Peter Jennings, Wesley Clark and Michael Moore

[devilgrrl]

How soon we forget...

JENNINGS: At one point, Mr. Moore said, in front of you, that President Bush—he’s saying he’d like to see you, the general, and President Bush, who he called a “deserter.” Now, that’s a reckless charge not supported by the facts. And I was curious to know why you didn’t contradict him, and whether or not you think it would’ve been a better example of ethical behavior to have done so.

Wow! Jennings felt he knew “the facts.” Clark said he wasn’t so sure:

CLARK: Well, I think Michael Moore has the right to say whatever he feels about this. I don’t know whether this is supported by the facts or not. I’ve never looked at it. I’ve seen this charge bandied about a lot. But to me it wasn’t material. This election is going to be about the future, Peter. And what we have to do is pull this country together…

But Clark’s high-minded host wasn’t buying such smack. Once again, he referred to “the facts:”

JENNINGS: Let me ask you something you mentioned, then, because since this question and answer in which you and Mr. Moore was involved in, you’ve had a chance to look at the facts. Do you still feel comfortable with the fact that someone should be standing up in your presence and calling the president of the United States a deserter?

CLARK: To be honest with you, I did not look at the facts, Peter. You know, that’s Michael Moore’s opinion. He’s entitled to say that. I’ve seen—he’s not the only person who’s said that. I’ve not followed up on those facts. And frankly, it’s not relevant to me and why I’m in this campaign.

more: http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh012304.shtml


Now, I'm not going to dance on Jennings grave but I'm not letting this go unnoticed either.

[NYCGirl]

1. So that erases decades of fine work? NT

[Guaranteed]

2. WTF?

This is totally classless.

[WindRavenX]

3. seconded

Tactless and uncalled for.

[blondeatlast]

12. The OP enjoys this kind of thing, it seems.

OP was posting hideous headlines about the Boy Scouts last week.

[devilgrrl]

19. Hideous posts concerning the media coverage.

Get your facts straight, I was making fun of the news coverage as if Boy Scouts are the only people that get hit by lightning.

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Funny thing, Peter Jennings was one of those who railed against the Laci

type stories...who was disgusted over media coverage of O.J. and Michael Jackson...who constantly reminded his coworkers that the title of the show was "World" News Tonight.


Here's a story...I used to smoke a pack and a half a day. Last January I had surgery and ended up with a staph infection in my lungs. I almost died because of that. It was compounded by the fact that I had smoked for 19 years. But, me dying at 35 would not make you feel a bit sorry for my young children over somebody like John Candy? Who also abused his body in different ways??? That is very sad and closed minded in my opinion. :(

[devilgrrl]

24. Oh, so now it about lung cancer...

say what you want about Jennings career in journalism. He gleefully went after Clinton during Monicagate and let Bush off the hook for his supposed military service. He may have done good work in the past, however the last 10 years have much to be desired.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[devilgrrl]

39. So the media showed restraint during Monicagate...

and therefore it is just me that is a little over-sensitive about all of it? It happened years ago, which means that it is ancient history and I should just get over it?

[NYCGirl]

44. Some media showed restraint and some didn't. Some understood that it

was all a sham but had to report it anyway. Some started whole news channels (Fox) about it. But Jennings was not "gleeful" about it.

Perhaps you should be angry and Ken Starr and the GOP.

[devilgrrl]

45. He (Jennings) may have thought it was bollocks but ...

it didn't stop him from "reporting" it.

[NYCGirl]

46. It was a BIG, BIG story. Impeachment? He HAD to report it.

It would have been stupid and BAD journalism to ignore it.

[devilgrrl]

49. It was a BULLSHIT STORY that cost the tax payers 88 million dollars!

AND YOU KNOW IT!

Now if he had reported it for what it was - BULLSHIT!!!!! - I would have never started these annoying threads!

[NYCGirl]

50. Sure it was bullshit, but Clinton was impeached over it.

That makes it vitally important bullshit.

[devilgrrl]

52. The media played along with Gingrich and his toadies...

trashed Al Gore, kissed Bush's ass on a regular basis... they're not getting off the hook. They're as responsible for the state of the nation as the current administration.

[ScreamingMeemie]

69. Ummm, as I remember it, the media was not impressed with the debate

showings of either man in the 2000 elections. You are now tying everything in to Peter Jennings. None of us were impressed with the way Gore's campaign was handled if we're honest. Gosh, before you know it, it will be Peter Jennings' fault that the economy sucks. :shrug:

[Bunny]

78. He probably caused the tsunami, too.

;)

[devilgrrl]

83. He aided and abetted the Bush Crime Family...

feel free to kiss his ass.

