Dan Rather with a political soul mate.
Posted on 05/17/2002 9:38:53 PM PDT by LarryLied
LONDON (May 17, 2002 11:39 p.m. EDT) - Patriotism has been so strong in the United States since the Sept. 11 attacks that it sometimes prevents American journalists from asking tough questions about the war on terrorism, CBS News anchor Dan Rather said on British TV on Thursday night.
"What we are talking about here - whether one wants to recognize it or not, or call it by its proper name or not - is a form of self-censorship," Rather said on the British Broadcasting Corp. Newsnight TV show.
"It starts with a feeling of patriotism within oneself. It carries through with a certain knowledge that the country as a whole - and for all the right reasons - felt and continues to feel this surge of patriotism within themselves," he said.
"And one finds oneself saying, 'I know the right question, but you know what? This is not exactly the right time to ask it," said Rather.
As the BBC interview was being shown in Britain, the White House was facing questions about its decision not to alert the American public in the weeks before the Sept. 11 attacks that Osama bin Laden wanted to hijack U.S. airplanes.
Rather said that "patriotism run amok" is making it difficult for journalists to provide Americans with all the information they need about the war in Afghanistan and to hold the Bush administration accountable.
He also accused the Bush administration of failing to give journalists full access to the fighting and the information it has about the war.
"There has never been an American war, small or large, in which access has been so limited as this one," Rather said, adding that he was sorry to say that the American people have accepted these limitations.
Aw come on Dan. If you ask me, we're just barely gettin warmed up here. I want to see youngsters with belt-fed weapons marching in parades shouting out for God and country! Shoutin the 'Pledge, and praying in schools.
Stay over there, Dan, you can wet the bed with the best of 'em. And we don't want your stink around here. You have caused more division and repulsive apathetic doubt than you've reported news in your shallow self aggrandizing, and appeals for notoriety. And Sir, your swill makes hog wash appealing
The only reason his venom is kept in those fangs, is that he fears being drummed out of television for his anti-American retoric at this time in our history. It has recently happened to better men than him, that scab Bill Mahler for instance.
Dan Rather with a political soul mate.
ROTFLMFAO!!!!!
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Rather says patriotism infects news
Look at the loaded terms, people! "Patriotism run amok" reminds me of the commie statement, "Freedoms are precious, that's why we must restrict them." The self-proclaimed elite ALWAYS know what's best for us, of course!
This "patriotism" is too independent, too likely to cause people to make their own informed choices, without "spin" to help the unwashed rubes find their undeserving way to the Great Guru Dan...
The entertainment division is terrible.
Other then that everything is ok there. I wouldn't trust Dan Blather to give me any news. If Rather said the sky is blue I'd go outside and check.
Rather said that "patriotism run amok" is making it difficult for journalists to provide Americans with all the information they need about the war in Afghanistan and to hold the Bush administration accountable.
What a whiner. Dan Rather and company tried their hardest to knock President Bush's high approval rating down but failed and now he's all but pleading with the people to dump on the President.
He might also ask why airline safety recommendations were gutted during the Clinton administration:
Preferably one where he can stay in his bathrobe and slippers all day long, and work on 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzles in the rec room.
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