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While producing deceptively manipulated stories about political candidates was once considered career-suicide, it is now standard editorial practice.Dan Rather, 92, calls Trump 'cheating, lying, racist, treasonous, fascist, vile man' — then hours later calls out pro-lifers
Dan Rather — the former CBS News anchor who fell from grace over a story about former President George W. Bush that relied on forged documents — doesn't seem to be quietly riding off into the sunset at age 92.
In a span of six hours Wednesday, Rather dropped two bombs on social media — one post about former President Donald Trump and a second post about pro-lifers.
Around 11 a.m. he let loose with this:
Then around 5 p.m. Rather got this in his head:
As you might guess, Rather's comments attracted quite a bit of attention.
While he boasts a bevy of fans on social media who replied to his posts like happy lapdogs, not everybody was on Rather's frequency.
'You are fake news'
Rather also posted his Trump takedown on X, and some notable users took issue with him:
- "You are fake news, Dan. Everyone knows," political commentator Gunther Eagleman reacted.
- NewsBusters — focusing on Rather's "it's not about politics" line — asked, "How dumb do they think we are?"
- Comedian Jimmy Dore wrote, "He says this to distract you from the fact that Biden & the establishment are currently torturing & killing Julian Assange & Obama used the Espionage Act to prosecute journalists more times than all previous presidents combined. F*** @DanRather & the corporate media he loves, they are the enemy of the people."
Others echoed those sentiments:
- "Dan Rather is against Trump? Well all the more reason I support Trump then," one commenter said.
- "Dan Rather is an unhinged left wing nutter propagandist," another user declared.
- "Dan Rather is the godfather of fake news and misinformation," another commenter opined. "Rather is a cheerleader for democrats."
- "Dan Rather is a liar. It's a proven fact. It cost him his job," another user stated.
'You are just lining your pockets'
In reaction to Rather's post skewering pro-lifers for supposedly not stepping up as foster parents, while it appears most commenters gleefully agreed with him, a number of others didn't see things Rather's way:
- "I know multiple pro life couples who have not only fostered kids, but I’ve known pro-life couples who adopted children, too," one commenter stated.
- "Disagree. Most of the foster parents I know are pro-life. It’s part of why they feel called to love those children," another commenter wrote.
- "Mr. Rather, respectfully, there are more pro-life evangelicals lining up at adoption & foster care centers than any other group in the country," another commenter pointed out. "I have 6 families in my little church alone who have adopted or are serving through foster care and am personally in the process with my wife right now. While there are certainly those who are pro-life in name only, for the vast majority of evangelicals, I don’t think your take is either fair or accurate."
- "You are just lining your pockets with this engagement on this page," another commenter fired back. "I would say that most people that foster and adopt are pro-life! Good grief! ..."
- "Ah, so the logic for all you peeps is if the baby isn't wanted, its a burden, kill it, then blame the peeps who are pointing out the obvious for not offering to take care of the baby you want to kill," another commenter replied with just a tad of sarcasm. "It's their fault you believe killing the baby is the solution... wow.. you are all so virtuous. Who would have thought..."
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Liberals suffer collective freakout over CNN parting with John Harwood, say network becoming 'Fox News Lite' and promise boycott: 'Grave threat to democracy'
Liberals suffered a meltdown because CNN is cleaning house after disastrous ratings. Leftists claimed CNN is becoming "Fox News Lite" and threatened the boycott the dwindling cable TV news network.
Last month, the New York Times reported that CNN's ratings have plummeted and the "network is on a pace to drop below $1 billion in profit for the first time in years, according to people familiar with its operations, amid steep declines in TV viewership."
CNN replaced Jeff Zucker with Chris Licht as the new head of the cable news network.
There were reports that Licht would adopt a more nonpartisan stance in its news coverage.
The cable network has already forced out "Reliable Sources" host Brian Stetler and legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin. On Friday, the network parted with longtime commentator John Harwood.
On Saturday, the term "Boycott CNN" was a trending topic on Twitter.
In desperate Twitter reactions, liberals had a collective freakout over the dismissal of Harwood. Many threatened to boycott the network for becoming "Fox News Lite."
Leftwing journalist Dan Rather: "What is going on at CNN? It's a serious question. There is a lot of speculation on directives and motives. What's really going on? And is it being noticed by the audience?"
