If you're the New York Times' Jim Rutenberg or Bill Keller the last person you probably want in your corner is Dan "National Guard Forgery Story" Rather. Yet on the syndicated "Chris Matthews Show," Rather jumped to their defense, on last week's McCain hit piece, by declaring them "outstanding journalists."
Now Rather did hedge a bit saying if the story wasn't true they could be "in a heap of trouble," but he concluded, that in the end, their reporting should be trusted because they were: "Very responsible journalists."
When Chris Matthews asked the former "CBS Evening News" anchor for his opinion on the Times story, Rather offered the following take on the February 24, edition of "The Chris Matthews Show:"
DAN RATHER: We've said McCain has a good record. We've all said, listen he's a good man with a good record. Jim Rutenberg, who was the lead reporter on this, Bill Keller who's the editor who made the decision, these are not ordinary journalists. These are outstanding journalists and that probably needs to be said. Now if they can't back it up any further than they have it, they're in a heap of trouble. But, on the record, it deserves to be said these are very responsible journalists.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: And oftentimes journalists know things they don't report and that knowledge guides their reporting.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Well, Rather said one could
February 25, 2008 - 18:01 ET by motherbeltWell, Rather said one could lie about any number of things and still be an honest person, so we know his standards.
Correct
February 25, 2008 - 20:27 ET by kg"False but accurate"
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Chris and Dan
February 25, 2008 - 18:04 ET by Jerry MackThe NYT has said "oops" and the wagon circiling has began.
supporting photos discreetly enhanced with PhotoShop
February 25, 2008 - 18:08 ET by needleHey, Dirty Dan! Why don’t you check out your “usually reliable sources” and see if you can up with some helpful supporting photos discreetly enhanced with PhotoShop?
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
If Dan Rather told me right
February 25, 2008 - 18:12 ET by DaBirdIf Dan Rather told me right to my face that I was a "human being", I'd have to look into the matter and re-think my being. Thats how little stock I put into anything Gunga-Dan has to say.
*snicker*
February 25, 2008 - 18:15 ET by Tom1969caNot like you'd know that from, you know, personal experience, eh Dan? ;-)
~~~
I admire FDR for not insisting on getting the approval of France and Germany before going to war.
--Anne Coulter
Dan Rather
February 25, 2008 - 18:16 ET by Cool ArrowDoth Satan cast out Satan?
♣ a seal
First Barack gets the
February 25, 2008 - 18:19 ET by ArchConservativeFirst Barack gets the thumbs-up from a psycho like Farakhan and now the NYT gets the thumbs-up from Rather. These people are absolutely nutty and they don't even get it. It is very fun to watch though.
You support the troops by supporting the mission! If you don't support the mission, have the guts to say you don't support the troops.
→ Not so fast Arch
February 25, 2008 - 18:20 ET by Cool ArrowWe know where those thumbs have been.
EEEWWWW.
♣ a seal
"out standing journalists."
February 25, 2008 - 18:21 ET by CarlosSOut standing in a field..., somewhere..., alone..., wondering why no one will listen anymore...
And I'm sure that "if" the
February 25, 2008 - 18:28 ET by fitzfongAnd I'm sure that "if" the story is untrue, Bill Keller wants to be the one to break it.
outstanding means...
February 25, 2008 - 18:29 ET by szampOutstanding means capable of coming up with really nice fake news.
Use of unamed sources is a plus.
A COUPLE OF THINGS...
February 25, 2008 - 19:25 ET by danybhoyI'm happy you mentioned fake news, it did'nt get much coverage, but the Weekly World News is now defunct, & there seems to be some in the MSM willing to fill the gap left behind now that the WWN is dead.
As for Dan Rather, very few people have been rewarded so well, for so long, for doing so poorly. This man made many millions of dollars for getting his @$$ kicked in 3 horse race for years. He got sacked for his part in a fake document story, he should have been sacked in the late 80's if you ask me. He should shut up, do his little HDTV gig, & stop making an @$$ of himself. He truely put the BS in CBS, & he might not be at CBS anymore, but he is still BS.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
More support for the New
February 25, 2008 - 18:36 ET by Chris NormanMore support for the New York Time's story came in from Jason Blair and Janet Cooke...
→ Jayson Blair
February 25, 2008 - 18:39 ET by Cool ArrowI thought Blair was the logical replacement for Rather.
