ( "Stay safe in the "sandbox", cuz!)
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To: kattracks

They haven't waited. On Mon night Larry King was highlighting Iran-Contra excerpts when he would go to commercial. Not just a few seconds but extended propaganda hit pieces that lasted a minute or so before the commercials would start. Weird. In a snippet on MSNBC I believe on Monday also, the female anchor (didn't catch her name) was asking someone whether Iran-Contra destroyed his Presidency. Not tarnished but destroyed.


14 posted on 06/09/2004 8:07:00 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: kattracks
Reagan beat these Liliputans by bringing down the Wall, end of story. The people love him and his generation, something The Ministry of disInformation will never understand. Tax-cuts, freeing millions of people, belief in God and America, defeating the extremist press....there will never be another President Ronald Wilson Reagan!

Pray for W and Saint Nancy

15 posted on 06/09/2004 8:07:10 AM PDT by bray (The war is going far better than PravdABCBS wants you to know!!!!)
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To: kattracks

Their already doing it...watching msnbc this am and they were interviewing a man that was paying his respects and he was saying how he didn't like RR as a pres....When asked why.He went through a whole laundry list of talking points.


16 posted on 06/09/2004 8:07:41 AM PDT by TShaunK
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To: upchuck
"If we waited for the president to be buried before doing a critical analysis, the world would move on quite a bit."

I thought "move on" was the mantra for these guys. Oh, that's right, we only "move on" when we want to get Democrat troubles and peccadilloes off the front page.

17 posted on 06/09/2004 8:08:08 AM PDT by JennysCool
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To: sarasota

idiots.. liberal press are insensitive idiots.


18 posted on 06/09/2004 8:09:56 AM PDT by television is just wrong
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To: curlewbird
Rather told the Philadelphia Inquirer the week-long commemoration of Reagan's life was journalistic overkill and hinted that he was anxious to return to stories he thought were more important, like the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

Rather and CBS won't show the video of when Saddam was in charge of Ah-boo Grabber prison. It was shown to the Senators and offered to all the news media outlets. CBS and the rest passed on a the video copies. I guess CBS likes porn pictures more than they desire to show Saddam cutting off limbs, tongues and heads while reading the Koran.

Besides, these guys have not waited. They have been slamming Reagan in all their reports since the day he died...with all the Iran-Contra crap and the "cashing in on the Presidency after he left office" and on and on... They are only waiting for him to be in the ground before they really bare their fangs and spit venom. For now, they are just slithering.

19 posted on 06/09/2004 8:12:10 AM PDT by KriegerGeist ("Only one life to live and soon it is past, and only what was done for Jesus Christ shall last")
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To: kattracks
NBC's Tom Brokaw suggested that the media's current presentation of the Reagan legacy was far too positive, noting, that while he "was a beloved American leader . . . at the same time our journalistic obligation is to put his whole life and his political career in context."

Do they do that with John F. Kennedy?

20 posted on 06/09/2004 8:12:16 AM PDT by Question_Assumptions
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