GOODY TWO SHOES: Gunga Dan: “Fear Shouldn't Be In A Journalist's DNA”
Earlier in the week, disgraced former CBS anchor Dan Rather told attendees of Time Warner's Politics 2008 Summit that the press “has been in a defensive posture for some time,” that pressure from conservatives has led to “self-censorship” and that journalists should be “Fiercely independent and even ornery from time to time.” Reports Portfolio:
He picked up this theme again at the conclusion of the panel, delivering a peroration that drew spontaneous applause from the audience:
No one is fearless, but fear shouldn't be in the DNA of an American journalist. ... American journalism stands for clear-eyed, well-researched, know the facts, look 'em in the eye, ask 'em the tough question, don't back down, don't back away, just keep coming. That's the kind of coverage the American public deserves.
Um, this would be the same Dan Rather who exercised self-censorship in his fawning interview with Saddam Hussein in 2003 - whom he knew wouldn't hesitate to pull out his sidearm and shoot him between the eyes while the camera was rolling if he got pissed off at his line of questioning. Note how Gunga Dan minds his manners (emphasis throughout, The Stiletto):
Rather: Mr. President, I do appreciate your agreeing to spend an hour, because I want to ask questions in two categories, please. …
Rather: Mr. President, I have all night. (LAUGHTER) …
Rather: Mr. President, you're being very patient with your time, and I want you to know I consider this a solemn moment in history, and, if I may, take time to have you speak to the American people about questions that I know are on their minds. I just want you to know that I appreciate your patience here. …
Rather: Mr. President, respectfully, a lot of Americans are going to hear that and say, what is this man talking about, as all of those Iraqi tanks coming out of Kuwait with the turrets knocked out indicated a beaten army on the battlefield. There's no joy in my saying that. …
Rather: I understand. Mr. President, if it's necessary for you to forgive me, I hope that you'll forgive me. But I have a couple of - sort of clean-up questions that I'm not clear about. Number one. Will the new proposed United Nations resolution, the one that's just out this week - will this make any difference at all in your position?
Rather: Mr. President, I hope you will take this question in the spirit in which it's asked. …
Thought the interview, the rather deferential Rather is practically begging Saddam not to take his questions the wrong way. Forget the fear in Rather’s DNA, there was probably poop in his pants.
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