Ex-CBS News Prez Can't Stand Rather

NewsMax ^ | 1/13/05 | Carl Limbacher

[Starboard]

"A large swath of the society doesn't trust the news media," he contended. "And for many, it's even stronger than that: They abhor the media and perceive it as an escalating threat to the society."

This is no exaggeration. The liberal media is, in many respects, a threat to democracy in that it deprives the electorate of a broad range of untainted news that is needed to make informed decisions over candidates and voting issues.

[MinuteGal]

I never expected anything from Thornburg, did you?

We've been watching this Casper Milquetoast for years as a TV talking head. He's one of the most bland, uninteresting persons I've ever seen on the tube.....an amiable old doofus enjoying his retirement interspersed with occasional public service spot jobs where he offends no one and gets an expense account.

I don't know how he does it (staying in the public eye) with what he has to offer.....which is the art of going along to get along. Nice work if you can get it.

Leni

[FreeKeys]

The printable version:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-sauter13jan13,1,7883146,print.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

[leprechaun9]

I believe if all the Television Networks experienced a total electrical power failure for about five years, then our country will have a much better chance of restoring the principles of our Founding Fathers!

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Actually, I agree with you. My own personal belief is that Viacom fired Dan Rather and told him to take a hike in March, 2005. Rather has destroyed himself and has really hurt the NEWS division. You are right, the wheels of corporate America spin rather slowly. This story is not over yet. Many knives from all sides are out looking to do in the disgraced and failed Dan Rather.

[katykelly]

Well said.

[Wolfhound777]

"And for many, it's even stronger than that: They abhor the media and perceive it as an escalating threat to the society."

This is the camp I fall in.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

...If SAUTER tells us thru the Los Angeles Times that LIBERAL DAN RATHER is a LIBERAL...

...then why does the Los Angeles Times own Media Critic DAVID SHAW still tell us that:

RATHER's work 'Shoddy, Slipshod' not LIBERAL..?

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1227809/posts

.

[Captain Peter Blood]

When this guy, who was the President of CBS News, says there is a bias and even he doesn't watch it anymore you know Bernard Goldberg is telling the truth and the old networks are truly dinosaurs.

[Captain Peter Blood]

I would like to think this. The real question I have is if 60 Minutes is actually going to have Rather join the staff or is this BS also?
I don't think if Don Hewitt was still running the show Rather would be any part of 60 Minutes.
As it is they might have Rather for a short time then cut him loose. Only time will tell.
Chances are they are easing Rather out with a nice fat pension and severance and maybe a contract where they will pay him to do nothing like they did Cronkite.
If they really do cut him loose I feel he will show up somewhere like maybe CNN, but then again who knows.

[Bush2000]

But that could lead to "a lot of scrupulously impartial . . . news sources, managed by research-driven executives who find it a good marketing approach." Ultimately, says Sauter, "banality will trump opinion."

I think that what people really want from their newscasters is a return to common sense -- and that's sorely lacking in CBS and other members of the MSM. Here's a perfect example: Not long ago, Reuters, AP, and other news organizations (including CBS) made the decision that they were going to stop using terminology that could be construed to mean taking a position on a particular news story. For example, to stop using the term "terrorist" and start using "insurgent". Now, I don't know about you, but it's fairly obvious to the average person that an individual who intentionally targets and kills innocent civilians for the purpose of terrorizing them is a "TERRORIST", not an "insurgent". This notion is neither liberal nor conservative. It's reality. The fact that it happens to be held by our government seems to trouble the mainstream media -- and there's the rub. The media refuses to take a position held by the government -- even when that position is dictated by common sense -- merely because to do so would mean they supposedly aren't objective. What a ridiculous mindset. It will continue to result in people switching to more sensible stations such as Fox. The morons at CBS can't seem to understand this.

[Bush2000]

I would like to think this. The real question I have is if 60 Minutes is actually going to have Rather join the staff or is this BS also?

It's BS. Rather made a deal with CBS executives to save face on both sides. The man has completely lost credibility. He won't be allowed back on the air once he leaves the evening news, I predict.

[digger48]

I'm waiting too. Fence post=Al Gore?

[JLAGRAYFOX]

You might be right, but I believe Dan Rather is now seriously damaged goods. Remember Daniel Schorr, who I believe used to be a pretty big reporter and commentator on CNN. He mouthed off and disappeared from the face of the earth. Last time I heard from him he was commenting on NPR as a third string reporter. Rather is washed up.

[GOPJ]

CBS should hire Okrent from the New York Times as managing editor/ethist, then hire Tony Snow to do the evening news. Almost forgot, you're right, that's after firing Andrew Heywood and Dan Rather...

CBS should fire Andrew Heywood and Dan Rather immediately!!! End of story!!!

[Captain Peter Blood]

Actually Dan Schorr used to be with CBS until he went to Cnn. Haven't seen him in a long time and he must be in his 80's now. Rather may very well indeed be washed up and may have to retire to Texas to brood for the rest of his life.

[beyond the sea]

Great post!!!

[Seaplaner]

Amazing that "Inspector" Thornburg was unable to detect any bias.

Clearly, Thornburg is...biased!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I would vote for former CBS News president Van Gordon Sauter as an ACTUAL unimpeachable source.