[Bunny]

89. I won't be kissing anyone's ass, thank you very much.

[devilgrrl]

79. He cared for his paycheck and...

helped things get out of hand with his silence.

I'll never forget Jennings breaking into a regularly scheduled program to report the Lewinsky scandal.

I'm not cutting him a break no matter how dead he is. He's no Dan Rather.

[Bunny]

91. Did Dan Rather report on the Lewinsky scandal?

[devilgrrl]

92. He probably did...

however, I don't recall him breaking into the primetime schedule to discuss it.

Rather stood up to the Bush Crime Family, Brokaw and Jennings kissed their asses. End of story.

[Bunny]

95. And you're quite certain that Dan Rather NEVER broke into

the primetime schedule to report on Lewinsky and the Clinton impeachment? Never? Not once?

[ScreamingMeemie]

99. Rather stood up after Jennings asked the question of Clark.

Rather also broke into Primetime to discuss the story. Time Magazine became pornography for a year...and the country ate it up. Blame your fellow countrymen first.

[ScreamingMeemie]

100. And yet Dan Rather says today that he learned so much from Peter

Jennings...and yes, Dan Rather did report the Lewinsky scandal...breaking into prime time television as was his job, unfortunately.

Who was the first reporter to actually bring up AWOL Bush? Oh yeah, Peter Jennings...

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. Yes gleefully. Sigh....

We scream for unbiased media coverage and cry when "our guy" gets it. Sorry, I'm not buying it. You brought up the lung cancer with your other "dropped dead" spam post. Here's the thing. Jennings was the only one who didn't "gleefully" report about the war in Iraq...Jennings was the only one who expressed cynicism over the idea of WMD's...Lets be real shits and dance on the grave of a person who has basically not really affected our lives...besides delivering the news.

Some of his best work has been in the past ten years in my opinion. I get the feeling, as I said in another post, you are of the type that gets pissed off at Jon Stewart as well.

[devilgrrl]

37. Fine, go search and find out if I got pissy about Jon Stewart

Where in the dropped dead threat is lung cancer mentioned?

Bobby Chandler died of lung cancer and he never smoked. Should I go add it to the "I lets celebrate... who died of lung cancer" thread?

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. devilgrrl, I'm going to again suggest you take a break. These posts

are irrational and unfounded. Anger at the Bush administration. Posting half cocked nasty threads is another. "I lets celebrate"??? What? You're the one posting all the different threads with basically the same anger toward one newscaster. Do what you feel is best...and so will I.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Benhurst]

Oh, well. Saint Peter showing his media whoredom. NT

[HEyHEY]

31. Uh, yeah buddy

Jennings has risked his fucking life to bring truth and honesty to the people. And all you can do is trash him when he's dead.

[Benhurst]

48. Yeah, Bush was not a deserter. No problems with his military record.

JENNINGS: At one point, Mr. Moore said, in front of you, that President Bush—he’s saying he’d like to see you, the general, and President Bush, who he called a “deserter.” Now, that’s a reckless charge not supported by the facts. And I was curious to know why you didn’t contradict him, and whether or not you think it would’ve been a better example of ethical behavior to have done so.

Yeah, truth and honesty all the way. I'm sure that's why he rose to the top of ABC News.

[mitchtv]

62. that was when we stopped watching ABC News

I lost all respect for PJ the way he talked to Gen Clark. It would be different if he talked to Pukes like that,he didn't.

[HEyHEY]

66. It wasn't supported by cold facts

We all know it's true, but if anything he was offering Wes a chance to drop some facts... and wes didn't do that. And do you think a reporter put's their life on the line because they want to LIE to you? Jennings was in Lebanon, with a family at home. He wasn't there risking his life to lie to you... and after having spent numerous years of his career in such situations he wouldn't lie for anyone... that's the way reporters are... no matter what crap you read on a blog tells you

[Benhurst]

68. And we can't all be groupies for the MSM. NT

[HEyHEY]

85. I'm not a groupie, I'm just not a niave

enough to believe every god damn thing told to me by some guy on a website calling himself "Infiltrator" or some other stupid name.

I work in the MSM and know how it all works. Granted in Canada it is different. And I'm not going to say there is no monkeying in media in the US with stations like CNN and FOx.
However, Peter Jennings was a class guy and a good journalist. And I don't believe netowrks like ABC and NBC monkey with their news
I can tell because being in the media I can tell why certain questions are being asked and can objectively step back and evaluate stories.
If there was meddling Dan Rather never would have gone with that story about shrub's military service that soured his career at the end.
But some people will never understand that because they like to pretend it's all someone else's fault.