Actor John Ales: "John Harwood could be the next Walter Cronkite if only there were a mainstream platform that didn’t put profit first. This should scare the s**t out of us. #BoycottCNN."
Liberal author Kurt Eichenwald: "The idiocy at @CNN that they think they can become FoxNews-lite and will win over conservatives is bizarre. The fact that they don't see they will lose all of their regular viewers who don't want propaganda-lite is even greater idiocy."
Democratic strategist Greg Pinelo: "Still incensed about @JohnJHarwood being fired. Let sink in that there are 3 major cable news networks in America and 2 of them are controlled by politically active right-wing oligarchs. This is yet another grave threat to democracy."
Screenwriter Randi Mayem Singer: "Will anyone not already terminated by @CNN speak the truth as John Harwood did? The new CNN is normalizing and both sides-ing fascism."
Progressive commentator Charlotte Clymer: "CNN White House Correspondent John Harwood offered this reasonable analysis. A short while later, he announced he’ll no longer be at the network. It’s pretty clear that CNN’s new leadership is aiming to become a lesser Fox News."
Political analyst Ameshia Cross: "CNN is dying a shameful death. They used to be a valid source. I grew up on the network. Today I'm ashamed of what they've become. And this weird pivot Right attacking Biden's speech is the nail in their coffin. With few exceptions they sound Fox lite w/o the Fox viewership."
Musician Quest Love: "Why would @CNN flush everything down the toilet like this? SMH."
Leftist commentator Malcolm Nance: "Treat CNN like Tesla. Let’s hit them right in the MF’ing wallet. Punish their shareholders for choosing a CEO who was brought in to betray America for Trump. #BoycottCNN."
Democratic activist Pam Keith: "CNN is gone full MAGA because a Trumper took control of it."
'Two faced' Dan Rather rips Republicans for 'vulgarity' of 'Let's Go Brandon' chant; gives Democrats a pass for shouting 'F*** Donald Trump' from the rooftops
It may not be accurate any more to define Dan Rather as a leftist in journalist's clothing since the ex-CBS News anchor — who turned in his notepad in disgrace after infamously using unverified documents in a 2004 report on then-President George W. Bush's National Guard service — seemingly has shuffled off all semblance of non-bias.
What now?
With the rise of the "Let's Go Brandon" chant as a comical way of raining down F-bomb criticism on President Joe Biden without actually using profanity, Rather apparently couldn't take the insult any more.
At the moment, leftist keyboard warriors are foaming at the mouth as they call for the head of a Southwest pilot who dared utter the phrase at the end of a flight — and Rather penned with co-author Elliot Kirschner a Substack essay titled "A Party Embraces Vulgarity."
The shamelessly partisan piece asserts that the "Let's Go Brandon" phrase is "about much more than political passion or anger. It's about weaponizing the vulgar dehumanization of our entire democratic — small d — experiment." Wow. Who knew?
He then leaps to Biden's defense, saying he's "not only a person; he is the President of the United States, whether your tinfoil-shrouded conspiracy brain cares to recognize that fact or not. How many times have we heard Republicans sanctimoniously preach about how Democrats don't 'respect' the office of the presidency for such things as President Obama not saluting properly or wearing a tan suit?"
At this point all fair-minded readers — even if they despise former President Donald Trump — are wondering how Rather will handle the years of profanity-rich anger aimed at Trump by celebrities and everyday folks alike.
Well, allow ol' Dan to oblige:
To be sure, many Democrats have said some form of "F- Donald Trump." There was even a rap song to that effect. We all have a right to free speech. But when Republican elected representatives say "Let's go Brandon" to end a speech on the House floor, like Bill Posey, a Republican from Florida did, or wear a "Let's go Brandon" facemask, like South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan did, or when Ted Cruz can't get enough of it, something else is going on. This is a movement that has engulfed the party, and party leaders think they can use it to effectively rally their voters. The sad truth is that they are likely right.
Did you catch Rather's one-sentence defense of Democrats who did the same thing Biden-haters are doing now? "We all have a right to free speech." That's it. That's the quote.
Rather fails to mention that John Burton, former chairman of the California Democratic Party, in 2017 ended his term in office by sticking up both middle fingers and saying, "F*** Donald Trump" — to smiles, cheers, and laughter.
