Posted on 09/21/2004 5:30:05 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
In Jonah Goldberg’s column of Sept. 14, he didn’t hold back on how Rathergate made him feel. He said he loves the story so much he would like to hug it and squeeze it and call it George (referencing a line from Bugs Bunny). Those words caused me to consider my feelings over the recent implosion of CBS News. To paraphrase a verse from a children’s song, I love it a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap and I’m talking in my sleep, about the news.
So why do conservatives have such affection for the Rathergate story?
Before addressing that question, I think I’m speaking for most of us when I say we don’t delight in the fall of Dan Rather. Yes, he was an over-inflated, pridefully arrogant, partisan political operative, who thought he was above reproach. Yes, it would be easy to relish in his downfall, especially considering how difficult it is to shake those horrible memories of Mr. Rather sitting across the table from the enemy, treasonously interviewing Saddam Hussein, addressing him as “Mr. President” with a smug smile and a twinkle in his eye. But even in light of that, and all of his other partisan offenses, I would rather see Rather restored to a position of honor and dignity. But that’s not going to happen with only a superficial apology for being “misled” and for making a “mistake in judgment . . . in good faith” over a story he still would have peddled, only in a different manner.
Considering the seriousness of what CBS News did (or tried to do), Dan needs to say something like: “America, please accept my sincerest apologies. I guess I was blinded by a partisan ambition to get George Bush. Knowing that Ben Barnes had completely changed his story since the last election should have been reason enough to not give him a microphone. Even his own daughter believes he is lying for political gain. If that weren’t enough, I knew Mr. Barnes was serving as a vice-chairman for Senator Kerry’s campaign when he was asked to appear on 60 Minutes. Regarding the fraudulent memos, this was nothing less than a vast left-wing conspiracy. First of all, my anonymous source is, like Ben Barnes, a pro-Kerry partisan operative. Wanting so badly to nail Bush, I rejected the strong warnings of two document experts and instead went with a handwriting expert who, at best, could only say the copy of the signature on the copied memo looked like Killian’s. Rather than acting in good faith, I truly set aside all journalistic integrity and due diligence in my pursuit of President Bush. I’ve brought shame to myself and to all of CBS News. For that I am truly sorry and I do ask for forgiveness.”
A real apology – as opposed to cries of being “misled” – would greatly benefit Mr. Rather. Of course he probably wouldn’t phrase it quite like I suggest, but he will have to accept full responsibility; as much as it hurts.
Anyway, back to the question of why conservatives love Rathergate.
Rathergate has conservatives doing back-flips because it confirms, for all people, what we’ve known for quite some time: There exists such a strong liberal bias in the major newsrooms that the mainstream media had been operating essentially as a rather large 527 for the Democratic Party.
The giant networks were once fortresses wherein liberal news people could hide securely. The operative words are, were once. Rathergate has single-handedly broken down the walls of their strong tower. Before Rather’s foot could exit the 60 Minutes studio on that infamous September evening, attentive bloggers were already disproving his story at the speed of sound. Remember Mr. Rather’s immediate response to his critics when he was stopped on a sidewalk by a reporter a couple days later. It was quite telling. The anchor was smugly condescending while writing critics off as “partisan political operatives.” Mr. Rather sternly warned that people should stay away from the “professional rumor mill” of the internet. That’s quite a statement considering it was the internet folks who actually broke the real story of the counterfeit memos. It turns out that the professional rumor mill was none other than CBS News. And, no, I didn’t forget: they were also exposed as the real political operatives.
Conservatives love the scandal because it helped facilitate the inevitable paradigm shift in news media. Network news will never be the same. The major networks once had a monopoly – with the uninformed – on perceived integrity and trustworthiness of news information. Prior to Rather’s fall, network news was king. Not a healthy king, mind you, but an arrogant ruler nonetheless. In the Information Age, however, the divine rights of the news kings are over. Absolute authority has been replaced by absolute accountability. The former kings once sat in their high towers looking down their noses with disdain for the little people. But now the tables have been turned. Hooray for the internet bloggers who brought down a vast empire within micro-seconds. Internet sources have gained credibility, while the big media establishment has been humbled. Everyone loves a story where a little David takes down a haughty Goliath.