ASk Wes why he didn't take the chance benig HANDED to him by Jennings to nuke bush?

[Sequoia]

4. Did he have cancer before he gave up his Canadian citizenship

or after? How do any of you Canadian posters feel about that?

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Peter Jennings stated several times throughout his career that he

maintained his Canadian citizenship out of deference to his mother and father. From what I have heard, he was ecstatic to finally vote in an election in 2004. I don't get the point. :hi:

[HEyHEY]

35. ?

I feel like if someone spent 40 years of their life in the US who am I to get mad if they become a citizen.

[Connie_Corleone]

5. And??

I remember the interview too. I didn't like the interview, but Jennings has done some good work throughout his career. No ones perfect.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. What it shows me

is he's trying to find out the truth about the deal. Of course if you know your Bush family 101 history you'd know that junior was AWOL.

[asjr]

7. Frankly, I have always thought Peter Jennings was really

trying to get Clark to say yes. I believe he wanted him to say yes in order to get more on this. Everyone knows Shrub was a draft dodger.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Yeah, and sometimes Jon Stewart makes fun of Democrats like Kerry...

boo...hisss....:eyes:

What I found refreshing about Mr. Jennings was his ability to be skeptical of BOTH sides of any political pendulum. That's what he should be remembered for. The last of the truly fair and balanced, IMO.

[NYCGirl]

Good point, MrsGrumpy.

That's EXACTLY what newspeople should be like.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. I agree

That's why I liked him. He wasn't favorable like many in the news today.

[blondeatlast]

15. Amen. nt

[Old Vet]

9. I Guess you prefer Fox news, Good God............

One interview out of thousands, Hes not even buried yet.

[KittyWampus]

21. It Wasn't An Interview, It Was A Televised, National Debate For POTUS

[julialnyc]

10. I'm a huge Clarkie,but I don't think is right to do this today

(I actually watched a Larry King last night where he was being quite complimentary toward Clark, but none the less, I don't want to bad mouth him today)

E FROM BBC.com!

"He loathed the arrival of the Fox network, with its open, noisy adherence to a political agenda, and believed it would destroy the old-fashioned notion of honest and unbiased reporting forever."

[blondeatlast]

11. You really enjoy dancing on the graves of the dead, don't you? nt

[KittyWampus]

23. A MULTITUDE Of DU'ers Piled On When Reagan Died, The Pope Died

and happily take the chance to makes snotty comments they think are clever when tragic, violent things happen involving res staters.

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. Go find a post where I did that cryingshame...I'll bet you 10 dollars you

won't find one for me or blondeatlast either. Some of the rage on this board of late against basically innocent subjects stuns me.

[JNelson6563]

16. Definitely a Moran Moment for Jennings

It was very unprofessional for him to insist Clark had seen the facts of the case when Clark had just said he hadn't bothered because he didn't think it was relevant in an election about the future.

While this was poor work I still don't think Jennings was one of the worst, not even close. He certainly doesn't belong on a pedestal either.

Julie

[rinsd]

17. Run out of boyscout deaths to make fun of? (nt)

[etherealtruth]

53. Sounds like a check mate to me

:popcorn:

[ClarkUSA]

18. Facts are facts.... he defended BushCo.'s lies

I'm sure he convinced millions that day that Bush was not a deserter and that Michael Moore was full of shit....and that probably fuelled public outrage over
Dan Rather.

Thanks for the reminder.

[HEyHEY]

32. All he asked for was clark to support what more said

Blame clark for not being able to do it.

[FrenchieCat]

Clark did what he was supposed to do.....

stand by Moore right to say what he did....but not call Bush a "Deserter"....as that didn't get investigated until later...after those debates. It was later concluded that perhaps Bush was "AWOL" but certainly not a "deserter" according to the national media. A diffence, that with the right "spin" would have cost Wes Clark....big big time right away. They still did tried to spin it, but Clark wasn't as hurt as he might have been.

They were using Michael Moore's statement to go after Wes Clark, clear and simple....and Clark knew it.
http://www.factcheck.org/article131.html
http://www.factcheck.org/article140.html

Wes Clark stated he had not investigated the issue. Being a General doesn't mean he knew for sure what Bush's story truly was. Hell, a lot of us still don't know for sure....we just know that Bush was a chickenhawk. Should Clark had said he had, to satisfy the Red Meat voters?

