Greg Palast: THE LYNCHING OF DAN RATHER

[Zhade]

http://www.gregpalast.com/


THE LYNCHING OF DAN RATHER
ON BRITISH TV, DAN FEARED THE PRICE OF "ASKING QUESTIONS"
Monday Sep 20, 2004

By Greg Palast



"It's that fear that keeps journalists from asking the toughest of the tough questions," the aging American journalist told the British television audience.

In June 2002, Dan Rather looked old, defeated, making a confession he dare not speak on American TV about the deadly censorship -- and self-censorship -- which had seized US newsrooms. After September 11, news on the US tube was bound and gagged. Any reporter who stepped out of line, he said, would be professionally lynched as un-American.

"It's an obscene comparison," he said, "but there was a time in South Africa when people would put flaming tires around people's necks if they dissented. In some ways, the fear is that you will be necklaced here. You will have a flaming tire of lack of patriotism put around your neck." No US reporter who values his neck or career will "bore in on the tough questions."

Dan said all these things to a British audience. However, back in the USA, he smothered his conscience and told his TV audience: "George Bush is the President. He makes the decisions. He wants me to line up, just tell me where."

Much more - and he has documents.

[JSJ]

1. line up over there, dan...

...where the forged documents are being handed out.

[RevCheesehead]

2. Looks like the document shows * has a history of "no-bid contracts"

It's really hard to read because of the screen size, but it looks like there is someone waiting in the wings ready to come forward with information about how GWB "fixed" no-bid contracts while he was serving as governor.

find it here:

[Sugarbleus]

3. EXCELLENT Post!! The lynching of the US Press indeed...eom

[Swamp Rat]

4. Kickitykick

:kick:

[Zhade]

5. A transcription of the document.

U.S. Attorney
Dan (Mills?)
816 Congress

Austin, TX 78701

In light of all the questions about the Lottery, I think it is important to reveal some information that should be disclosed.

Several months ago many of us felt that the Lottery Commission should rebid the (GTech?) contract when it came up for renewal. Leaders of the Republican Party strongly supported rebidding and I believe the Chair of the Commission also wanted to rebid. It is now time to disclose at least one reason why it was not rebid. Governor Bush thru Reggie (Bashur?) made a deal with Ben Barnes not to rebid because Barnes could confirm that Bush had lied during the 94 campaign. During that campaign, Bush was asked if his father, then a member of Congress, had helped him get in the National Guard. Bush said no he had not, but the fact is his dad called then Lt. Gov. Barnes to ask for his help to get his son not just in the Guard, but to get one of the coveted pilot slots which were extremely hard to get. At the (time?) {XXXXXXXXXXXREDACTEDXXXXXXXXXXX}, contacted General Rose at the Guard and took care of it. George Bush was placed ahead of thousands of young men, some of whom died in Viet Nam. Robert (Spellings?) also knows about this and began telling this story which made a lot of people nervous. I am told that (Spellings?) was also an aide to Barnes at the time this took place.

(Bashur?) was sent to talk to Barnes who agreed never to confirm the story and the Governor talked to the Chair of the Lottery two days later and she then agreed to support letting GTech keep the contract without a bid. At this time I can't release my name, but at the proper time I will come forward and show this story to be true. Too many people know this happened. Governor Bush knows his election campaign might have had a different result if this story had been confirmed at the time.

[Disturbed]

6. Neo Fascism

Amerika will fall as did all Empires. The democracy experiment ran it's course.

[Zhade]

7. I tend to agree, but what prompted your comment?

Am I missing a larger context here?

[redqueen]

10. I sincerely hope this person steps forward with something concrete

sometime in the next three or four weeks.

The bad guys can't always win, they just cant'.

[kaitykaity]

8. Dan Rather was a prophet then.

Palast nails another one.

Think the BBC would give Dan Rather a job?

[MsConduct]

9. Sure, it's easy enough

for bushco to threaten and coerce an old man like Rather. It seems like they are pretty much running things with the iron fist of a dictatorship. They are stifling everyone, when is it going to stop? I don't want to have to wait until after the election to feel like I live in a "free" country again.

Just heard CBS recanted the bush military records story. Wonder what they were threatened with?

Peace

[Zhade]

11. In light of today's memo news, here's a shameless kick!

:dem:

[kayell]

12. No US reporter who values his neck or career will "bore in on the tough

questions."

And tonight, another warning that the media better damn well play by Roves rules or wear that tire.

Rather was set up. Played by his own desire to do honest, serious, digging reporting. Hoisted into that tree by his desire to do right by his country.