DAN DOES IT AGAIN

New York Post ^ | September 30, 2004

[blogblogginaway]

Dan Rather (and CBS News) got snookered by political malcontents with an ax to grind.

Again.

Consider: Both President Bush and Sen. John Kerry say they adamantly oppose reinstitution of the military draft, which was ended in 1973. The Pentagon also says it is vehemently opposed to giving up the all-volunteer army.

But that didn't stop "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" and reporter Richard Schlesinger from airing a story Tuesday about a Pennsylvania woman's fears that her sons will be drafted.

"I think there's a good possibility," said Beverly Cocco, ID'd only as an average voter, and a Bush supporter to boot — yet with only one issue on her mind.

But there was more to her than that.

What Rather & Co. did not tell their viewers is that she is an activist — the head of the Pennsylvania chapter of People Against the Draft, an allegedly bipartisan group that opposes not only the draft but also the war in Iraq, arguing for a "peaceful, rational foreign policy."

CBS also didn't tell us that Cocco's self-styled crusade was prompted, as she has publicly admitted, by a widely discredited e-mail campaign.

Talk about resuming a draft was begun in January, 2003, by Rep. Charles Rangel — in a move disingenuous even by the Harlem Democrat's low rhetorical standards.

He didn't want to help win a war; he wanted to undermine the nation's confidence in the integrity of its armed forces.

[Piquaboy]

Does anyone watch Dam Blather anymore to find out what he says?

[bmorrishome]

Welcome to FR

[AQGeiger]

Beverly Cocco isn't just an "average voter." She actually has a little organization that she's running with some other woman. She posted on FR to publicize it yesterday.

[ScreamingFist]

Snip Instead, Dan Rather runs with what amounts to an unpaid ad for the Kerry-Edwards ticket. Is he a moron, incapable of learning anything from the forged-memo fiasco

Excellent article. Welcome to FR, you "handle" is great.

[A Real Dan Fan... NOT]

If the President continues to allow a CBS moderator for the next debate, then he should have his head examined.

I know all about the old saying, Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer. I agree with that. But NEVER keep an enemy in a position of power.

[MadAnthony1776]

Only those who want a biased, one-sided version of the story.

[expat_panama]

"If the President continues to allow a CBS moderator for the next debate..."

GW's cooperating with this 'debate' nonsense really appalls me.  All the dims ever do is pack the room with a mob that cheers the dims and boos our side. 

Bush keeps doing almost everything wrong.  OTOH, the one thing he does right is 'succeed'-- so maybe I shouldn't bellyache.

[Diogenesis]

Proof CBS Covered Tracks on Draft Story

[MrMarbles]

[Carry_Okie]

This one can't be blamed upon a ruse. The fact that Democrats are sponsoring draft bills that will go nowhere in Congress is too easy to confirm. Thus, Rather didn't get snookered; he clearly doesn't care. He knows that a rumored draft, backed by a couple of twistable facts, is all the Slave Party needs to bandy the threat on college campuses, fan the flames of rumor, and rack up votes for Kerry.

Perhaps one consequence of Rathergate we had not anticipated is that Ol' Dan would have nothing left to lose.

[the invisib1e hand]

if a news source isn't credible, does it have any real value at all? No. It will dispensed with by the marketplace as long as the marketplace is allowed to function.

[Carry_Okie]

Is he a moron, incapable of learning anything from the forged-memo fiasco?

Or just a Democratic shill?

Wow, that's some language for a major editorial page.

[Mamzelle]

Does Cocco even have kids to "worry" about?

[thecanuck]

I agree Dan is going out in a blaze of glory but how can those who will be left behind continue to stand by and watch the collapse? The taint of CBS on their resume will linger a long time. If the CBS News president isn't going to stop this than Redstone or Moonvez should be, and if they won't Viacom's board of directors should be calling for their heads.

[cyn]

"nothing left to lose."

Good point.

Oh, heeee's got plenty of nothing, nothing's plenty for him . . . .

[bvw]

Except, my friend, what is been sold, what is being bought, what market is for is not news, it is not ideas, it is not accurate rports, truth or any such thing.

I'm not talking what the commericials sell either.

No, what the market is for is a "passtime". A comfort, and regular comfortable thing to do at that hour.

Like cows that move to the sunny uphill side in the morning, and then to the shaded and wet downhill in the late afternoon.

The evening news, the morning shows, US Today, the NY Times, Time, Newsweek -- they are NOT in the market of news or of ideas.

They are in the market of selling timeshares, in a way. Shares of time, comfortable, familar shares of time that a regular and predictable.

All things that news and truth are NOT.

[smiley]

Dan just better leave the stage now while he still has a single thread of credibility left...

[MrMarbles]

[NCLaw441]

I am very concerned about a number "proposals" for our country:
Adding Bill Clinton to Mt. Rushmore
Painting the White House green
Making ebonics the official language


None of these will occur, but I wonder WHEN Dan Rather will report on them???