Would Clark committing political suicide by agreeing with Michael Moore's claim have really advanced anything.....or would we have come up with the same results at the end...with Clark bashed by the national media with their spin (he was anyways....but at least he just stated that he didn't give a f*ck....cause he had served with distinction....and no matter Bush's record, it would pale in comparison to Clark's).

[HEyHEY]

64. So, you just proved the point

"Hell, a lot of us still don't know for sure....we just know that Bush was a chickenhawk."

Exactly, so what Jennings said was not a falsehood. He was merely grilling Clark.. LIKE A JOURNALIST IS SUPPOSED TO.
Sorry it doesn't suite your agenda

[ClarkUSA]

88. No point is proven...except that Jennings had a clear agenda

As do some people on this thread.

Jennings' wife left him for an acquaintance of General Clark's who happened to be an advisor to John Kerry. Fill in the blanks.

And Bush was indeed a deserter by the rules of the day though he would not be considered one now. If he had been anyone but Poppy's boy...

[HEyHEY]

97. The only adgenda is the Clark people

Trying to keep Clark's name clean for not doing his job in answering a simple question with which he could have buried Bush.

[geek tragedy]

20. What is this, the liberal Free Republic? If I could nominate a thread

for "Worst" I'd do so in this case.

[fujiyama]

28. I dunno

I think that deleted thread which featured a poster calling Iraqi kids "collaborators" would give even this thread a run for its money in terms of nastiness.

[geek tragedy]

51. Hatred and nastiness are not progressive values--especially

when we're talking about someone like Peter Jennings.

Maybe there should be a big, no holds-barred site for the hateful of all stripes to go duke it out. Leftwing troop haters could go there to fight with homophobic and racist Freepi.

[MalibuChloe]

29. Wasn't Peter technically right in this case?

I mean there is a difference between being a deserter and being a chickenhawk. The word "deserter" suggests you actually WENT to war, and then went AWOL.

Bush pulled strings to get out of going in the first place.

Peter Jennings seemed like a fair guy to me, and I have a feeling he felt the same way about Bush as we all do. Had Moore used the word "chickenhawk," I doubt Peter would have challenged him.

[HEyHEY]

34. THe fuckheads on this website care nothing for "technically"

I've seen time and time again reporters lambasted here for doing their jobs. SO many on this site expect them to go on camera and call Bush names. That is not the job of a reporter... the job of a reporter is to get someone else to say it. If Clark didn't want to say it... then people should be looking at their candidate, not the reporter. It's such a fucking joke to blame Peter Jennings for the downfall of the country.

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. Un biased is what Peter Jennings was...but shame on him for not being

liberally biased. Shame on him for actually trying to bring us the news...instead of his viewpoint. Shame on him for actually getting angry over the Laci stories...Shame. On. Him. /sarcasm.


Hi HEyHEY

[HEyHEY]

43. It makes me so sick Mrs. Grump

So many people here have no idea what kind of perils he had put himself in to gain his stature... as if he's going to throw all that out the window to "whore" for Bushco as some put it.

[HEyHEY]

30. Heaven forbid he is tough on YOUR candidate

[Lars39]

33. Clark dropped the ball.

Jennings kept giving him openings to state the facts concerning Bush, and Clark didn't/wouldn't state em'.

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. Exactly, many non Clark supporters were begging him to answer that

questions. I think it's the typical "no fair, he wasn't nice to my candidate" whine. :hi:


***Disclaimer: I've been guilty of that at times...

[Lars39]

40. I would have been happy with any of them. Still would.

I'm probably the last of the undecided. :D

[FrenchieCat]

55. See my reply.....

as to what the "facts" were at the time of those debates.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4286860&mesg_id=4287613

As far as I'm concerned, Jennings was a good reporter that changed with the times of his own network, ABC, which was also a good fair news reporting org at one time.

That said, he has passed away by a death that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

Maybe this is a discussion to be had once the man has, at least, been buried.

[NashVegas]

42. FWIW Department

That exchange brought *'s record - or more specifically, the doubts about it - into mainstream media coverage.

[Lex]

47. Exactly. Where were the big name DEMS yelling the facts about *'s record?

Nowhere to be found.

[Flying Dream Blues]

54. If you have a beef with the man, I really don't think now is

the time to bring it up. The man is dead; if it meant that much to you perhaps you could have brought this up sooner. I'm sure he was not perfect, but certainly I have a hard time thinking he meant anything but well...even if I didn't always agree with him.

