Speaking at a media forum in New York City, Rather insisted, "I don't have a political agenda." "I'm an independent journalist," he claimed, in quotes picked up by the Washington Post.Yeah, and I'm Howard Hughes long-lost lone heir to his estate!
Media Research Center:
Dan Rather on Bill Clinton:
"I think he’s an honest man."
O’Reilly: "I want to ask you flat out, do you think President Clinton’s an honest man?"
Rather: "Yes, I think he’s an honest man."
O’Reilly: "Do you, really?"
Rather: "I do."
O’Reilly: "Even though he lied to Jim Lehrer’s face about the Lewinsky case?"
Rather: "Who among us has not lied about something?"
O’Reilly: "Well, I didn’t lie to anybody’s face on national television. I don’t think you have, have you?"
Rather: "I don’t think I ever have. I hope I never have. But, look, it’s one thing-"
O’Reilly, jumping in: "How can you say he’s an honest guy then?"
Rather: "Well, because I think he is. I think at core he’s an honest person. I know that you have a different view. I know that you consider it sort of astonishing anybody would say so, but I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things."
O’Reilly: "Really?!?"
Rather: "Yeah, I do."
O’Reilly: "See, I can’t. I want my government to be honest across-the-board. I don’t want people lying."