Content warning: Profanity:
He also fails to mention the infamous words of U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) on her first day in office in 2019: "We're gonna impeach the motherf***er!"
Oh well.
But Rather isn't done demonizing the GOP:
The hypocrisy is stunning. This is the political party that had a Republican candidate for governor of Virginia run an ad featuring a mother (who just happens to be a Republican activist) talk about how her son's apparently innocent sensibilities were offended when he was assigned Toni Morrison's classic novel Beloved in his high school's AP English class. Learning about the horrors of slavery and the Black experience in America? No, we have to protect our youth from that. But having your six your [sic] old hear grown men and women use one of the vilest words in the English language to attack the president at a sporting event? That's apparently patriotic free speech. And a hoot at that.
Rather then says the "Let's Go Brandon" chant "perfectly encapsulates the rot and unseriousness of the Republican party — like the smart-alec in the classroom who adds nothing but juvenile taunts and distractions. And let's be honest, it isn't just this chant. Go back to the T-shirts sold at Trump rallies in 2016 and what they said about Hillary Clinton, or for that matter the merchandise showcased at Trump rallies today."
He also refers to the "Let's Go Brandon" chant as "grotesque" and to Trump — and his base — as "fueled by bigotry, misogyny, sanctimony, privilege, unseriousness, flippancy, and ignorance."
A little experiment
Rather's piece concludes with a paragraph one might argue is sufficiently tone-deaf to allow readers to easily replace "Donald Trump" with "Joe Biden" in the first sentence and "Let's go Brandon?" with "F*** Donald Trump?" in the second-to-last sentence, and making it all ring just a little bit truer:
"This is Donald Trump allowing the basest of human instincts to triumph over reason," the paragraph reads. "It is a party that marches, in almost lockstep, under a banner of misplaced victimhood, of vilifying those who are different, of denying the truth, and having the chutzpah — fueled by privilege — to announce a hateful ignorance to the world with raw vulgarity, or the meekest fig leaf of innuendo. Let's go Brandon? How about let's go America?"
How are folks reacting?
It appears those who regularly read Rather's writing on Substack and on social media are more or less in love with the leftist pundit — and they indeed love his latest shot across the bow.
But others took to Twitter to call out Rather for leaving out inconvenient facts that underscore his own hypocrisy:
- "I am an anti-Trump former Republican but mostly conservative. How is [actor Robert] DeNero saying 'F*** Trump' and getting a standing ovation from Hollywood elites different than a bunch of inbred NASCAR fans chanting 'F*** Joe Biden," one commenter wrote. "Isn't it the same thing?"
- "Good call Dan; it's not like Democrats spent 4 years saying 'F*** Trump' to anybody who would listen," another user noted. "It's weird, I can't find any articles from you condemning that behavior. It's almost like you're a 2 faced idiot."
- "Dan, you are smarter than this," another commenter said. "The rub here is that the MEDIA tried to protect the president by reporting the first F Joe Biden chant as Let's Go Brandon. It was an OBVIOUS whitewash and offensive to ppl in reality. CONs have now used it to emphasize media bias, etc. Take the L."
- "That's cute. Hey, remember when the left praised Kathy Griffin for holding up a severed Trump head? Where was your article then? What about respect for the office then?" another user asked. "Lololol what a JOKE of a party you choose to back."
Dan Rather claims people critical of Biden admin for abandoning women's rights in Afghanistan 'are eager to control women's bodies' in America
Former CBS anchor Dan Rather is facing some pushback on Twitter after posting a tweet that appeared to take aim at those who oppose abortion.
"It's worth noting that many of the same people attacking the Biden Administration for leaving women's rights behind in Afghanistan are eager to control women's bodies and choices in the United States," Rather tweeted, shortly after posting another tweet on Tuesday night in which he declared, "The Supreme Court could effectively end legal abortion in Texas tonight."
His tweets came after the U.S. completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan on Monday, and shortly before a Texas abortion-related law was slated to take effect Sept. 1.
The Texas law, which has now taken effect after the Supreme Court did not take action on a request to block it, prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, with an exception in the case of medical emergencies.
While the law does involve criminal penalties, it allows individuals to lodge a civil action against those who conduct or induce an abortion in violation of the law and against those who knowingly participate in activity which "aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion" in breach of the law.
Some Twitter users took issue with Rather's comment.
