Did Dan Rather bitch-slap the Thornburgh/Boccardi "Independent" Panel?

[DemoTex]

MSNBC just ran Rather's response to the "Independent" Panel's findings regarding his 60-Minutes report on Bu$h's stained Texas Air Guard service. I cannot find the text anywhere, but basically Rather said that he will take the panel's findings to heart. Not only did Rather not apologize, but the tone of the response left me feeling that Rather was saying that the panel was a sham. I hope that was what he was saying. The wingers are going to go nuts for the glaring absence of any Mea Culpa from Rather.

[ewagner]

1. No reference

on MSNBC yet....I'm anxious to see this.....

[pk_du]

2. Here's how Chicago Tribune quotes his email to colleagues

Rather has praise for 4 dismissed from CBS

By John Cook
Tribune staff reporter
Published January 12, 2005


Dan Rather came to the defense of his former colleagues on Tuesday, praising four employees who were dismissed by CBS News in the wake of a scathing independent report into a flawed "60 Minutes" segment on President Bush's National Guard service.

"My strongest reaction is one of sadness and concern for those individuals whom I know and with whom I have worked," Rather wrote in an e-mail to CBS News staffers. "It would be a shame if we let this matter, troubling as it is, obscure their dedication and good work over the years."

The message was Rather's first statement on the report, which detailed a "litany of missteps" and failures in the vetting process that caused the Wednesday edition of "60 Minutes" to air documents critical of Bush without authenticating them. The 224-page report released Monday was written by former Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh and Louis Boccardi, retired chief executive officer of The Associated Press.

"I have read the report, I take it seriously and I shall keep its lessons well in mind," Rather wrote.

Based on the findings of the report, CBS fired the segment's producer, Mary Mapes, and demanded the resignations of three news executives, including the show's executive producer, Josh Howard.

Rather, who served as the story's on-air correspondent, and CBS News President Andrew Heyward were not punished.

Rather made no mention of the episode on Tuesday night's broadcast of the "CBS Evening News," his first since the report's release.

He will step down as anchor in March.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501120261jan12,1,5202569.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[DemoTex]

4. Thanks PK, that's it.

I shall keep its lessons well in mind. If that isn't a bitch slap, what is? Yes, we learned lessons. Lessons about just how far Rove will go to get his boy elected and discredit an old nemesis, all in one blow.

[rkc3]

3. Would have been more fun to see their reactions had he questioned

why there has been no review of SwiftBoat Dicks or actions taken in the Plame investigation.

Might have sent some waves through the media.

[rkc3]

5. Wrong thread.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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