Rather: 'I'm Big on Personal Responsibility'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Most of Dan Rather's pontifications on today's "Morning Joe" rolled off my back, as I flipped between his performance and that of Tiger Woods over the closing holes at Carnoustie.

But something made me sit up and take notice. At 8:34 A.M. EDT, Rather suddenly blurted out: "I'm big on personal responsibility." And yes, he managed to do so without laughing.

This from the man who notoriously brought us Memogate, yet who to this day has refused to squarely admit the truth: that the documents were blatant forgeries.

For documentation of Rather's dodges, weaves and rejections of personal responsibility, check out reports from MRC [NB's parent] here, here and here.

Take, for example, Rather's statement highlighted by MRC on September 16, 2004, in which Rather trumpeted how a retired, 86-year-old secretary, Marian Cox:

flew to New York this afternoon to tell us she believes the documents we obtained are not authentic. But there's yet another confusing twist to this story. She told us she believes what the documents actually say is exactly as we reported.

The "fake but accurate" defense. How's that for being big on personal responsibility?

I waited in vain for Joe to call Rather on the disconnect between his professed values and his performance in Memogate. One person not having trouble with the truth was newsreader Mika Brzezinski when she admitted on last week's show to admiring Rather very much. Check out the loving look Mika gives Dan here. She later gave Rather an Ann Curry-ish arm squeeze.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

 

[Doctor Raoul]

Sure Dan, just when are you and a film crew going to kick in Lucy Ramirez's door?

[bmwcyle]

[Eric in the Ozarks]

CBS probably wishes this guy would go away.

[subterfuge]

Oh Gunga Dan IS big on personal responsibility, just not for him.

[digger48]

[boop]

"Take, for example, Rather's statement highlighted by MRC on September 16, 2004, in which Rather trumpeted how a retired, 86-year-old secretary, Marian Cox: flew to New York this afternoon to tell us she believes the documents we obtained are not authentic. But there's yet another confusing twist to this story. She told us she believes what the documents actually say is exactly as we reported"

Is this the same secretary that "remembered clearly" that Bush didn't show up for his physical? Amazing memory for something that happened 35 years previously about the son of a relatively unknown politician. I bet if you asked her, she wouldn't even know who the president was at the time.

[Carolinamom]

Dan Rather and Mike Nifong are 2 of a kind: In spite of evidence to the contrary, each still thinks “something happened”.

[PGalt]

To Dan Rather "truth" now means nothing more than "whatever will advance my agenda at this moment." Sad, pathetic, dangerous...

Yes!

[Pharmboy]

“Delusional Dan”—perfect!

[Lancey Howard]

It’s a shame Rather didn’t have the grace and dignity to just disappear, especially after ending his career in disgrace. Remember how the great Johnny Carson retired and then dropped off the face of the earth?
Now, that’s the way you do it.

But then, Rather has never been accused of having any dignity.