Posted on 09/12/2004 5:32:19 AM PDT by nikos1121
When asked what is the most important part of any news story, Joseph Pulitzer replied, "Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy."
I've always thought that whether it's selling newspapers, a documentary, a speech to the Rotary Club, or used cars, if you want to have viewers tomorrow try deceit, if you want to have viewers ten years from tomorrow, try honesty.
I have read about as much as anyone on the subject of the Bush National Guard memos. In fact, starting today I'll stop the reading. The excellent discussions and technical research presented here and now in several major news sources leaves very little doubt in my mind, that the memos are fakes. In fact, when you weigh the evidence it comes down very very heavy on the side that believes the memos are fakes.
More troubling to me is the fact that a major network, CBS, one that I grew up respecting, is appearing more and more like a tabloid. To put this in simple terms, consider this. CBS based this important story on:
1. Three memos from an un-named source 2. Written by a deceased person 3. That are photocopies and not originals
This alone should have raised red flags. I mean, we're not talking about a story for the STAR or the National Enquirer here, we're talking about CBS NEWS. Is this their new standard of excellence? Is this the kind of reporting that we can now expect on the CBS EVENING NEWS and 60 MINUTES?
I'm not a journalist, but I can tell you that if I had spent years in school training to be one, or years on the job as one, and I found myself in a department at some newspaper or TV station where this was going on, I would say to myself "Something is really wrong here." Maybe I might even get a ping of emotion and say, "it's time to speak up or shut up."
Which brings me to the purpose of this posting. I ask:
IS THERE ANYONE AT CBS, ANYONE WITH ANY INTEGRITY AND COURAGE, WHO WILL COME FORTH AND SAY, "COLLEAGUES, SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. THIS IS NOT THE STANDARD OF TV JOURNALISM THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW. THESE MEMOS ARE "POSSIBLY" FAKE AND THE WAY THEY WERE REVIEWED AND PRODUCED IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO US AND THREATENS TO UNDERMINE THE WORK THAT WE ALL TRY TO DO. WE SHOULD RESPOND TO THOSE OUT THERE WHO ARE RAISING CONCERNS AND INVESTIGATE THIS MORE FULLY AND IF THE PREPONDERENCE OF EVIDENCE IS THAT THEY ARE FAKE, THEN WE SHOULD RETRACT OUR SUPPORT OF THEM."
IS THERE NOT ONE YOUNG REPORTER THERE AT CBS WHO IS TROUBLED BY THIS? IS THERE NOT ONE WHO WILL COME FORTH, KNOWING THAT THEY MAY LOSE THEIR JOB FOR DOING SO, TO SAY "THIS IS WRONG AND I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF A DEPARTMENT THAT OPERATES THIS WAY."
It is inconceivable to me, that no one at CBS News, (including people like Morris Schafer, Mike Wallace, etc etc.) had doubts on the validity of these memos. I can only assume that no one wanted to go up against Rather or maybe they figured that if given enough rope Rather would hang himself. Either way, this is clearly a crossroads for CBS and the people working there.
Where is that one reporter at CBS with some moral courage? I'm waiting to hear form you.
Nick A. Vlachos
Sure, Rupert from Survivor (also Rudy the SEAL), but that's entertainment, not news.
No.
Not since Bernie Goldberg left.
Nope.
From the standpoint of journalistic integrity, obviously CBS and Rather have indeed sold their souls.
However, judging from the reaction at DUnceland, to his faithful, Rather has vaulted himself to folk-hero status.
By self-removing what little veneer of objectivity CBS had left they have staked out an audience (market) of loyal though morally-bankrupt mushheads.
This looks like a business decision to serve a market demographic, and survive economically in the face of an eroding market. They are no longer the "news", they are butt-nekkid propoganda. And their not unsubstantially sized market loves it.
Just think of the savings when you don't have to bother with pesky things like research, fact-checking, and source substantiation. The profit potential is enormous.
No............ they've all been recruited by the dnc.
No
But CBS won't do that. Not because they "know", but because they know. And are afraid.
Dan: Lesson from Nixon -- it's not the crime, it's the cover-up.
Yes, there certainly is.
Call their main office in New York City and ask to be connect to a Mr. Bernard Kalb. I know that he has a reputation for integrity and honesty.
WHAT????!!!!
Bernie has left????
Oh . . . I guess that you shouldn't even bother dropping a dime, then.
...and he's using it.
You make some good points. Eventually I think it comes down to dollars and censt or should I say "sense?"
At what point do you change the direction from one of mediocrity in TV journalism to the gold standard? When your ratings are so low, you're not going to sell advertising for top dollar, and the other departments, that are cutting people to cover your losses?
If they are appealing to a special demographic, it beats me what that might be.
nick
One of the janitors, maybe?
If I remember the video I saw of Rather on November 22, 1963, he was hunkering down afraid of additional snipers.
I seem to remember a picture of him during the Tet Offensive just about shaking with fear while reporting.
Note: I have often thought that Rather was proliferating the Kerry propaganda about Vietnam veterans being evildoers and how the NVA and VC were pure warriors seeking goodness and truth. Now I think Kerry has been spreading the Rather propaganda all these years. Does anyone know if Kerry -- who admits to entering Saigon even though under orders not to do so -- ever met Rather in Vietnam?
I know one thing, no one with integrity, and intelligence is watching Dan Blather on CBS.
"CBS's blind faith in the authenticity of the memos is disingenuous (at best). The only way to KNOW for sure (when there is so much apparent evidence to the contrary) is if Dan Rather was "on the boat" and watched Killian type the memo back in 1973. Aside from that, there is no "knowing" and an investigation into the matter is the safe, responsible course to take.