I guess I'm old fashioned but I believe a little respect is in order. We all have our faults, struggle with things both seen and hidden, and do the best we can. There's something to be said for trying to understand the common humanity we all share, and trying to see the good in people.

edit: typo

[in_cog_ni_to]

56. That's precisely why I have stayed out of the Jennings threads.

If you can't say something nice.....


I haven't forgotten what he did to Wes. Those are questions he asked Wes during the FAUX news primary debate. I'll never forget it. THAT was the night some of the DU bullshit that was posted by the DU Wes haters, made it on the MSM....I'll never forget that OR them. They know who they are.

A little background...Wes Clark is good friends with Richard Holbrook who is married to Jenning's ex wife. He had a big grudge running against Wes Clark and it showed.

[HEyHEY]

58. Why don't you ask Wes why he didn't answer?

Oh...he's in on it too!

[LincolnMcGrath]

57. This will get probably get locked, like others.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4284493&mesg_id=4284553

[Gloria]

59. YUP, this episode tarnished Jennings a bit for me....

his snarkiness to just hassle Clark while the others got plenty of "real" questions. You can argue about what his intentions were, but I was put off by his snarky tone. It seemed to be especially argumentative. If reporters in general had used that sort of "dogged" questionning about Bush's history....

Ironically, last night I happened to catch a rerun of Larry King interviewing Jennings on 9/3/2003 (or thereabouts) and they were discussing Clark and what it would mean if he entered the Presidential race! Jennings said he had time to raise money and that he could make things uncomfortable for other Democrats.

It was a straight answer....so what happened between that interview and that debate in 2004????

Overall, Jennings had a distinguished career....but this moment sticks in my craw.

[jackstraw45]

60. Peter Jennings, Husband and Father of 2 young men died yesterday

I mean, let the man rest in peace. Aren't there bigger fish to fry out there today?

[DemonFighterLives]

63. What I can't believe here is the number of DU members attacking

the poster for this thread.
This is a discussion board and the ins and outs of every topic are for the most part fair game.
For what it's worth, I used to listen to Jennings every night. He was a great reporter. It is very sad that he had to die so young to that nasty cancer.
When people die, their whole life passes before them and I think the same works with us. I was recalling his possibly worst work just last year where he reconfirmed the Lone Assassin theory of the Kennedy assassination as though it was now proven completeld true beyond a doubt. That hour program made him a supporter of the ultimate lie and the Magic Bullet Theory. The Warren commmission and coverup were about the lowest point for America in my books.

May Peter rest in peace and when and if he meets JFK, I hope he repents.

Sorry to bring this up now for the serious mourners.

:shrug:

[MalibuChloe]

67. i think it's the timing...

a lot of people feel that they grew up with this man and feel this loss very personally. why bash a guy who just died yesterday? anyway, nobody's perfect and even if you consider this to be a smudge on his journalistic record, he was still a decent guy and a good journalist overall.

[DemonFighterLives]

81. I know, he was basically ok with me too

I just don't like the thought police deciding when and who DU'er talk about.
A week from now Jennings will not be in the news. Now is when the memories are flowing. I was reluctant to post my thoughts about him, which are generally good except for what the OP mentioned and what I mentioned.

[DanCa]

65. CLARK: Well, I think Michael Moore has the right to say whatever he feels

Gee did anyone bother readding that part? In fact he said it twice during the interview.

"You know, that’s Michael Moore’s opinion. He’s entitled to say that."

Man it seems the only way to please some people is to commit suicide.

[CatWoman]

70. while you are all picking on DGirl

I'd like to contribute this little gem:

During a November 18 interview with ABC's Peter Jennings, former President Bill Clinton was sharply critical of media coverage of his administration, particularly the cozy relationship many in the media had with Independent Counsel Ken Starr.

"You don't want to go here, Peter," Clinton warned after Jennings told him that historians ranked him second to last of all presidents in terms of moral authority.

Squinting his eyes, an angry Clinton seethed: "You don't want to go here. Not after what you people did. And the way you - your network - what you did with Kenneth Starr. The way your people repeated every little sleazy thing he did. No one has any idea of what that's like."

Jennings interview of Bill Clinton last year.

[Beaverhausen]

72. they showed that on the tribute last night- not quite as you wrote it

Clinton denied that he was hurt by that and Jennings said something like you must have been, I can see it.

Did you NOT expect Jennings to talk about it?

[CatWoman]

75. I googled and got that data I posted

I didn't see the tribute last night.

Sure I expected him to talk about it, but sometimes you need to shut the fuck up.

