Reply #289: I wrote a nice little rant to Mr. Moonves a few days ago. [View All]

Here it is:

Congratulations, Mr. Moonves. You have succeeded in destroying one of the last bastions of ethical journalism.

It is astonishing enough that your “independent” review was done by the former Attorney General of the “Bush 41” administration. How on earth does Mr. Thornburg, in your eyes, avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest? Don't you think he MIGHT have an agenda of his own?

But Mr. Moonves, what is even more disturbing is your zeal to fire your own staff of reporters and producers, simply because it was politically uncomfortable for you.

After Dan Rather reported the National Guard story on the evening news, I had made a conscious decision to watch CBS news, and wrote Mr. Rather a letter of support. I let him know that I was proud of his journalistic integrity, and the willingness to report what the rest of the media avoided, simply because it would offend the White House.

But I can no longer support your network. It's bad enough that we have entertainment masquerading as news over at FOX and CNN. But your deliberate decision to swallow the Corporate Media Kool-Aid is appalling. Your firing of your producers was a treasonous and cowardly act, designed simply to show your “friends” in the Capitol that you are willing to sit up and beg for media access.

I don't blame Dan Rather for "retiring." I'm sure he's relieved he doesn't have to swallow hard before he goes on the air.

Mary Mapes may have been one of the best things going at your network. Alas, you gave in to copycat journalism - you are now no better that the rest of the Corporate Media.

It would be interesting to hear what Walter Cronkite thinks of this debacle. I'm fairly certain that Edward R. Murrow is spinning furiously in his grave.

So congratulations again, Mr. Moonves. Good luck in your descent to obscurity.