I think this whole rather business is hilarious.....
Wednesday July 18, 2001; 9:16 a.m. EDT
Dan 'Rather-Not-Cover-Condit' Didn't Spare Packwood
Would "CBS Evening News" anchorman Dan Rather have covered the Gary Condit-Chandra Levy story if Condit were a Republican? The answer is probably yes, given the way he jumped on the Bob Packwood sex scandal in 1992.
With the CBS newsman's news blackout on the Condit story entering its eleventh week, the Web site Ratherbiased.com has unearthed some Rather quotes on Packwood showing he thought the tawdry Republican sex scandal was worth covering thoroughly.
Here's Rather setting up a "CBS Evening News" report on the Oregon senator on Nov. 23, 1992 -- the day after the Washington Post broke the story that Packwood had tried to kiss several of his female aides:
"One of the better-known names in the U.S. Senate is caught up in accusations of sexual harassment. And with a record number of women senators coming into the new Congress, this could be an early test of how much politics in the Senate is destined to change."
A week later, Rather hit the sensational sex story again, this time delving into Packwood's reported alcoholism:
"United States Senator Bob Packwood has checked himself into an alcohol treatment program. The Oregon Republican also hired an attorney in case the Senate Ethics Committee decides to investigate sexual harassment complaints made against him by 10 women. Packwood was just elected to his fifth Senate term. He emphasizes that he will not resign."
On December 10, 1992, Rather's then-co-anchor, Connie Chung, introduced more tabloid-like coverage of the Packwood case:
"Just last month, Bob Packwood was elected to his fifth term in the US Senate. Now he's facing his toughest political fight yet. The Oregon Republican made his first public appearance today since more than a dozen women accused him of making unwanted sexual advances."
Unlike the Condit story, none of Packwood's lady friends had gone missing. Police dogs hadn't been dispatched to scour parks for a dead body. No blood curdling screams were heard outside any of his accusers' apartments. And investigators weren't analyzing blood-like substances discovered in his apartment and on his pants.
Another tabloid story Rather apparently felt was more newsworthy than the Chandra Levy's disappearance was Jenna Bush's brush with the law for underage drinking.
On June 2, "CBS Evening News" reported on Jenna's then-upcoming Camp David meeting with her dad, "where the President is expected to address his daughter's recent public behavior."
While Rather didn't anchor that particular broadcast, as managing editor for "CBS Evening News" he would have signed off on the coverage. |
