CBS Memo Scandal Results in Firings (Free Republic and Buckhead mentioned)

The National Ledger ^ | January 10, 2005 | CK Rairden

[AmericanMade1776]

CBS News announced on Monday morning that it had asked three executives to step down and has fired producer Mary Mapes. The announcement was the result of a near four month investigation into a story that aired in September by CBS news anchor Dan Rather that claimed George W. Bush received preferential treatment in the Texas Air National Guard.

In part, the story was based on memos that were quickly challenged in the new media as fraudulent. Within minutes a poster on a Free Republic message board with the screen name of Buckhead made challenges to the authenticity of the memos. By the next morning several members of the blogosphere were dismantling the memos piece by piece. Michelle Malkin has a nice round up of the history of how the story was covered in the new media.

The fact that the story was discredited nearly instantly didn't seem to matter to Dan Rather who defended the story for 12 full days. He stubbornly refused to acknowledge his mistakes and still demanded that President Bush answer the "charges" even though the story was falling to pieces.

[mysterio]

They were talking about Buckhead on CNN January 9th on the Paula Zahn show.

[Savage Beast]

"The fact that the story was discredited nearly instantly didn't seem to matter to Dan Rather who defended the story for 12 full days."

"I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things."

The moral values of the Left. (They're still baffled by the 2004 Presidential Election.)

[AmericanMade1776]

It is truly Amazing, what Buckhead initiated here at Free Republic, in changing the face of TV news.

[OldFriend]

It's changing the face of the news only in the respect that there will be fewer viewers. Their agenda has not changed and will not change.

Unfortunately, it is FNC that is changing, moving to the left to become CNN lite.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Dan Rather lied, but he lied about the truth.

[Paradox]

It was Buckhead and Mrs. Buckhead, who fed the idea to the Little Green Footballs blog.

[AmericanMade1776]

Did not know there was a Mrs. Buckhead Freeper , or blogger. Is her name Mrs. Buckhead?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Rather "withdrew" his apology. No one was sure who accepted it in the first place.

[AmericanMade1776]

[CedarDave]

In case anyone missed it:

Info can be found on this thread:

FreeRepublic just made "the Grapevine" on Brit Hume's show on Fox News...

[AmericanMade1776]

[CedarDave]

ROTFLMAO!!!

[AmericanMade1776]

Thanks for the update, Fox is Fair and Balanced. Unlike CBS.

[AmericanMade1776]

[AmericanMade1776]

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Consider him permanently smeared.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Rolling on the floor laughing my butt off.

[Conspiracy Guy]

It is so sad that I can't stop laughing.

[Paradox]

I just know that his wife posted this information to the LGF site. That part of the story came "out" when Buckhead was "outed".

[Heatseeker]

Let's not forget TankerKC too! He was the one who posted at 8:19 PM as "60 Minutes" was still airing.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for setting the record straight.

FRankly, this adulation thing for any citizen freeper doing his or her 'duty' is a bit much. Andy Warhol must be tittering.

The hoopla is great but at least folks should get the whole story straight.

(adjusts asbestos undies)

[Heatseeker]

FWIW, I've seen several posts by TankerKC saying the same thing, i.e. that it wasn't just him and sharing credit with everybody. Classy.

[AmericanMade1776]

Always a good woman behind a Good Man.

[AmericanMade1776]

Thanker! Tanker KC,Too!

[nikos1121]

I am suggesting that we coin a new phrase..

The Dan Rather Syndrome.....

The Dan Rather Syndrome, is where your boss has you take the blame for a cluster F.... and he has you take the fall.

For example:

"I got fired as a result of the Dan Rather Syndrome.. My Boss made me take the hit for his f... up..."

Let this be Rather's legacy.....

nikos

[Route101]

Again, Salutes to Buckhead.....He crashed their system...awesome!

[Sacajaweau]

btt