Oh Danny Boy

Next Wednesday, March 9th, Dan Rather will vacate the anchor chair of CBS Evening News. It will be the 24th anniversary of the day Walter Cronkite passed the torch to him. For over forty years, Rather has given the news to Americans. The question is: Will he be remembered for delivering the news or becoming the news?

Appearing on David Letterman's show, Rather reiterated CBS's independent panel's conclusion that there was no evidence of bias driving the 60 Minutes Bush-bashing story, and insisted that the National Guard documents were not proven false. If this was Rather's attempt to resurrect his reputation as a credible journalist, it was horribly lacking. Basically, he came off as stubborn and shamelessly biased, characteristics he has exhibited for decades.

From RatherBiased.com: At one news conference Nixon remarked, "I am sure Mr. Rather thinks the best kind of press conference is one with him alone."

At one conference Rather asked, "Mr. President, I want to state this question with due respect to your office, but also as directly as possible."

Nixon quipped, "That would be unusual."

After answering Rather's question, Nixon said, "But that is the explanation of what happened and obviously, you, in your commentary tonight, can attach anything you want to it. I hope you will be just as fair and objective as I try to be in giving you the answer."

At yet another conference Nixon called on Rather.

"Mr. Rather. I remember your name," said the president to laughter.

Rather, not wanting to be outdone, remarked, "I remember yours, too."

The most famous confrontation occurred when Rather stood up at an event in Texas. The reporters in the room cheered for him. The Nixon supporters booed. The president remarked, "Are you running for something?"

Once again, Rather tried for a snappy remark.

"No, sir, Mr. President are you?"

CBS is doing all it can to lend drama to Rather's departure by treating it as the end of an era in journalism. Yes, we are saying goodbye to Rather as anchor of the news, but his style--his adversarial attitude, his willingness to toss out journalistic standards to push his agenda, and his overall bizarreness--has permanently stained his profession.

Rather is going, but the liberal bias of the mainstream media is here to stay.

The MSM as fair and balanced? To quote Danny Boy, "You can sooner expect a tall talking broccoli stick to offer to mow your lawn for free."