"The point is to take down Dan Rather"

"The point is to take down Dan Rather. Presidents come and go, but a network anchor chair is just short of forever," writes Jim Geraghty of NRO's "Kerry Spot," setting forth a three-part plan to force accountability on CBS:

Critics of the report must focus on three alternative targets that are more vulnerable to public pressure: the local CBS affiliates, other CBS employees, and other media.

In recent years . . . we have seen particularly shameless public figures change the deal. They get confronted with the evidence, there is public outcry . . . and then they simply "wait out the storm." The public's outrage eventually fades, and they continue their careers.

These are the fruits of Paul Mirengoff's "Cheating Heart of the Democratic Party," blogged here yesterday. But the cheating has backfired, and with a little encouragement, the elite media -- in fight-or-flight mode -- may be ready to save itself by sacrificing Rather & Company:

Right now, Rather and Andrew Heyward are at that same crossroads stage. The memos have been proven forgeries to any rational mind. Their source is very likely a man of dubious credibility claiming an extraordinarily farfetched story. Rather and Heyward ignored their own experts' warnings that the memos were fakes. They have been caught red-handed acting maliciously and abusing the public airwaves to share their own unfounded conspiracy theories about the president, and to attack their critics.

They have also clearly decided to choose the Clinton-Condit path. They remain in their bunker, insist that the documents are or "could be" real, ignore the criticisms, refuse to answer questions specifically, and simply wait for public outrage to burn out.

And it will burn out. Rather and Heyward will continue to claim, ridiculous as their new "experts" and theories may be, that the documents are "disputed."

The Gang of 500, as ABC's "The Note" calls the nation's most influential journalists, must be convinced that Heyward, Rather, and Mapes just botched the "storyline" for the most important election of our times. The current indicators are that Bush is doing well in his race for reelection, frustrating his Manhattan, Hollywood, and Washington foes to no end. Those frustrated and angry elites are going to be looking for a pre-emptive scapegoat. Heyward, Rather, and Mapes will do nicely.

Geraghty notes that unless critics apply relentless pressure, "Rather and Heyward will quickly be welcomed back into the good graces of high society, invited to the black-tie dinners, collecting the journalism awards, the same glowing magazine profiles. In those magazine profiles, the memo will warrant a paragraph in the final third, and the hagiographers will report, "No definitive answer was ever reached on the memos'" accuracy.' It's already happening. Listen to Margaret "Talking Points" Carlson on CNN's "Capital Gang" last night:

CBS's problem was they tried to prove a story that doesn't need to be proved. We all know that George Bush got into the Guard because he was a son of privilege, that he stayed in despite breaking the rules because he was privileged, and that he left early and got an honorable discharge because he was a son of privilege.

CBS will end up, if they are wrong, if it appears to be, apologizing for their mistake, and we will wait a long time before various cable channels and Fox apologizes for the swift boat ads and the commentary on their channels, which turned out not to be true.

It sounds like Margaret has been sipping Crazy Dan's Core-Truth Kool-Aid.™ Or maybe she's been spending too much time hanging out with Mary Ann Marsh, who betrayed her country and sold her soul to the devil.

[via Lucianne]

Comments

[Don Hagen]

Below is a RatherGate ABCNEWS.com story that says Guard Officer Denies Seeking Help for Bush.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Politics/Vote2004/staudt_bush_040917-1.html

Air National Guard Col. Walter Staudt, far right, is pictured with George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and an unidentified woman in this photo from the younger Bush's time in the Guard. Staudt denies he received preferential treatment.

(ABC News)
Air National Guard Colonel Denies Bush Got Preferential Treatment

Sept. 17, 2004 — The man cited in media reports as having allegedly pressured others in the Texas Air National Guard to help George W. Bush is speaking out, telling ABC News in an exclusive interview that he never sought special treatment for Bush.

Retired Col. Walter Staudt, who was brigadier general of Bush's unit in Texas, interviewed Bush for the Guard position and retired in March 1972. He was mentioned in one of the memos allegedly written by Lt. Col. Jerry Killian as having pressured Killian to assist Bush, though Bush supposedly was not meeting Guard standards.

"I never pressured anybody about George Bush because I had no reason to," Staudt told ABC News in his first interview since the documents were made public.

