Rather and CBS’s lying suits many viewers

Captain Ed Morrissey posts on a Q&A that followed a recent Dan Rather speech. A reporter asked Rather to talk about a specific instance where media failed -- and wound up censored for his efforts. The reporter later wrote:

Here's the scene: Former CBS anchorman Dan Rather is in Cherry Hill, giving a speech about the need for journalists to do better.

"What's gone out of fashion is the tough question and the follow-up," he tells an admiring audience of about 600 people at Cherry Hill's Star Forum.

So how can I, the guy covering Rather's remarks, just sit there?

When he finishes, I hurry to a floor mike to ask Rather about an issue that will be part of my story.

"Mr. Rather," I say. "Great suggestions. But you left the anchor desk last year after your report questioning President Bush's military service was discredited. Key memos could not be authenticated. Do you think the failure to ask questions then affects your credibility now?"

Rather responds with civility -- if not clarity. He notes, in part, that an independent review "couldn't determine whether the documents were authentic or not."
Eager to please, I follow up: "The Courier-Post won't run something if we're not sure it's authentic. Are you saying it's OK . . ."

But my microphone goes dead -- and the audience stirs to life.

Some people jeer. Others glare and scowl (I can now distinguish between the two). This continues outside as I call in my story.

What happened during that Q&A is worrying for democracy which depends on people hearing and accepting the truth.

But nothing that happened there should surprise us.

The day after CBS 60 Minutes ran the phony Air National Guard story, Rather and CBS assured us that their then anonymous document source was “unimpeachable.”

They continued to tell us that for more than a week until the public learned what Rather and CBS had known all along: Their “unimpeachable” document source was long-time Bush-hater and Democratic activist Bill Burkett.

Telling people Burkett was “unimpeachable” was a falsehood. Doing it deliberately was a lie. Doing it repeatedly was serial lying.

And after Rather and CBS did that, they retained the loyalty and viewership of millions of people who want just what Rather and CBS gave them.

No doubt a good many of those who hectored Walsh are loyal CBS viewers.

We need to keep exposing MSM false reporting even as many of our fellow citizens give every sign of wanting such reporting.

Hat Tip: Mike Williams