CBS has struck back against Dan Rather's lawsuit alleging the network made him a scapegoat for his discredited Air National Guard story about President Bush shortly before Election Day 2004.
The network filed a 30-page motion in New York Supreme Court Thursday to dismiss the case claiming it was "mystified and saddened by the baseless and self-serving allegations and distortions of fact raised in his lawsuit."
As reported by the New York Observer (h/t Charles Johnson, emphasis added throughout):
"Dan Rather is one of the most important figures in the history of broadcast journalism, and for more than 40 years was one of our most valued colleagues," CBS said in the statement. "That is why we at CBS are mystified and saddened by the baseless and self-serving allegations and distortions of fact raised in his lawsuit."
"Today we are filing a motion to dismiss," added the statement. "If we are required to proceed beyond this point, we will defend the case vigorously and demonstrate that the lawsuit is wholly without merit, and that the bizarre allegations by Mr. Rather are untrue."
Maybe even better, CBS questioned Rather's motives for the suit:
Furthermore, CBS lawyers argue that Mr. Rather's actions are motivated not by any wrongful actions on the part of the defendants but, instead, by Mr. Rather's desire to stay in the limelight.
"This lawsuit is a regrettable attempt by plaintiff Dan Rather to remain in the public eye, and to settle old scores and perceived slights, based on an array of far-fetched allegations," the lawyers write.
Sounds like the raison d'etre of Rather's entire career, doesn't it?
Regardless, NewsBusters readers should join me in wishing Rather success in fighting this dismissal, as this case might end up being the most entertaining thing on television since the last Brady Bunch reunion.
Update 22:35 | Matthew Sheffield. As much as we'd all like to see a trial spectacle, I still don't see it happening. CBS will settle this, they have to.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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The funniest part of all
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 20:02 ET by motherbeltThe funniest part of all this is that CBS News will now be forced to show that the story was false....
Oh, yeah, Karma's a b**ch.
MB...great
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 20:04 ET by LionKingGreat observation!!! I think that is why CBS wants it dismissed without a trial.
Summary Judgment Before Discovery
Fri, 11/16/2007 - 07:40 ET by allanfIt would be rare for a summary judgment motion to be granted before discovery. The judge must decide the motion on the actual claims and not on press releases.
Rather has two claims that at least merit discovery:
Amidst all the bluster in the complaint, two triable claims emerged:
No matter what you think of Rather or CBS, these are claims for a jury to decide.
Mr. Rather is working from a
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 21:01 ET by DaBirdMr. Rather is working from a different frequency than most of us.
Alas, Kenneth no longer
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 22:00 ET by JerryAlas, Kenneth no longer knows what the frequency is.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Bitter Old Fart
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 23:15 ET by planetrepublicanRather is just a bitter old fart who didn't know what hit him. The bloggers basically slit his throat from ear to ear and he didn't even know it, he was mortally wounded long before leaving CBS. I predict he will be stumbling around, ranting and raving about what a brilliant journalist he really is, how relevant he still is, how guilty Bush is, how great he is until the day he dies; on that day you will read his obit and say "Dan Rather? I thought he died long ago!". Pathetic old fool. He reminds me of Jimmie Carter. Pity.
Your Carter comparison
Fri, 11/16/2007 - 04:33 ET by heldmyw...is most apt. There seems to be a growing population of elder loons of the Carter stripe.
As 'global warming' collapses and AlGore's new venture buddies bail, watch for him to join the throng, wandering the Earth, muttering, grumbling, and making supremely bizarre and ignorant statements.
"...this case might end up
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 21:33 ET by MikeB"...this case might end up being the most entertaining thing on television since the last Brady bunch reunion." And the most appropriate line for Dan to utter would be: "Danny, Danny, Danny! It's always about Danny."
Geeze, I hope I don't get in trouble by the writer's union(s) for that line.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Les Moonves, Dan Rather on 1, Kenneth on Frequency Up Yours
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 22:20 ET by Lame CherryI well remember the slime ball snake Les Moonves on fellow cartel flunky Charlie Rose saying, "I love Dan Rather".
Moonves also adored Bob Barker who has just had another sexual harrassment suit filed against him.
Perhaps Les should invite Dan over so he and Mrs. Moonves can all dress up Harry Smith in a pink gown pretending he is Julie Chen. Julie can dress up as Dan, Les can dress up as Les and Dan can dress up as bald brain Harry interviewing all of them in Freudian frequency as to why Dan is nuts and it is all George Bush's fault.
Mary Mapes can shove an apple in her mouth and oink out on a platter as the main dish, "Forgeries are real".
Moonves created this disaster and for once I will not put in public how parent and CBS companies could fix this or have fixed this and made Dan Rather disappear.
All of this Godless ilk is getting exactly what they so richly deserve for starter courses.
I would though give this advice to Dan Rather. If you want to be a journalist be one for the first time in your life and burn down the liberal house which has left you on the road as kill. You know exactly all of the pedophiles, rapists, sodomites, kink sex, dopers and dirt on all your buddies at CBS, the DNC and the CFR. You want ratings........start outing them all and you will get your integrity back and people will start listening to you.
As a starter Dan, out yourself what you sold in Dallas in not seeing a thing when JFK was murdered, what little part you played in the Nixon coup, how you covered up the Clinton scandals..........and that very pretty one of who was your source in forgegate who set you up..........and just who was it who mailed you those set up pictures of Abu Gharib in which you used it knowingly for propaganda.
Do it Dan. Bring down Moonves and your buddies who have knifed you in the back.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
I'll be eagerly awaiting
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 22:53 ET by bobthemanI'll be eagerly awaiting the 60 minutes story detailing the specifics... yeah right.
http://politicsofdestruction.com
I wonder if I could sue CBS
Thu, 11/15/2007 - 23:07 ET by RESTLESS 1I wonder if I could sue CBS for being biased towards conservatives. Maybe they would pay me off so as not to have to prove their liberal bias?? Hmm.
This is awesome
Fri, 11/16/2007 - 07:52 ET by KillgraveIt's great when libs turn on each other.
Their ideaology is thoroughly subjective, so of course it's going to implode. And since these nitwits have no sense of manliness and fair play, the meltdowns offer plenty of cheap shots, hair-pulling and hissing.
Barnum and Baily couldn't put on a better show.
Dan's a busy man...
Fri, 11/16/2007 - 10:00 ET by okiehawk44Don't you just know Dan has Mary Mapes and his forgers working very hard concocting documents "proving" his allegations against CBS?
"Dan Rather is one of the
Fri, 11/16/2007 - 10:10 ET by mattm"Dan Rather is one of the most important figures in the history of broadcast journalism..."
Yeah, as the archetypical yellow journalist and poster-boy of bias.
Dan Dan
Fri, 11/16/2007 - 11:22 ET by American TaxpayerDan Dan quickly what is the frequency, there is a vast right wing conspiracy and they are coming to take you away.