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COLUMN
SEVENTY-THREE, JULY 1, 2002
(Copyright © 2002 The Blacklisted Journalist)
EVEN DAN RATHER ADMITS HE WAS SPINELESS
Subject:
FW: US media cowed by patriotic fever, says CBS star
Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 11:53:14 -0700
From:
"venire" <venire@znet.com>
To: info@blacklistedjournalist.com
From
http://www.guardian.co.uk
US
media cowed by patriotic fever, says CBS star Network news veteran admits
national mood caused him to shrink from tough questions on war in Afghanistan
Matthew
Engel in Washington
Thursday May 16 2002
The
Guardian
Dan
Rather, the star news anchor for the US television network CBS, said last night
that "patriotism run amok" was in danger of trampling the freedom of
American journalists to ask tough questions.
And he admitted that he had shrunk from taking on the Bush administration
over the war on terrorism.
In
the weeks after September 11 Rather wore a Stars and Stripes pin in his lapel
during his evening news show in an apparent display of total solidarity with the
American cause. However, in an interview with BBC's Newsnight, he graphically
described the pressures to conform that built up after the attacks on the World
Trade Centre and the Pentagon.
"It
is an obscene comparison -- you know I am not sure I like it -- but you know
there was a time in South Africa that people would put flaming tyres around
people's necks if they dissented. And
in some ways the fear is that you will be necklaced here, you will have a
flaming tyre of lack of patriotism put around your neck," he said.
"Now it is that fear that keeps journalists from asking the toughest of the
tough questions.
Rather
did not exempt himself from the criticism, and said the problem was
self-censorship. "It starts with a feeling of patriotism within oneself. It
carries through with a certain knowledge that the country as a whole -- and for
all the right reasons -- felt and continues to feel this surge of patriotism
within themselves. And one finds oneself saying: 'I know the right question, but
you know what? This is not exactly the right time to ask it.'"
Such
a confession is astonishing, bearing in mind its source. Rather is almost as
famous in the US as the president, though he is more secure in his tenure, far
better paid and probably more pampered.
Rather,
70, has held what used to be regarded as the top job in American journalism for
two decades, since he was chosen to succeed the revered and avuncular Walter
Cronkite as CBS News's anchorman. Traditionally, CBS was the country's No 1 news
channel but has lost its status and ratings after years of budget cutbacks.
The
White House was to blame for its failure to provide adequate information about
the war, Rather said. "There has never been an American war, small or
large, in which access has been so limited as this one.
"Limiting
access, limiting information to cover the backsides of those who are in charge
of the war, is extremely dangerous and cannot and should not be accepted. And I
am sorry to say that, up to and including the moment of this interview, that
overwhelmingly it has been accepted by the American people. And the current
administration revels in that, they relish that, and they take refuge in
that."
He
said his view of the patriotism differed from that of the administration.
"It's unpatriotic not to stand up, look them in the eye, and ask the
questions they don't want to hear -- they being those who have the
responsibility, the ultimate responsibility " of sending our sons and
daughters, our husbands, wives, our blood, to face death."
Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited ##
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