"Wake up. A child's body is not a woman's body. A child deserves to live and abortion doesn't empower women, it's violence. Stop spreading decades-old propaganda points for the abortion industry," tweeted Lila Rose, the founder and president of the pro-life organization Live Action.
"Right, the people who think dismembering babies is wrong are the ones who are similar to the Taliban. Pro-abortioners always have the most sound arguments," tweeted "Relatable" host Allie Beth Stuckey.
"I'm pro choice but most pro choice people intentionally mischaracterize the pro life argument. Dan here is one of those people," another tweet declared.
I’m pro choice but most pro choice people intentionally mischaracterize the pro life argument. Dan here is one of t… https://t.co/UkYCZ5jlpr
— Article V Convention of States please (@philthatremains) 1630468991.0
"Dude fundamentally misunderstands the pro-life movement and sentiment. And comparing women's rights under Sharia Law to women's right in Western Democracies limiting the murder of the unborn reveal just how naive this cat is," another tweet read.
"You claimed to be a 'just the facts' newsman for decades with no team and no biases and yet you cannot understand the distinctions you elide here. You're telling on yourself," Jonah Goldberg tweeted.
Dan Rather rips fellow leftist Jon Stewart's 'dangerous' assertion that COVID-19 came from Wuhan lab: 'Playing into the trope of the mad scientist'
The left is eating itself once again. And it's delicious.
Dan Rather — the iconic network news anchor who's allowed his leftist colors to shine brightly in his retirement years — blasted fellow lefty Jon Stewart's viral assertion last week that the COVID-19 virus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.
What's the background?
Stewart — former host of "The Daily Show" and a longtime liberal darling — appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and said with a mixture of wit and wisdom that the pandemic was "more than likely caused by science" and then pointed to the infamous Wuhan lab.
After a series of mocking points, Stewart drove them home with a hilarious comparison between the COVID-19 pandemic and a "chocolate outbreak."
"Oh my God! There's been an outbreak of chocolatey goodness near Hershey, Pennsylvania. What do you think happened?" he wondered. "Oh, I don't know, maybe a steam shovel made it with a cocoa bean. Or it's the f***ing chocolate factory! Maybe that's it!"
Jon Stewart On Vaccine Science And The Wuhan Lab Theory youtu.be
Rather wasn't laughing
When Rather caught wind of Stewart's words, he wasn't happy:
Jotting down his thoughts on Steady, Rather noted that attacks on science aren't "just the work of cynical operatives on the political right" — and then proceeded to blast Stewart's take as "playing into the trope of the mad scientist":
I cannot overemphasize how dangerous this line of thinking is. It is true that some scientists have done some bad things in the name of research — such as the Tuskegee experiments. Scientists have been wrong. Science and technology have been tools that supported colonialism and oppression. Science does not release us from our moral responsibilities. All of this is the case because science is a human endeavor and scientists are human, subject to the same frailties and base instincts as any member of our species. But science is also a way of thinking, where we challenge our own dogmas and beliefs, where we change our minds and approach when the data show we were wrong.
Indeed, the virus-created-in-a-lab notion — initially dubbed a conspiracy theory by leftists and scientists — now is viewed a serious possibility. And Rather admitted as much: "A year and half later, the origins of the virus remain a mystery and China has been far from forthcoming — to say the least — about what they know, and did. It is also true that more scientists are considering the lab theory as worthy of examination, although there is no specific evidence to date that it is the source. Furthermore, it seems that most virologists do not think that the virus has the chemical fingerprints of human engineering. But that could be perhaps a possibility. We just don't know. And we need to try to find out, letting the facts lead wherever they may."
Speaking of the facts, let us not forget that Rather infamously stepped down from his CBS News perch after it came to light that his damning 2004 report on then-President George W. Bush's National Guard service used documents that weren't verified as authentic.
Regardless, leftists far and wide also blasted Stewart's words — and dutifully cheered on Rather's subsequent criticism of them.
(H/T: NewsBusters)
Dan Rather questions whether it was ‘responsible’ to show Super Bowl commercials with large groups of maskless people
Longtime former CBS anchor Dan Rather, who was forced to resign from the network after falsely reporting about George W. Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard, questioned whether it was "responsible" to show advertisements during the Super Bowl that featured large gatherings of people not wearing masks.
