As if the relationship between the Obama Administration and the news media weren't cozy enough already, former "CBS Evening News" anchor Dan Rather is calling on President Obama to "make recommendations" for the media on how to survive the economic downturn. Rather spoke at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colo. on July 28 and addressed challenges to the news industry, which he described as challenges to the "very survival of American democracy," and insisted the president should step in.
"I personally encourage the president to establish a White House commission on public media," Rather said, according to the July 29 Aspen Daily News.
According to the story, Rather said "corporate and political influence" on newsrooms had damaged the industry and was cause for concern.
"A truly free and independent press is the red beating heart of democracy and freedom," Rather said in an interview. "This is not something just for journalists to be concerned about, and the loss of jobs and the loss of newspapers, and the diminution of the American press' traditional role of being the watchdog on power. This is something every citizen should be concerned about."
Rather, who retired as "Evening News" anchor and did not have his contract renewed by the network after a 2004 controversy in which he used allegedly false documents that in a report to discredit former President George W. Bush, reasoned that a commission on media reform would make recommendations on saving journalism jobs and creating new business models to keep news organizations alive.
Rather is now employed by HDNet - a television network described as a "high-definition" network. He has previously faulted corporate influences and the lack of public awareness for his ultimate downfall at CBS News and for the current media climate.
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I have a suggestion for ya.
July 29, 2009 - 15:37 ET by ninerdogI have a suggestion for ya. Stop lying about the news. Report it honest straight up and let us make up our minds on what it means.
Gosh...if Rather gets his
July 29, 2009 - 15:38 ET by bigtimerGosh...if Rather gets his way he will be named Press Czar!
I wouldn't doubt it either.
He's be sure to have Mapes as his side-kick to-boot.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Bingo!
July 29, 2009 - 16:34 ET by Old SaltThat's exactly what's behind this: Dan Rather, Public Communications Czar. I hope all the Neo Socialists just keep on talking, so we'll know who they all are, and people will come to realize what they all are.
Re Bingo
July 29, 2009 - 18:12 ET by slickwillie2001I'm surprised he wasn't already hired into some kind of hack job in the White House. He's as hardcore liberal as they get, and has bounced around the idea of running for something himself.
Just having him dragging his pitiful bag of bones around like this though is a good lesson for other liberal 'anchors'.
Let the market sort it out........
July 29, 2009 - 15:40 ET by BEGRUNTMaybe if they werent such a propaganda group for Zero, they may actually sell some newspapers. People dont like reading government propaganda!! They want ACTUAL journalism....is that too much to ask??
Hot Damn Dan
July 29, 2009 - 15:41 ET by jdlybrandI've got a recommendation on how to save the media.
Tell the TRUTH once in a while.
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
He talks about the
July 29, 2009 - 15:43 ET by mattmHe talks about the "watchdog" role of the press, yet he wants the government to bail it out. Well, who the hell is going to be the watchdog of government then, Danny? What a self-contradictory buffoon!
Oh good!
July 29, 2009 - 19:08 ET by BlueCat57I thought it was just me that was confused about how a government paid press could be "A truly free and independent press is the red beating heart of democracy and freedom." I thought that maybe everyone else understood how that could be so and it was just me that couldn't. Sometimes I wonder if everyone else understands and it is just me that doesn't.
Like if instead of spending millions to study the homeless problem and paying bureaucrats to administer homeless programs we just cut taxes on everyone and let me pay my mortgage so I don't become homeless. Isn't that logical? Or am I missing some really, really subtle point? Like all government programs aren't about solving problems they're about employing cronies.
Commission on Public Media????
July 29, 2009 - 15:48 ET by NortoHow many are already there, the revolving door just went again today, right? Eleven or something!!!
It's A Dirty Dozen
July 29, 2009 - 15:50 ET by NortoPlenty for a commission
And Bernie Maddoff calls for Federal Commission on Ponzis.
July 29, 2009 - 15:50 ET by jazboThose who believe in nothing will believe anything.
At some point, we're going
July 29, 2009 - 15:53 ET by FreakyBoyAt some point, we're going to have to let the market sort these matters out. The sooner the better.
The press' traditional role
July 29, 2009 - 15:57 ET by SickofLibsThe press' traditional role is being the watchdog on power?
It's lapdog to power, now. Can't this jerk just retire and float off on a raft somewhere?
Let it die
July 29, 2009 - 16:01 ET by slickwillie2001The way I see it, the liberal old media is a rotten, rusting and molding hulk that needs to be knocked down before something better can rise in its place. We should be looking for ways to finish the job rather than propping it up.
Simple answer....NBC, CBS,
July 29, 2009 - 16:02 ET by stancoyleSimple answer....NBC, CBS, ABC, and the rest of the so called Journalist....do your job and present the news..."Fair & Balanced" and you may survive!! Seems one network has no problem with that!!!
stan.... Heck, they are
July 29, 2009 - 16:06 ET by bigtimerstan....
Heck, they are too busy attacking that network.
Fools.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Bush v Obama
July 29, 2009 - 16:05 ET by VengeanceIsMineWhat would ol' Dan do if Bush was still in the White House? You can bet Dan would have been told to go pound sand. I'm sure Obama will be more than happy to have ownership of the MSM outright. Then all he would have to do is have Fox News stopped and he would be Hugo Chavez.
