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IS THERE ANYONE AT CBS WITH ANY INTEGRITY AND COURAGE?
September 12, 2004 | Nick Vlachos

Posted on 09/12/2004 7:35:59 PM 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


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: accuracy; bush; bushmemos; cbs; integrity; kerry; pulitzer; rather; rathergate
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1 posted on 09/12/2004 7:36:00 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: nikos1121

WARNING: Another vanity post.


2 posted on 09/12/2004 7:37:04 PM PDT by COURAGE (A charter member of the Grim FReeper Club)
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To: nikos1121

That would be a NO!!


3 posted on 09/12/2004 7:37:10 PM PDT by faithincowboys
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: nikos1121

I'm counting on Howard Cosell!


5 posted on 09/12/2004 7:39:12 PM PDT by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything!")
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To: Revolting cat!

No, there isn't.


6 posted on 09/12/2004 7:40:41 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad
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To: nikos1121

The answer to your question is a resounding NO!!!!


7 posted on 09/12/2004 7:40:54 PM PDT by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: nikos1121

no. no male equipment, either.


8 posted on 09/12/2004 7:41:00 PM PDT by smonk
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To: nikos1121

I would not be surprised if folks with several ounces of integrity work there. But their voices are squelched by those who "know better" for all of us.


9 posted on 09/12/2004 7:43:09 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
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To: nikos1121

Integrity was a lost art at CBS thirty-five years ago, and it seems that the reputation will not be regained anytime soon.

Why does CBS even still have a news bureau? They report only second-hand or made-up news, and have shed no light on any recent developments that stood an impartial test of logic.


10 posted on 09/12/2004 7:43:14 PM PDT by alloysteel
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To: nikos1121

I agree, this is driving me crazy. Is there not one honest person at CBS?
I also can not believe there has not been a definitive article presented by a newspaper, magazine, TV newsprogram that collects a large number of known experts in the field and has them state that these memos are not only frauds but are very poorly done frauds. No "expert" could possibly disagree with this conclusion. Noone who honestly looks at the evidence can possible reach a different conclusion. Does anyone know if such an article is being written anywhere?


11 posted on 09/12/2004 7:43:50 PM PDT by wsack
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To: nikos1121

CBS News is not known as the Completely BS News for nothing.


12 posted on 09/12/2004 7:44:03 PM PDT by punster
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To: nikos1121

If Sumner Yellowstone won't step forward, who's left?


13 posted on 09/12/2004 7:44:08 PM PDT by nygoose
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To: nikos1121

There used to be... gentleman (and Democrat) by the name of Bernard Goldberg, who worked there for 30 years... but he already "failed to have his contract renewed", and wound up writing a book called "Bias". I highly recommend it.

Qwinn


14 posted on 09/12/2004 7:44:55 PM PDT by Qwinn
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To: nikos1121

David Letterman is their brain trust.


15 posted on 09/12/2004 7:46:11 PM PDT by Xcoastie (It is more difficult to organize peace than to win a war - Aristotle)
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To: nikos1121
No.
16 posted on 09/12/2004 7:46:14 PM PDT by Ukiapah Heep (Shoes for Industry!)
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To: nikos1121
Is this their new standard of excellence?

YES.

Is this the kind of reporting that we can now expect on the CBS EVENING NEWS and 60 MINUTES?

YES.

IS THERE ANYONE AT CBS, ANYONE WITH ANY INTEGRITY AND COURAGE, WHO WILL COME FORTH AND SAY, "COLLEAGUES, SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE

NO.

IS THERE NOT ONE YOUNG REPORTER THERE AT CBS WHO IS TROUBLED BY THIS?

NO.

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."

NO.

Where is that one reporter at CBS with some moral courage?

Possibly in utero - a very dangerous place to be, in a Socialist world..


17 posted on 09/12/2004 7:47:03 PM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)
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To: nikos1121

No, they don't tolerate troublemakers. Ask Bernie Goldberg.


18 posted on 09/12/2004 7:47:15 PM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets ("And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths")
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To: nikos1121
I think rather not!

I believe they have lost the frequency or too put it another way:

All your base are belong to us!

19 posted on 09/12/2004 7:48:13 PM PDT by kapn kuek (Terrorism for Dummies: #7. When you hear terrorist, translate to islamic terrorist.)
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To: nikos1121

in a word, no.


20 posted on 09/12/2004 7:48:53 PM PDT by BoBToMatoE
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