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In a move that will relive his ouster as anchor of the CBS Evening News and subsequent acrimonious departure from the network he called home for decades, Dan Rather has filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS), according to the New York Times.
The 75-year-old Rather obviously is bitter about how the network handled the investigation into how uncorroborated allegations about President Bush's service in the Air National Guard made it onto the air. In his lawsuit, Rather accuses CBS of committing fraud with its "biased" investigation that "seriously damaged his reputation," the Times says. Named in the suit are CBS president Leslie Moonves and Sumner Redstone, the media mogul who controls the company and its former parent Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA).
Oh brother.
First off, even the most rabid Bush haters have to admit that CBS screwed up badly and that Rather's humiliation was deserved, even though his role in the broadcast was peripheral at best. It's baffling to me why the legendary newsman wants to relive his darkest hour. Maybe it's pride, ego or a desire for revenge on the employer whom he feels treated him shabbily after years of loyal service that led to this ill-advised move.
What ultimately cost Rather his career was his inability to admit that he had made a mistake despite the overwhelming evidence that he had made a big one. If he had been the slightest bit contrite, he might have been able to salvage his career at CBS. The network did show its appreciation for Rather in a rather cold. antiseptic tribute. It even tried -- or said it was going to try -- to keep him on at 60 Minutes. That obviously didn't work out, and Rather has been grousing about CBS ever since his departure.
Now, he's about to embarrass himself yet again. Someone should tell Rather to let sleeping dogs lie. Don't let these be the memories that people have of your once glorious career.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-19-2007 @ 8:58PM
Paul Levinson said...
Here's a contrary view: http://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2007/09/good-for-dan-rather-cbs-deserves-to-be.html
9-20-2007 @ 12:47PM
CCM Patrol said...
Maybe since Katie is tanking, he thinks he can get his job back. :)
http://www.ccmpatrol.com
9-20-2007 @ 6:41PM
JGAlexander said...
What is sad, Jonathan Berr, is that you seem to have no sense of principle. But then...how many legions feel the same..."kill the innocent...it's easier and we'll have this over with".
Dan Rather has always been a loyal and diligent practitioner of truth-telling in good journalistic tradition. The fact that he was used as a scapegoat is what is pathetic, or at least that is many people's perception of the ultimate fallout The real bearers of the blame haven't got the guts or desire to make any apology to Rather, especially now. What was said, claimed, reported or whatever... and whether it was right or wrong or simply circumstantial, is no longer of as much consequence as how he was treated...and the designers of his humiliation should at the least make it known that he is not considered the 'bad guy', even while he did report something that was supplied (and guaranteed by all reports), by sources that were supposedly, completely trusted. Of course they must fear that this would stir up a hornets nest of another kind.
But what ever happened to loyalty to a deserving colleage...a man who spent his life...not as a sensationalist but as an honest reporter.
Even if they won't point fingers at any real sources of this "mistake", (and others that must truly bear a large chunk of blame)...it's only fair to get Dan Rather out of this open jail of erroneous assumption. He has every right to fight for this.
9-21-2007 @ 7:32AM
john higgins said...
The facts are the facts.....Bush during his self directed National Guard tour was a complete washout. Whether the documents depicting that were real or forged has nothing to do with the story other than the corroborating evidence was flawed. CBS caved in to pressure from the White House and fearing future blackballing from Bush's few press conferences, decided to sacrifice Rather and his staff for their having been possibly duped by a source. Rather than investigating Rather, they should have done more work on the story....trying to prove it or not.....rather than being mowmowed by some right wing blogging Lawyer from the deep south. Thought all along that CBS should have been fired....not Dan Rather and his staff. I hope he wins every dollar of the 70 million....it would be well deserved. John
cazador@nnex.net
9-21-2007 @ 11:53AM
Edward Adams said...
The remarkable thing about Rather is that in his comments to Larry King, he still defends the content of the piece that got him fired, calling it a "story". It is not a story. It is pure opinion since the documents used to support it have been thoroughly debunked as frauds. Rather is not much an investigative reporter if he still maintains that those documents have not been proven fakes, a stance he also takes in the Larry King interview.
9-25-2007 @ 7:33AM
mike said...
I think Rather's lawsuit is awesome.
It, hopefully, will revisit the truth about GWB's lack of military service and how he was even awol from the military during his supposed time of service.
People seem to forget that the whole thing was a set up. Rather was set up and its time the truth be heard.