Yes, the liberal media will still be tempted to influence its audience with a left-wing bias. But now they do so at their own peril. That’s why we love Rathergate.
©2004 Monte Kuligowski
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Monte Kuligowski is a practicing Virginia attorney and a freelance writer. During law school he served on the Editorial Board of the Regent University Law Review. He has been published as a legal author and his opinion columns are published at ConservativeTruth.org and have appeared on other internet sites. He holds degrees in history, biblical studies and law. As a Christian and conservative advocate, Monte desires to see the foundations of our nation restored.
columns@att.net
"I think I’m speaking for most of us when I say we don’t delight in the fall of Dan Rather."
Speak for yourself, Monte.
Why?? Simply put, because it removes the rug from over the elephant in the middle of the room (rampant left-wing media bias). This electoral cycle the blatant bias has been SO thinly concealed than any remotely intellecutally honest person has to finally admit it.
Another benefit, and a humorous one ... henceforth the media kool-aid drinkers will be looking over their shoulders while checking facts/evidence, unable to shake the sense that Karl Rove is behind it all
Pay back is a Hillary!!!
I'm certainly enjoying this.
Freedom and liberty shine a lot brighter today.
He is, didn't you know? Karl Rove paid off Dan Rather.
Dan Rather as 'victim'? Sorry, it doesn't wash with this far rightwing conservative. And while I'm not rubbing my hands together in glee over Dan's problems, I'm also not sympathetic to his plight. He is in a mess of his own making and I for one hopes he is unable to clean the egg off before he retires.
The MSM is genuinely concerned over Dan Rather's predicament and they are anxious to see him once again safe within the fold. You see, they are all guilty of the same type of crime, and are fearful of media watchdogs sniffing around their dustbins.
He admits being guilty of temporary unprofessionalism and even stupidity, but asks you to consider that he may well be the victim of another vast conspiracy.
Dan Rather is not the only one. He (and MSM) have for many years put forward accounts which are picked up by public school teachers who then teach students of all ages -- perpetuating lies and fraud on any issue which does not favor a partisan slant.
The fury goes far deeper than merely and finally "catching" the MSM on a biggie.. it's what the biased, partisan MSM has done to our country's institutes. No honor, there.. and no accountability from MSM, either. Teachers take these partisan hack reports into the classrooms all across America -- and report these biased reports as 'TRUTHS".
Mr. Monte is being far too kind.
The latest "fraud" just so happens to be the Murtha/Kerry so-called "Bush Secret Plan" to deploy troops. Bloody Hell! There's been no secret. However, the MSM just simply trots out the line, and simply because, Kerry "says" so. There is no balance in these reports as to what the Pentagon or President Bush says -- ergo, the MSM is BIASED.
"....I think I’m speaking for most of us when I say we don’t delight in the fall of Dan Rather. Yes, he was an over-inflated, pridefully arrogant, partisan political operative, who thought he was above reproach."
Wrong:
Most of us delight in the fall of Dan Rather.
He IS still an over-inflated, pridefully arrogant, partisan political operative, who thought he was above reproach."
He's not speaking for me!
Jag
I was flabbergasted!
Just a few minutes on NPR was all I could handle! I mean Bush has signed off on all of his records while Kerry has yet to sign the Form 180. Not mentioned. Amazing how the partisanship continues and perpetuates itself as they affirm one another's opinions without any critical thinking.
"Guys and Dolls."
although A Bushel and a Peck is not really a children's song but a hit tune from 1950, it certainly expresses my feelings about this scandal.
Ditto that
He hasn't had his real "Humpty Dumpty" fall yet. What we have seen is a humiliation. There is more to come, hopefully. I'm still waiting for the completed fall...a full sense of justice prevailing...when we can all say with satisfaction:
"Good Night Dan"
LOL!!
Only Rather can do that, and it would take a lot of doing. His best bet--and probably his destiny--is to come back as a cockroach in his next life and start all over again.
No. I liked the story because it exposed the normal modus operandi of the news media.
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