"You cannot spend your way out of recession or borrow your way out of debt." Daniel Hannan
ViM... Bingo! They're
July 29, 2009 - 16:08 ET by bigtimerViM...
Bingo!
They're working with vigor at doing just that...talk radio too...as long as it's conservative talk radio.
Yep...Chavez would be jealous.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
When you lose all your marbles ...
July 29, 2009 - 16:18 ET by metaphorsbwithuDan tends to mumble a lot these days. Let me translate:
"Hey! We got you elected. Our reputation is shot. People are turning us off.
So where's our kickback?"
metaphorsbwithu
Rather The Bag Lady:
July 29, 2009 - 17:03 ET by SickofLibsRather The Bag Lady: "Brother, can you spare a Selectric?"
"Rather, who retired as
July 29, 2009 - 17:33 ET by TE"Rather, who retired as "Evening News" anchor and did not have his contract renewed by the network after a 2004 controversy in which he used allegedly false documents ...."
No, those were not "allegedly" false documents. They were proven, bogus forgeries. Some of Rather's "documents" were written using Microsoft Word software. Microsoft Word software did not exist during the 1960s while George W. Bush served as a pilot with the Texas Air National Guard. Using Microsoft Word software, just type in the same words used by Rather in his fraudulent documents and don't bother hitting the return key, and you will get an absolutely identical copy of Rather's frauds. They ain't "allegedly" false documents. They are proven false documents.
The MSM's pimps aren't
July 29, 2009 - 18:27 ET by Dan DiegoThe MSM's pimps aren't making ends meet, forcing the MSM whores to demand their John-bama pay more to keep them in flowers, furs and bath oils.
That's why they call the
July 29, 2009 - 21:33 ET by nadadhimmiThat's why they call the msm; presstitutes.
I've been searching Google
July 29, 2009 - 22:38 ET by 10thAmendmentI've been searching Google to no avail. In the early and mid 80's, when AM radio was declining and many stations were going dark. Many experienced radio people were loosing their jobs. Can anyone recall Dan Rather asking for help for AM radio.
Then President Reagan did away with the fairness doctrine. Got the Federal Government out of the way. AM radio came back with a vengence. For the first time Network News had competition. People chose radio. When it came to fact checking, Mr. Rather, radio proved itself.
The constitution calls for a free press, not a subsidised press.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Dan...
July 30, 2009 - 09:21 ET by Georgia GirlThanks for making me cringe before admitting I have a journalism degree. You are not a newsman.
Journalists are supposed to uncover the truth -- no bias, no bull. You're a putz for pretending you're concerned about journalists uncovering the truth for society. You are their model, Dan. Get real.
Followup:
P.S. Well...I guess I was really irritated with Dan last night. That was a little harsh. It's how I feel -- but it was a little harsh. OK, I probably shouldn't have called him a "putz." But that's as far as I'm going. LOL.
It never occurs to
July 30, 2009 - 00:09 ET by fitzfongIt never occurs to parasites like Dan Rather and Bill Moyers that the reason that budgets are tight for journalistic pursuits is because they themselves are such overpaid failures. Why is an anchorman (especially one who consistently finished in last place in the ratings...and thus failed to generate the revenues that could have justified his high salary) so well paid? Can he not be easily replaced by literally thousands of empty suits from central casting? Does he provide some special talent or service that generates revenue to his employer? Time has long since passed this bitter, incompetent, corrupt old man by...and he was never that special to begin with.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
So the watchdog of the
July 30, 2009 - 00:59 ET by G. MaySo the watchdog of the government is asking the government for money?
The strings between the media and the gubmint are already firmly attached. Add money to it and you might as well appoint a "Media Czar".
That's odd. I was
July 30, 2009 - 04:33 ET by RR GOPThat's odd. I was thinking just the opposite-that our democracy would be better off without the Dan Rathers out there extolling the virtues of Socialism, siding with our enemies, denigrating our military, promoting entitlements for the lazy, saying that it's OK for any non-white ethnic type to just walk into our country whenever they feel like it, promoting racism against whites, promoting class warfare, ignoring facts that don't jive with their personal feelings, and just generally making stuff up, fixing polls...
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Sure, Dan.
July 30, 2009 - 08:11 ET by bobdogI saw a similar story today that Hugo Chavez is doing the same thing in Venezuela. He thinks that the news should be "democratized".
Let's see how that turns out. My guess it will end up the same way as it did in Nazi Germany, Red China, North Korea, Iran, and any number of other despotic regimes.
That darn First Amendment...all we need is to make it a little more progressive.
July 30, 2009 - 09:07 ET by jessieHI have the answer to Rather's problem. REPORT the NEWS and STOP FEEDING US YOUR VIEWS. There, his problem is solved.
Damn I hate being right all the time.
July 30, 2009 - 10:37 ET by VinncyGThis is the start, watch for more and more requests for government intervention. BYE, BYE to any possible chance for balanced investigative reporting.
Our rights are being trammeled upon and no one's listening.
save Journalism?
July 30, 2009 - 11:46 ET by grumpyoldbHow about a concerted effort to save Journalism from the likes of Dan Rather??!! Mr if it wasn't true, it should have been......