Christopher Ruddy
Monday, July 16, 2001

Dear Mr. Karmazin:

I was deeply disturbed to read this weekend that CBS Evening News anchorman Dan Rather was engaging in censorship and refusing to report on the Levy-Condit story.

Despite the fact that every other network and reputable news source has covered this case, Mr. Rather has determined that your network will not carry this story on CBS' "Evening News."

Why?

This is such a clear-cut case of bias and censorship, I believe the network should take swift action and relieve Mr. Rather of his duties immediately.

As you know, a news organizations's most important currency is its credibility.

Mr. Rather has a track record of bias that has taxed the network's credibility to the limit, and, with his latest censorship effort, has made the network a laughingstock among journalists.

Is it not worthy of CBS to cover a news story involving a Washington intern who had an affair with a congressman, where the intern has completely disappeared?

Is it not worthy of coverage that this ranking congressman lied to police investigators about the affair?

Is it not important for the American people to know allegations made by another lover that the congressman asked her to perjure herself and lie in an affadavit to the FBI?

If Mr. Rather's latest outrage were an isolated incident, it could be forgiven.

But it isn't.

You may recall that last summer, in the middle of a very close presidential election, Dan Rather led his CBS nightly broadcast claiming that the Republican Party had leaked a story that the Lewinsky grand jury had recently renewed work in Washington seeking a possible indictment of Bill Clinton.

This embarrassing story was leaked by Republicans, Mr. Rather said, to undermine Mr. Gore's campaign in the middle of the Democratic National Convention, then being held in Los Angeles.

Dan Rather's proof of this vicious smear against the Republican Party in the middle of election campaigns? None.

Dan Rather based his lead "news story" simply on his pathological hatred of Republicans and his belief they are the source of all evil in the world.

As you are well aware, a Democratic judge, appointed by Jimmy Carter, later admitted he had accidentally leaked the story to a Washington reporter.

After that incident, Dan Rather should have resigned or been fired. Still, CBS permits him to perpetuate his bias as he undermines CBS.

This year, Mr. Rather stated Bill Clinton was an "honest man," adding that he tried to "understand" why Clinton had lied during the Lewinsky matter.

Dan Rather's job is not to understand why a politician lies under oath or to investigators. His first job is report the facts squarely to the American people.

Had Congressman Condit been a Republican, I have little doubt that Rather and CBS Evening News would have been all over this story.

Just last month, Dan Rather appeared on David Letterman's program.

He used the opportunity to ridicule the Republicans. He consistently referred to Vice President Dick Cheney as "Uncle Cheney," implying that youthful President Bush just can't handle the job.

Considering this type of behavior by CBS's lead news man, it should come as no surprise to you that outlets like Fox News, NewsMax and other alternative media are rising in popularity.

Americans are fed up with establishment elites like Dan Rather.

CBS has some fine reporters. How can CBS journalists like Bob Schieffer, Morley Safer, Ed Bradley and Leslie Stahl – who have a solid reputation for fairness and objectivity – do their job if your network is led by Dan Rather?

Over the next few days, I will encourage NewsMax.com readers to contact you about this matter.

If CBS is to maintain some semblance of credibility, you will need to take swift action to end Mr. Rather's censorship program and find a replacement.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Christopher Ruddy, Editor
NewsMax.com

Readers wanting to contact CBS President Mel Karmazin can CLICK HERE.

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