No fury like an anchor scorned.
In the whirlwind of soundbites preceding the 2004 election, CBS news anchor Dan Rather was ill-equipped to defend himself when questions of authenticity arose about documents showing Bush had never completed his Texas Air National Guard Service.
But something funny happened on the way to Rather’s becoming a punchline for Limbaugh republicans: no one ever actually proved the documents were fakes. Indeed, the Bush administration never denied the essential accuracy of Dan Rather’s story. Apparently, that’s because it was true. It didn’t matter. Rather was fired, and disgraced to boot.
Well, Rather’s a very rich man with a lot of free time. So he’s bringing a law suit that will set the record straight and embarrass an awful lot of people. Because unlike a political campaign, lawsuits take an awful lot of time to sort out. Too long, in fact, for idiots like Limbaugh and O’Reilly to shout them down. Salon has the story:
In making his case, Rather will certainly establish beyond reasonable doubt that George W. Bush never completed his required service in the Texas Air National Guard. Moreover, Rather’s suit will seek to demonstrate that the documents used in his “60 Minutes II” piece were not inauthentic and that he and his producers acted responsibly in presenting them and the information they contained — and that that information is true. Indeed, no credible source has refuted the essential facts of the story.
Most cases of this sort are usually settled before discovery. But Rather has made plain that he is uninterested in a cash settlement. He has filed his suit precisely to be able to take depositions.
Dan Rather vs. CBS, and the truth about George W. Bush | Salon.com