But CBS won't do that. Not because they "know", but because they know. And are afraid.
Dan: Lesson from Nixon -- it's not the crime, it's the cover-up."
Excellent post. Don't you wish Rather was reading this?
nick
Actually, I did see him doing exactly that the other night. I think it must have been on an FNC show.
I think public opinion of media in general puts their honesty BELOW that of used car dealers. Still, there are plenty of suckers who buy cars from used car salesmen, and plenty of suckers who believe media reports.
Did anyone see the 1970s memo yesterday that someone found from Dan Rather about Watergate, Leslie Stahl etc and posted here? In his memo he says deep throat is Diane Sawyer? Anyone see that yesterday. That memos paints the picture of the man then and now.
nick
"Does anyone know if Kerry -- who admits to entering Saigon even though under orders not to do so -- ever met Rather in Vietnam?"
I'm sure they met afterwards and struck up a close friendship.
nick
What about plain old COMPETENCE. If they are going to whore themselves out to a political party fielding a losing candidate, the least they can do is manage to forge documents without anachronisms and inconsistencies that make them obvious frauds. If they are going to flush whatever credibility they had left down the drain, at least do so with an attention to detail that would at least give the propaganda some legs.
Lie. And lie big, CBS. It's what we now expect of you. But for goodness sakes, at least get good at it.
Good question...
No.
"INTEGRITY AND COURAGE?
What about plain old COMPETENCE. If they are going to whore themselves out to a political party fielding a losing candidate, the least they can do is manage to forge documents without anachronisms and inconsistencies that make them obvious frauds. If they are going to flush whatever credibility they had left down the drain, at least do so with an attention to detail that would at least give the propaganda some legs.
Lie. And lie big, CBS. It's what we now expect of you. But for goodness sakes, at least get good at it."
You're right. Even in the forgery they are mediocre. They are "bad news" all the way around.
nick
Andy Rooney ?
Is this a trick question?
Boy, isn't that the truth!
And that hogwash about watching "because we need to learn what the enemy is up to", is just that, hogwash.
Has anyone else noticed how bad Kerry, Gore, and now Rather are looking these days? I mean physically. Worse of all is Theresa. Bush in contrast couldn't look better.
If Kerry can't take the pressure of a campaign, how is going to stand up to the slings and arrows of the presidency?
nick
As for the original question...NO.
No.Just thinking about his old typewriter and see if he comes to Rathers rescue.
"Where is that one reporter at CBS with some moral courage? I'm waiting to hear from you"
tick tick tick tick tick (crickets chirping)
It's been a long time since Peggy Noonan wrote radio commenatry for Dan. But she may have a good idea.
"I think the the White House should play hardball with CBS.
Schaeffer is scheduled to moderate one of the debates. I would tell the debate team that by no means will we participate in a debate with CBS involvement. I would then hope the White House would pull all there talking heads off any CBS show and refuse to take questions from any CBS White House reporters."
My gut reaction is to agree with you, but this president has taken the high road in every instance and I think it shows his leadership. Reagan was the same way.
I think if asked about the memos, Bush should speak warmly of his association with Killion and say emphatically that he believes the memos to be fakes. Then take the next question and go on.
nick
Former CBS reporter Bernie Goldberg tried to set the record straight in his book "Bias" -- and got slapped around by the MSM ...
"It's been a long time since Peggy Noonan wrote radio commenatry for Dan. But she may have a good idea."
Yes, I miss her. I got the hint of her writing in Bush's Republican Convention speech, didn't you? I'd love to hear what she would say about Rather. Does anyone know if she has a public email address?
nick
Integrity and courage have nothing to do with CBS.
CBS is a committed partizen intent on bringinging down the Bush Administration. CBS is not an apple pie and mom organization. CBS is a left wing organization dedicated to the causes near and dear to extremist liberals.
I've read some of the reactions at DU as well, and they are universal in their praise of Rather. But he's NOT a Democrat, you see. He's just a newsman.
The decision to do the right thing at CBS will come - if it comes at all -will come from outside the news division.
"Further up the food chain will dawn the inescapable realization that severe, long term damage is being done. Damage not just to CBS news' reputation, but to the profit making power of the brand.
This is turning into a crisis for the brand akin to the Tylenol tampering case that J&J had to deal with several years ago."
I agree with you. It will also come from the outside media. If we see the likes of ABC and NBC and major papers keeping the story alive, then CBS is going to go down with it. That' why I am still amazed that they are standing by thier story. If they were duped, which it looks clearly that they were, then admit and the story is over.
In fact, it raises Rather back to be a TV journalist again with a modicum of integrity.
nick
I was in your shoes once. I debated the left on issues everyday. Two pieces of input helped me understand the puzzle I faced.
First, a conservative poster pointed our that liberal's lie.
(yes, I was naive)
Second, I discovered the list of disfunctional behaviors surrounding "Groupthink". They all seemed to fit the left. After all when truth is ignored and dissenters are discredited, your not left with much else to conclude.
Then one day I had an epiphany...
"Liberal's lie about everything all the time."
I have been happy ever since. My mind is always open to new ideas, but these are the goggles I put on every day and they do not fail me.
Eddie01
The next logical question is "where is the integrity or courage at the massive companies and corporations who sponsor CBS commercials, pumping millions of dollars into CBS coffers for ads?"
These corporations pay the bloated salaries of Rather, his venal bosses and his weak-kneed co-workers.
I'm waiting with bated breath to see how many sponsors dump CBS after all the disgusting facts come out, yah.
Leni
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