♣ a seal
From the great beyond,
February 25, 2008 - 18:39 ET by fitzfongFrom the great beyond, Morton Downey, Jr. sends his support to the New York Times, as well.
More Rather sympathy
February 25, 2008 - 18:43 ET by Cool ArrowBill Clinton also sends regards, as well as Jane Fonda.
♣ a seal
Tawana Brawley sends her
February 25, 2008 - 19:43 ET by Chris NormanTawana Brawley sends her support...
Dan Rather...
February 25, 2008 - 18:40 ET by surroundednycIs allowed to speak on television?
He's allowed to ramble and
February 25, 2008 - 18:43 ET by Chris NormanHe's allowed to ramble and babble, yes, but only on shows that no one watches anyway...
→ I agree Chris
February 25, 2008 - 18:45 ET by Cool ArrowLike Celebrity Rehab
♣ a seal
Off Topic:I see Schuster's
February 25, 2008 - 18:48 ET by the strugglerOff Topic:I see Schuster's back.
Schuster's rehabilitation
February 25, 2008 - 20:02 ET by needleHis rehabilitation will be complete when the last wheel comes off the Clinton campaign.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Proxy
February 25, 2008 - 18:54 ET by 89CanesIf ever there was a condemning argument AGAINST the hit piece, Rather's endorsement is a condemnation by proxy.
I think Dan is ready for the rubber room.
February 25, 2008 - 19:01 ET by R D HelmBill Keller an "outstanding journalist?" Puhleeeeze!
Most reputable newspapers would have fired Keller by now.
Proud member of the "Rough Republican Attack Machine."
NYT vs McCain, officiated by Dan Rather!!!?
February 25, 2008 - 19:03 ET by TigerObviously a fake but accurate story.
Let's see if I have this
February 25, 2008 - 19:04 ET by Shooter1002Let's see if I have this right.
A reporter writes a piece about McCain saying he was hoochie kooing outside his marriage based on information from two unnamed source and throws it out there.
Now, if that's ok, what about Obama and Larry Sinclair? Fake or not, and it hasn't been shown either way, don't matter. A man says he did drugs and homosex, twice, on the leading candidate for POTUS and the fact that he's been directly accused isn't reported anywhere?
Tell me the difference between a rumor of cheating and a direct accusation of doing dope and having homosexual sex?
Seems like news fit to print.
Rather a Waste of Time
February 25, 2008 - 19:11 ET by GoodieOnce again COURAGE
Great point. Absolutely no
February 25, 2008 - 20:49 ET by Gary P JacksonGreat point. Absolutely no one is looking into the Sinclair story.
Quicksand face
February 25, 2008 - 19:30 ET by celatorThis is the "I'm really, really a journalist" facial expression you see just before Danny sinks forever into the quicksand trap that he has personally created.
Liberal's Basic Rule For Discourse: I don't care if you agree with my premises, but I demand that you agree with my conclusions.
Mary Mapes says that Dan
February 25, 2008 - 19:30 ET by EdhenryMary Mapes says that Dan Rather is credible when Dan Rather says that these journalists are credible.
and who watches these clowns anymore?
February 25, 2008 - 19:36 ET by wizardjrI have the same comment I posted on the 60 Minutes article. Who still watches these people? They are constantly getting caught for outright lies. I haven't watched Lame Stream Media shows for ages (thanks MB and Michelle Malkin, etc). I now have better information sources.
Who watches these clowns anymore?
February 25, 2008 - 20:12 ET by needleWell, apparently Geoffrey Dickens watches this junk, but then I think he gets paid to do it.
Support our troops ---> support our Contributing Editors
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Dan Rather, the un-journalist
February 25, 2008 - 20:06 ET by lgeubankRather is quickly becoming a sort of un-journalist. Any time he praises a "journalist" or a story, you can be sure they're worthless!
He's like a restaurant critic who only likes rancid grease, two-week-old coffee, and breakfast that smells like rotten f**ts. If he likes it, it's rotten.
(Did you know that once on the evening news, reporting on the anniversary of the Battle of Midway, Rather said it was also called "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot"? Midway isn't even IN the Marianas! The "Turkey Shoot" refers to the battle in support of the invasion of Saipan, in the Philippine Sea.)
