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
WARNING: Another vanity post.
That would be a NO!!
I'm counting on Howard Cosell!
No, there isn't.
The answer to your question is a resounding NO!!!!
no. no male equipment, either.
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.
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.
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?
CBS News is not known as the Completely BS News for nothing.
If Sumner Yellowstone won't step forward, who's left?
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
David Letterman is their brain trust.
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..
No, they don't tolerate troublemakers. Ask Bernie Goldberg.
I believe they have lost the frequency or too put it another way:
All your base are belong to us!
in a word, no.
Well I'm sorry to say that I think you will never receive a reply!!
why another vanity in this forum please post this in chat
thank you
Uh...no.
Good idea! Chat is very popular here.
They have clearly lied to us this time, and they were caught. How many other times have they lied to us and NOT been caught?
Not defeatist enough for you?
You're giving the National Enquirer a bad name. I bet if they got on the story, they'd have it resolved before anyone! Enquiring Minds Want to Know!
NO!
There's that mailroom guy and they aren't too sure about him.
Well you see...um...well...No
Well you see...um...well...No
Check with the janitorial staff.

This guy?
One of the janitors there had the courage to crawl across the Arizona desert to get here so he may be your guy, but he no speak no Inglesa!
Hey Dan, put some ice on that and pass the coolaid.
Yep, he's the only one. And he should leave no tp in Rather's crapper.
Simple answer: NO!
When someone from the inside speaks out against a right-wing organization, they are a "whistleblower"
When someone from the inside speaks out against a left-wing organization, they are treasonous or they are shills for some rich right-wing financier
It's in the dictionary, really
You should check out the post about the woman who claims to have been fired for having a sKerry sticker on her car window.
A flat NO
I've always thought that whether it's selling newspapers, a documentary,
Once Michael Moore got awards for Bowling for Columbine, a "documentary" later found to be filled with falsehoods, and received accolades for his "documentary" making up the Presidents "thoughts", I knew there was no legitimacy remaining on the left.
At least it's not another WHINITY post. FReepers are feeling a little pumped up these past few days, deservedly so. You got a problem with that? :o)
anyone have Dan Blather's email at CBS?
Is this a rhetorical question?
I know nobody expects anything from the likes of Ed Bradley, Leslie Stahl, or Don Hewitt, but I am exteremly disappointed by Mike Wallace and Morley Safer. I always thought that those two guys, shameless liberal Democrats though they may be, at least had an old-fashioned sense of journalistic integrity, honesty, and decency. Their silence is deafening.
Great picture. Rather and the CBS brain trust.
I doubt it if they want to hold on to their jobs.
CBS is a fascist organization just like so many media outlets today.
I gather that this post somehow pissed you off.
Too bad, so sad.
Like your little "WARNING" meant something to someone.
Go to bed now.
It will be ok in the morning.
The "staff" will give you a full report on any further 'vanity' posts.
Feel better?
LVM
We've all been mad at CBS this week. But the sad thing is that CBS is no worse than ABC, NBC, CNN, or a dozen other major news organizations. They are all riddled with corruption.
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