The memo stated that "Staudt is pushing to sugar coat" a review of Bush's performance.

Staudt said he decided to come forward because he saw erroneous reports on television. CBS News first reported on the memos, which have come under scrutiny by document experts who question whether they are authentic. Killian, the purported author of the documents, died in 1984.

Staudt insisted Bush did not use connections to avoid being sent to Vietnam.

"He didn't use political influence to get into the Air National Guard," Staudt said, adding, "I don't know how they would know that, because I was the one who did it and I was the one who was there and I didn't talk to any of them."

During his time in charge of the unit, Staudt decided whether to accept those who applied for pilot training. He recalled Bush as a standout candidate.

"He was highly qualified," he said. "He passed all the scrutiny and tests he was given."

Staudt said he never tried to influence Killian or other Guardsmen, and added that he never came under any pressure himself to accept Bush. "No one called me about taking George Bush into the Air National Guard," he said. "It was my decision. I swore him in. I never heard anything from anybody."

When he interviewed for the job, Bush was eager to join the pilot program, which Staudt said often was a hard sell. "I asked him, 'Why do you want to be a fighter pilot?' " Staudt recalled. "He said, 'Because my daddy was one.' He was a well-educated, bright-eyed young man, just the kind of guy we were looking for."

He added that Bush more than met the requirements for pilot training. "He presented himself well. I'd say he was in the upper 10 percent or 5 percent or whatever we ever talked to about going to pilot training. We were pretty particular because when he came back [from training], we had to fly with him."

Bush has repeatedly said he completed all of his Guard commitments. Critics of the president say he got special treatment because his father was a congressman and U.N. ambassador. There also have been questions about why the young Bush skipped a required medical exam in 1972 and apparently failed to show up for Guard activities for six months.

Records show Bush stopped flying F-102As in April 1972. He has said he moved to Alabama to work on the Senate campaign of a family friend. Staudt retired from the Guard in March of that year and said he was never contacted about Bush's performance.

"There was no contact between me and George Bush … he certainly never asked for help," Staudt said. "He didn't need any help as far as I knew."

He added that after retiring he was not involved in Air National Guard affairs. "I didn't check in with anybody — I had no reason to," he said. "I was busy with my civilian endeavors, and they were busy with their military options. I had no reason to talk to them, and I didn't."

Staudt said he continues to support Bush now that he is president. "My politics now are that I'm an American, and that's about all I can tell you," he said. "And I'm going to vote for George Bush."

ABC News' Ariane DeVogue contributed to this report.

[Hal R. Kalin]

Rather must go. Maybe CBS would understand a financial pressure. Maybe a boycott of any product that Rather touches. The man is way too obvious in his political bias. Rather must go.

[Sissy Willis]

Yes. I think he will go of his own deadweight when the bosses realize he is dragging down ratings.

[cmccauley]

dan (blather) rather MUST GO NOW

[Irv Zucker]

GET RID OF MR. RATHER. HE LIED TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
CBS, YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE KEEPING HIM ON YOUR NETWORK.
I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY ADVERTISERS ON YOUR NET WORK< UNTIL HE GOES!!!!!!!!

[margaret toler]

Our faith has been severely shaken in the great American free press for several years including public
television especially Gwen Iffel and Jim Leherer. Their bias reporting is totally unacceptable along
with Tom Brokov and Peter Jennings. CNN reporters are also disgrace. Whatever happened to "Journalists"???

I AGREE DAN RATHER MUST GO

[Marlene Bisson]

We need honest reporting

[Brigitte]

Dan Rather is NOT a Jounalist,he is a Actor and a Layer.He belongs to Hollywood.

HE MUST GO!!!

[geo church]

go! dan go!

[nancy]

Of course Rather must go................Have not watched Common B--- S--- (CBS) or any of the so called "journalists" rallying to his defense because they are all biased and corrupt..........anyone who defends him is no better than he is....

[ARTHUR]

MR. RATHER YOU ARE THE "LIAR OF THE YEAR ". CBS GET YOUR ACT TOGEHTER BEFORE ITS TO LATE. RIGHT ON FOX NEWS!