Blather Rather
February 25, 2008 - 20:12 ET by ScrapironI guess the poor old man has been visiting the stockyards again to get him a sack of information. Doesn't the man have a family that can commit him to a mental facility, I know it's hard but with his public displays of insanity the court will approve his lock up.
doesnt he realize that he
February 25, 2008 - 20:46 ET by pepsiman127doesnt he realize that he only gets called to come on a show to comment on bad journalism..he must be dumber than anyone gives him credit for..and mabey we have underestimated the msm's sense of humor
Rather has zero
February 25, 2008 - 21:22 ET by ConservativeRexRather has zero credibility. None. So whatever he has to say about the NTY story has as much credibility. I am glad to see Frarrakhan and Rather and all the usual suspects come out for Barry Hussain.
WE'D RATHER NOT
February 25, 2008 - 21:40 ET by JuanitoVerdeWho's more disgusting: Blather or Matthews?
The libs don't get it--Dan Rather is about as credible as Jimmy (let's deny the Holocaust) Carter.
Send these dinosaurs to some distant island, along with all the present occupants of the UN. Put that real estate to good use, not to traitorous pursuits.
Enough was a long time ago. Adios, muchachos!
Dan Rather: Existing In A World of His Own
February 25, 2008 - 21:50 ET by Lame CherryI have an old coach where I reside who was an idiot that did not understand teams needed to run plays and only told those kids "go out and have fun" with 1 set play.
He was a bully who enjoyed picking on little kids.
The reason for bringing him up with Dan Rather is I see this old idiot in the grocery store "walking". He often picks up junk food as his wife who no one has ever seen in 40 years apparently is allowed out in public. He also constantly is drooling over the checkout girls to which they talk to him and giggle.........but he does not figure out they are not sexually attracted to him, but they talk to him.
It is difficult for any egomaniac to ever give up the light of fame as they plunge onto that stage to feed that weakness.
Think about it for a moment:
You are a person with a career in bringing down a president.
You are a person who saw JFK get his head blown off.
You are a person who got a job because you covered up all you saw so it put you into a propaganda position to form news stories for 40 years.
You are a person with a wife and children.
You are a person with more money than you can ever spend.
You are a person recognized around the entire world.
..........AND IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH FOR DAN RATHER.
I would like to think that by the time I reach 70 I would be quite content to teach my grandkids the things they need to learn that the world will not, be quite content with God, my books and artistic venues of expression and go fishing, hunting and trapping to just get away from a world I really can do nothing about.
The idea of appearing on television, radio or print I have no interest in at all. I have turned down offers as I like anonymous and have nothing to prove.
It is all kind of sad when you think of Dan Rather shilling on Chris Matthews, because his nowhere cable network went tits up. He still grabs for the light when he should be grabbing for God's Light.
Normal people just like to fade away from the world and are content to do it.......others like Dan Rather are addicts feeding low self esteem.
I would wager when President Bush leaves office it will be about the last time the world sees of him as he likes being a guy. His old man only showed up for the kids........there is vast difference between Bush and Rather.
Dan Rather like Bill Clinton should have quit when they were ahead.......now they are quit upon and looking like the old actress looking for her close up.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Dan
February 26, 2008 - 00:14 ET by doug1950Er, Dan, thanks for stopping by the studio, its good to see you again. Hey, would you mind taking out the trash to the dumpster on your way out Dan. Thanks buddy.
Do you see the way Blather
February 26, 2008 - 01:51 ET by jdhawkDo you see the way Blather is practicing that deer in the head lights look? CBS must finally be deciding to let Couric's no ratings butt go! Wouldn't that beat all - from disaster to castrophe! lol
Redundant Dan in desperate want of an audience
February 26, 2008 - 06:59 ET by PlaceboRedundant Dan continues drooling his leftist vitriol whenever given the opportunity to do so. Once again Matthews has given his few viewers a mean-spirited and unbiased regurgitation by a blatant leftist who is in want of attention.
hah
February 26, 2008 - 10:01 ET by seaniepI think we need to examine this mccain story like we did something else that came out in the last few years
the dialouge is correct, the facts are wrong
Lets
February 26, 2008 - 15:07 ET by cvgbuckeyeLets see now Adolph; how do you feel about the Germans exterminating 6 million Jews? And Adolph said "Ah yes, I believe that they were very fine military men".
About the save credibility level.