Posted on 09/14/2004 9:45:21 AM PDT by F16Fighter
WASHINGTON – To approving hoots, hollers and thunderous applause, hundreds of activists Thursday night rated CBS anchorman Dan Rather the Most Outrageously Biased Liberal Reporter for 2001.
Of the six Dishonors Awards bestowed at Media Research Center's annual banquet, Rather won hands down in two categories: The Flakiest Comment of the Year and the Sore Losers Award (for Refusing to Concede Bush’s Victory in Florida).
The Sore Losers Award, presented by syndicated columnist David Limbaugh, spotlighted Rather’s coverage of Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris’ formal declaration that George W. Bush had indeed carried Florida.
Dan Can't Handle the Truth
The news clips showed the anchorman repeatedly telling his viewers that "Republican" Harris was making a finding "as she sees it” or "as the secretary of state sees it,” the clear implication being that this was a partisan decision that bore no reality to facts. Unofficial recounts over the following year, by liberal media outlets and others, have certified that yes, Bush was the legitimate winner of Florida’s electoral votes.
Harris herself appeared at the banquet Thursday and "congratulated” Rather for winning the award. The Florida secretary of state, who is running for a seat in Congress this year, said she merely followed the law and based her declaration on the fact that the law "said what it said not what others wanted it to say.”
And as to the future, added Harris, well, as Dan would say, "Courage!” That was a takeoff on Rather’s condescending, widely mocked signoff of his newscast at a time of well-publicized turmoil at CBS.
In announcing the award, Limbaugh said the judges’ nomination of Rather was based on merit "as we see it.”
Toobin in a Tizzy
Among the "sore losers” who lost out to Rather was lawyer Jeffrey Toobin who, after writing a book claiming "the wrong man was inaugurated” last year, still refused to concede that Bush was a legitimate president because thousands "meant to” vote for Gore and that "democracy" (though the U.S. is, of course, a constitutional republic, not a democracy) is all about voters’ "intent."
Earlier in the program, attendees at the banquet clapped and hollered "Dan! Dan! Dan!” as presenter Kate O’Beirne, National Review Washington editor, was opening the envelope after showing news clips of the competitors for Flakiest Comment of the Year Award.
And to wild applause, the CBS multimillionaire walked off with that Dishonor, as well. The term "walked off” is used advisedly. Of course, none of the award recipients was "able to make it” to the banquet.
The clip that impressed the judges featured Rather answering Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly’s question, "Do you think Bill Clinton is an honest man?”
An Honest Liar
Rather’s answer was, "I do.” But the flaky comment that really caught the judges’ attention was his follow-up sentence that it is possible for a man to "be honest and lie about any number of things.”
The other winners included the following:
We’re All going to Die And It’s Bush’s Fault Award (for Doomsday Environmental Reporting): CNN’s Margaret Carlson for saying that Bush was "allowing harmful ingredients in nearly everything we eat and drink.”
Bring Back Bubba Award (for Best Journalistic Lewinsky): Former UPI reporter Helen Thomas for saying she missed President Clinton because "he gave us hope.” Honorable mention, or "dishonorable mention” where Thomas was concerned, was her out-of-the-blue question as to whether President Bush was planning to invade Spain. This particular quote was mentioned by award presenter John Fund of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board.
Peter Arnett Award (for Hopelessly Foolish Wartime Reporting): ABC News President David Westin who said that, as a journalist, he had no opinion one way or another whether the Pentagon was a legitimate target for terrorists.
Damn Every Conservative We Can Think of to Hell Award: CBS’s Bryant Gumbel for asking an obviously loaded question of an opponent of Attorney General John Ashcroft’s nomination. The question was so biased as to leave one wondering if there was anything left for the interviewee to say. It would have been interesting to see him stumble for an answer beyond "Yes, you’re right, Bryant. Now, back to you.” Watch Out, Dan: Rush Is Back
Limbaugh drew cheers when he announced that earlier in the day he had talked by phone to his famous radio talk show host brother, Rush, "and he could hear me.” Rush Limbaugh, in recent months, has been coping with going deaf. Doctors reportedly are pleased that an implantation appears to be a success.
Ending the evening’s proceedings, Media Research Center Founder and President Brent Bozell III thanked Rather for supplying so much ammunition for the award judges.
Notwithstanding the fact that the mainstream liberal media have hurled vile name-calling at MRC for its awards, said Bozell, "We’re pretty damned proud of what we’re doing tonight.”
Bozell also said that even though the liberal media establishment deserves "a slap up one side of the head and down the other,” the networks are to be commended for sacrificing hundreds of millions in advertising to provide wall-to-wall coverage of Sept. 11.
Just like Rather to lay the blame elsewhere, then apologize on behalf of others.
That's my guess as well in this case.
This must be terribly exciting to Dan Rather, as he has again made himself the front-runner for a number of these awards this year with his recent statements on 60 Minutes II and his nightly news program. Congratulations, Dan, and keep up the good (?) work! ;-)
Stinko at Kinko's.......Let's get Bush anyway we can...O.k. Dan...go for it....Oh Danny Boy!!...you just stepped in a giant meadow muffin....hit the showers...your through!
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