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Rather Digs In for Legal War With CBS

Tarnished newsman calls lawsuit a stand vs. corporate bullies

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 16, 2009 4:34 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Dan Rather is still out to prove that CBS sacrificed him to appease its corporate backers and conservative allies, the Los Angeles Times reports. In a $70-million lawsuit filed 2 years ago, Rather claimed that CBS, caving to Viacom and the Bush administration, forced him to retract a controversial story on President Bush's National Guard service. But the suit appears to be as much about Rather's legacy as it is about a single news story.

So far, the legal battle appears to have tarnished his reputation, bringing up his failed attempts to find work at major networks and sparking public comments about Rather being a "paranoid nightmare" and "train wreck." But it's also shown that CBS executives clamored to appease right-wing critics after the story broke. And Rather, who is paying for the suit himself, says he won't back down: "I don't think anybody who knows me would say that there's any give-up in me."

Dan Rather, who followed Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News, leaves Cronkite's funeral at St. Bartholomew's Church on Park Ave. in New York, Thursday, July 23, 2009.
Dan Rather, who followed Walter Cronkite on the "CBS Evening News," leaves Cronkite's funeral at St. Bartholomew's Church on Park Ave. in New York, Thursday, July 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
Dan Rather arrives for the funeral of CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite at St. Bartholomew's Church Thursday, July 23, 2009 in New York.
Dan Rather arrives for the funeral of CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite at St. Bartholomew's Church Thursday, July 23, 2009 in New York.   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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It's hard to watch. It's like he is in some paranoid nightmare where everybody is out to get him. I can't for the life of me understand why he's doing this, how he could turn such a storied career into this train wreck
- Jeff Fager, Exec. Producer, 60 Minutes

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
JonmarkP
Aug 17, 2009 11:05 AM CDT
I hope his case leads to an actual forensic investigation of Bush's 2-year AWOL status. I believe the little fucktard was drunk and coked to the gills during most of his so-called "service;" I'd like to see Rather's case out him at last. If I had done what Bush had done, I'd still be in the brig. Of course, I didn't have a well-connected daddy.
NxBigmouthery
Aug 17, 2009 10:37 AM CDT
I think my comments here might have been misunderstood. I blame myself. I also blame myself for not wanting to re-word them, as it's Monday night and I'm too tired. So I'll just wear the criticism, such as it is.
riffran
Aug 17, 2009 8:31 AM CDT
"iT'S NOT WHETHER THE ACCUSATIONS ARE TRUE...IT'S THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CHARGES"...lol...I wish ole danny boy a long expensive and fruitless legal battle

 
CBS • Dan Rather • lawsuit • CBS News • George W. Bush • Texas Air National Guard

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