The disgraced media figure appeared to insinuate that Americans aren't intelligent enough to make decisions for themselves about their health and safety in regards to the coronavirus pandemic, suggesting they need even commercials to promote mitigation measures such as mask mandates and social distancing in order to understand the risks.
"Is it responsible having commercials showing people gathering in large groups without masks?" Rather tweeted.
Is it responsible having commercials showing people gathering in large groups without masks?— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather)1612744348.0
Minutes later, he added, "Am I the only one watching the halftime show and thinking "contact tracing?"
Am I the only one watching the halftime show and thinking “contact tracing?”— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather)1612748419.0
In response to the first tweet, some of Rather's followers agreed with him and expressed similar concerns over the ads and over the whole spectacle, in general.
"No, [it's not responsible]," answered one commenter. "The whole game, production, & commercials were in an alternate universe. Very unsettling & hard for my teen to watch when her social life has been restricted for almost a year now."
Another added, "The whole thing is irresponsible, 25k people in the stands, star QB walking in with no mask, and Florida has the rapidly spreading variant, Americans value sports over lives."
Several others, however, were noticeably put off by Rather's suggestion.
"Everybody, everywhere i go, people are wearing masks. The whole world knows to wear a mask. Please [sic] dont make me watch commercials with people with masks on. They are commercials. If anybody watches these and thinks it's ok to go out without a mask may God help them," one commenter wrote.
"I'm legitimately worried by those in this thread saying it's irresponsible to show commercials with people not wearing masks, as though we only know how to conduct ourselves by mimicking those in commercials," another said. "They probably think M&M commercials led to cannibalism."
Another suggested that if showing maskless people in commercials is irresponsible, then we ought not to have commercials showing people enjoying alcohol since that too is dangerous.
It should be noted that approximately 22,000 fans were allowed to be in the stands for the game on Sunday night, 7,500 of them being vaccinated health care workers invited as guests of the National Football League. In addition, 30,000 cardboard cutouts were placed inside the stadium to help ensure social distancing.
University of Texas names journalism award after Dan Rather
The University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism and Media announced Wednesday that it has introduced new awards "honoring reporting as well as exceptional content," named after former CBS News anchor Dan Rather.
While the school did not mention the fact that Rather was fired after being caught reporting fake news based on forged documents smearing President George W. Bush in 2004, observers on social media were quick to remind them.
What are the details?
Jay Bernhart, dean of UT's Moody College of Education, tweeted, "Dan Rather is not only a legend -- he's the namesake of new awards honoring his career and the work of today's journalists. We are thrilled to announce the @DanRather Medals for News and Guts."
Dan Rather is not only a legend -- he’s the namesake of new awards honoring his career and the work of today’s jour… https://t.co/xJSkh0shna— Jay Bernhardt (@Jay Bernhardt)1608134562.0
The dean's post was roundly mocked and criticized, garnering reactions such as, "It's interesting that someone created an award for a man who was forced to resign in disgrace for violating the most basic standards of journalism. A legend, indeed."
Another person joked, "The back has the inscription 'Fake, but accurate," while someone else wrote, "I've got to believe that even Dan finds this embarrassing."
"Irony is dead, buried, and cremated," quipped Daily Telegraph opinion editor James Morrow.
In their promotion of the new awards, UT stated, "The Dan Rather Medals for News and Guts honor the process of journalism as much as the end product. They will be awarded to professional and collegiate journalists who go the extra yard — overcoming obstacles like stonewalling and harassment — to get the story that tells truth to power."
They added, "While journalism and journalists have long been under constant fire from the powerful, recognizing those who show "News and Guts" has never been more important than it is today."
UT did not mention the fact that Rather was fired for reporting false information.
Fox News reported:
Rather, a Texas native, was forced out of the CBS anchor chair in 2005 after using unauthenticated documents in a 2004 report claiming that George W. Bush had gone absent without leave from the Texas Air National Guard. He has enjoyed a recent career renaissance thanks to his folksy, far-left Twitter persona and standing among media correspondents like CNN's Brian Stelter.
According to The Washington Examiner's Becket Adams, "Rather should be a pariah in media, especially because he still maintains he did nothing wrong (he did). But he has enjoyed a renaissance in the news business these past couple of years, thanks, in large part, to his anti-President Trump social media activities."
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