I usually only post travel photos on this site but I couldn't resist blogging about the Dan Rather interview with Larry King aired this evening. During the course of the interview, Dana Rather stated that there were "government officials in the newsroom." CBS's newsroom. His interview discussed how big corporations and the government interfered with investigative reporting. His lawsuit is based on this principle.
After watching the interview, I checked the transcripts on CNN's site. His comments were listed as inaudible. I know what I heard and I heard the man say "government officials in the newsroom."
As powerful as that statement is what was even more powerful was his implications that Viacom's head honcho, Sumner Redstone was "enraged", believed the story Rather did on Bush's military record had cost Viacom and CBS news big time and that Redstone wanted Dan Rather out along with everyone connected to the story.
If that is true, then the cost of a network outing any Bush administration wrongdoing or possible cover up means the loss of access to future stories. In essence, the media is totally compromised unless it follows the Bush agenda.
I am shocked by the revelations Rather made during the interview but I am also grateful. He said what many others wish they could say and I respect him even more for that.