[DIETER POLEDNIK]

CBS MUST GET RID OF THAT SELF LOVING AND BIASED PRIMA- DONNA. HE THINKS HE IS THE GIFT TO THE WORLD. HE MUST BE
FIRED. HE NEEDS MORE TIME TO SPEND LOOKING AT HIS IMAGE IN HIS MIRROR FOR SELF LOVE. CBS IS NO LONGER ON MY TV DIAL UNTIL THAT LIAR IS NO LONGER AFFILIATED WITH THIS OPINIONATED CREATURE. H E M U S T GO !

[Sue Lobasso]

Dan Rather has reached an all time low in his bias toward the right. We all knew it exsisted, but to stoop to this is gutter stuff even for Rather. I'd Rather he leave CBS, but first he owes the President an apology, but of course his arrogance will stand in the way and he probably will slither out the back door after the election. I will be boycotting CBS advertisers till Rather is fired!!

[DotGagnon]

Dan Rather,

I have known your biase reporting, for years.

You
are obsessed with getting President Bush,so glad you have .finally been found out.
You should have been fired long ago.
Go!!!

t

[Tweet Brumaghim]

Rather has caused enough turmoil through the years....now its time for him to resign. This is an outright Bush bashing....must stop.

[auguie ruggerio]

he must go he lied about the draft the dem. party members wants the draft not the pres. he lied about fake papers and he will bring CBS down i will never watch CBS again

[James Di Biaso]

I agree ! Dan Rather must go since he has no right to state a bias statemant that was so untrue.

[Jeannie]

DAN RATHER MUST GO. FINAL -- END OF STORY. WE DON'T NEED HIM OR WANT HIM....OR CBS EITHER.MOST AMERICANS ARE TOO SMART FOR BIASED MEDIA. OUT WITH DAN RATHER AND ALL THE REST....AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. BECAUSE WE DO.

[barbara Klinger]

Dan Rather never struck me as qualified as an on air anchor. He just stares at the camera with little or no expression. He drones on in a monotone. I sense that he just reads the news in stead of being familiar with the info. Compare him to Peter Jennings who is attractive, personable, articulate and caring. Unload the dead weight! Serve Rather a pink slip now!!

[R.MAZZONE]

DAN RATHER DID YOU EVER LISTEN TO YOURSELF, THATS WHY CBS ISN"T DOING WELL. REALIZE IT , YOU SHOULD BE FIRED

[Joan Craven]

Dan Rather should be fired.I have not watched CBS since then

[J. Kevin]

Dan Rather like most of the other media anchors has forgotton or never learned they are to just report the news evenly and fairly, not make the news up themselves, especially for political reasons. He also knowingly tried to affect an presidential election. Mr. Rather can be like any other citizen and vote. I believe he qualifies for the Gobbels award for excellence in propaganda broadcasting. Stalin and Hitler would be proud of him.
Dan Rather must go!!!!

[carole kalinowski]

On "Fox" news ,Wed.12, Mrs. Edwards said that "Sinclair" must respect the air waves and act responsibly,10 democratic senators want the gov. to stop the showing of the film. Where were all these people when Dan Rather was reporting his piece on 60 min.? That was all forged document information and to date nothing has happened. The movie which was produced by a Vietnam vet. with real people telling their stories is now trying to be banned from the air waves. WHAT HYPOCRISY!!

[PLA LANDE]

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A NEWSMAN IS TO REPORT THE NEWS WITHOUT BIAS OR INTENT TO MISLEAD VIA INTENTIONAL MISINFORMATION.THEIR PERSONAL OPINION IS JUST THAT,...THEIR PERSONAL OPINION...I WANT THE FACTS...JUST THE FACTS...NOT THEIR OPINION...NOT THEIR SLANT AND DEFINITELY NOT THEIR MISGUIDED PERCEPTIONS.I MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS WITHOUT THEIR BIASED VIEWPOINTS,IF THEY CAN'T FULLFILL THAT OBLIGATION TO THE PUBLIC,THEY MUST BE HELD CULPABLE AS WELL AS ALL OTHERS INVOLVED.RATHER MUST BE REMOVED COMPLETELY , PERMANENTLY AND IMMEDIATELY.

[Epi Betancourt]

Dan Rather is exactly what is wrong with the media industry!!
The cubans have it right, he is a comunist!!!