Dan Rather suing CBS to get at Bush 1 & 2

Stylerod · 09-26-2007, 05:12 PM

I thought this deserved it's own thread since the theory of the old thread was Rather was suing CBS to get money. But it's not. This suit just shows how twisted and mental this guy really is.

Former "Evening News" Dan Rather choked back tears on several occasions today when discussing his decision to file a lawsuit against CBS and he left many audience members with a sense that he may call President George W. Bush as a witness should the lawsuit proceed to trial (and Rather said he hoped it would).

When asked by Carol Joynt, host of the "Q&A Café" held at Nathans restaurant who worked with Rather at CBS in the 1970s, whether "he'd like to" call President Bush as a witness in the trial, Rather said "I'd like not to answer the question," leaving both Joynt and audience members wondering whether the newsman has Bush in his sights." Joynt later told Yeas & Nays, "From the look in his eye -- and he gave me a definite Ratheresque look -- I got the impression he will call the president as a witness. Possibly both of them: 41 and 43. He implied the suit is not against them, but what the suit is about stems directly from his antagonistic relationship with them."

In the lawsuit, Rather claims he was unjustifiably squeezed out of CBS by network executives following a 2004 story about President Bush’s service record in the Texas Air National Guard. After evidence emerged that the story’s primary documents were possibly faked or forged, Rather stated on air that “if I knew then what I know now, I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.”

Joynt asked Rather if he believes the president hates him, and Rather responded by saying that "hate is a strong word." Then, he began to well up. "You've never met anybody who had more respect for the presidency than I do," said Rather, choking back tears. He stood by his 2004 story, saying "we got the truth, but we left ourselves vulnerable."

Rather also grew emotional when he revealed that many of his family members and "people who love me very dearly" had urged him not to file the lawsuit. He ultimately rejected their advice, comparing it to difficult decisions he's made in the past to travel to war zones despite his family's objections. There comes a time, Rather said, when you have to say "it's just time to go." Rather later admitted that "I'm not in this -- mostly -- with anybody else."

More than a few eyebrows were raised when Rather said, "I have no complaints, news is a contact sport." Joynt quickly interjected, "Yeah but so are lawsuits." Still, Rather insisted that his lawsuit is not born out of resentment: "I'm not angry, I'm not bitter -- never have been. I'm a reporter … and this is a story." He denounced the "interference, intimidation and manipulation in newsrooms" caused largely by the corporatization and consolidation of news outlets and said that, despite the largely negative response his lawsuit has received in the court of public opinion, "people might come around when they find out what really went on."

He still thinks the story that ruined his career is true! He is so obsessed with "Getting Bush" that he has lost all logic and reason and feels the only way he can still get him is to somehow bring him to court.

What a joke.

Ardentfrost · 09-26-2007, 05:18 PM

This is the fruition of the ego that comes with being in a profession for many many years. I see this sort of thing all the time with older professors, as they simply cannot be wrong about anything because they know so much, right?

It's kinda sad, though, that he's subjecting himself to the imminent ridicule he'll get from this. Years and years of journalism and he'll be remembered for this over anything else.

motivez · 09-26-2007, 05:18 PM

Anyone have any links to the story and it's debunking offhand?

Stylerod · 09-26-2007, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Anyone have any links to the story and it's debunking offhand?

Na. I just typed it all myself and made it up as I went along.

Stylerod · 09-26-2007, 05:20 PM

Rather chokes up, and hunkers down

Ardentfrost · 09-26-2007, 05:20 PM

I think he means to the original incident

motivez · 09-26-2007, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I think he means to the original incident

Yeah, obviously.. I have forgotten the details... something about fonts and whatnot

Ardentfrost · 09-26-2007, 05:24 PM

I'm pretty sure there was a thread about it on these forums.

Too lazy to look it up myself

Stylerod · 09-26-2007, 05:28 PM

google rathergate.

Roonie · 09-26-2007, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

He still thinks the story that ruined his career is true! He is so obsessed with "Getting Bush" that he has lost all logic and reason and feels the only way he can still get him is to somehow bring him to court.

What a joke.

The joke must be that after reading this article no where does he state he will call them forward only through speculation from a third person by a certain look in his eye does this even come out?

Joynt later told Yeas & Nays, "From the look in his eye -- and he gave me a definite Ratheresque look -- I got the impression he will call the president as a witness.

I guess the jokes on you

Stylerod · 09-26-2007, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Roonie

The joke must be that after reading this article no where does he state he will call them forward only through speculation from a third person by a certain look in his eye does this even come out?

I guess the jokes on you

When asked by Carol Joynt, host of the "Q&A Café" held at Nathans restaurant who worked with Rather at CBS in the 1970s, whether "he'd like to" call President Bush as a witness in the trial, Rather said "I'd like not to answer the question,"

He avoided answering the question. What the FUCK does Bush have to do with him getting fired (I seem to remember him resigning, but whatever) at CBS? If this suit is just about him getting his reputation back he would have looked at her like an idiot and said "No, what would that gain me?" Bush had nothing to do with his story, the way they handled the story, or the reason he resigned/was fired.

Even with everything we know now, he still thinks the story is true!

He stood by his 2004 story, saying "we got the truth, but we left ourselves vulnerable."

Left themselves vulnerable??? Yeah, you based your entire story on forged documents!!! You left yourself vulnerable to the TRUTH. My how that must have hurt.

He is nuts. His family doesn't want him to go through with the law suit because they know it makes him look nuts.

RMNIXON · 09-26-2007, 07:39 PM

I think he has lost it?

Gore now shows signs that he is finally over Bush, or he is in the very least private about it. So now Dan is gonna get him?

Lets not do something rational like be mad at the people who planted this stuff on your news organization?

JaJae · 09-26-2007, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

I think he has lost it?

Gore now shows signs that he is finally over Bush, or he is in the very least private about it. So now Dan is gonna get him?

Lets not do something rational like be mad at the people who planted this stuff on your news organization?

Yea well he stills believes it. Despite the fact that it was written in Times New Roman on a computerized word processor before there ever was a such thing. Like many things, I think it has to do with him wanting to believe it more than its merit. At that point he really shouldn't be in the media anymore.

Stylerod · 09-26-2007, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

I think he has lost it?

Gore now shows signs that he is finally over Bush, or he is in the very least private about it. So now Dan is gonna get him?

Lets not do something rational like be mad at the people who planted this stuff on your news organization?

Why would he be mad at them? All they wanted was the same thing as him. To make Bush look as bad as possible.