[Beaverhausen]

80. well, I watched the interview

and it wasn't as you posted. They left out an exchange before Clinton said what you posted.

But you go ahead and believe what you want. I choose to believe my own eyes and ears.

[CatWoman]

84. I watched the interview when it happened

and it did happen that way. I also saw it again a few minutes ago. That's why I brought it up.

BTW: I got the text from of the transcript from Media Matters.

go yell at them.

[Beaverhausen]

86. so you missed the part

where Jennings asked if it bothered Clinton and he said no it didn't. Then Jennings said something like oh come on, I can see it in your eyes. THAT is when Clinton said "Don't go there..."

He didn't say it as a response to his place on that list.

Hey- I guess we just have to disagree about Jennings. I think he is one of the last truly well-informed and unbiased journalists there are.

He worked for ABC remember...owned by Capital Cities.

[ScreamingMeemie]

73. CW, I'm going to stand by my ascertation that Jennings was as unbiased

as they come. The job is to report the news, ask the questions, not take sides. As much as we all "think" we would like having a liberally biased media...we might live to regret it, as we've had a few corrupt politicians on our side of the fence. I want to know what is really going on, end point.

While I think Clinton was a damned fine president, I remember the question Peter posed, and it was not out of line. :shrug: I think to post four consecutive threads on a man who is the least of our worries in terms of corruption is a bit much...

[CatWoman]

82. If what you say is true

why did he give Bush such a free ride?

Not just Jennings, but ALL the talking heads.

I'm not personally pointing out Jennings' fault at this.

But I do think you all are overreacting to the OP.

[ScreamingMeemie]

98. Jennings didn't give Bush a free ride, IMO. The OP's assumption

that somehow Jennings was complicit is over the line. From the things I have read ( I admit to being a little interested as many people tell MrG he looks like a young Peter J, so I've read a bit), Peter has always fought against being biased either way, has been quoted as not being "so sure" that there were WMD's, hence the unbiased reporting and questioning tone that many lauded in his coverage of this illegal war. He refused to personally do pieces on Laci/O.J./Jackson stories and would not go out on assignment for gossip. Dan Rather, a man we all support here, was on television this morning praising the work of Jennings...his dedication, his ability to be skeptical and not take all at face value...

But, let's face it, he WAS just a man...and I think starting four, meant to draw flames threads, is over the line.

My comparison is the fact that you and I can rationally discuss this, while it appeared that the OP was on a tear here. :hi:

[MalibuChloe]

74. So?

Clinton makes it clear that he means ABC, not Peter himself.

Do you really think Peter Jennings was responsible for dragging Clinton through the mud?

[CatWoman]

77. In that instance, yes he was

anything else?

[Fenris]

71. Yes, that exchange negates everything else he ever did in his life.

:eyes:

[GOPNotForMe]

76. How classy.

:eyes:

[Swamp Rat]

87. Dog pile on the rabbit!

Poor devilgrrl! :hug:

[devilgrrl]

90. Thanks, I'm okay Swamp Rat...

great groovy graphic! :pals:

[DanCa]

93. Hang in there Devil Girl

I ll defend to the death your right to disagree me. :D

[julialnyc]

94. Rest in Peace

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4131186.stm
Peter did what he could to halt the downward spiral of television news in America - that terrible turning inward, which means the less you know about the world, the less you want to know about it, and therefore the less a ratings-obsessed industry decides to tell you.


Jennings reported on the Iraqi elections in January 2005

He often forced news items onto his programmes because they were important, not because the producers wanted them.

He loathed the arrival of the Fox network, with its open, noisy adherence to a political agenda, and believed it would destroy the old-fashioned notion of honest and unbiased reporting forever.

As for his own political opinions, I could never work them out. He would not tell me what he really thought about Clinton or George W Bush, and I eventually stopped asking him.

Old-fashioned journalism

As a Canadian, he was a bit of an outsider, though in the end he became an American citizen and was very proud of the fact.

He was seven years older than me, but looked a good 10 years younger.

"I can't spend what you do on make-up," I once said to him nastily. "It's all just appearance," he answered.

Now, though, he seems to me like the last, best example of a tradition that had already started to vanish long before his death - the tradition of Martha Gellhorn and Ed Murrow and Walter Cronkite, people who went and found out what was really happening before they started to talk about it.

Nowadays, most American and British writing and broadcasting about subjects like Iraq is done by people who do not go there.

Peter Jennings did go there, and continued to go even when he knew he was dying.

"What brings you here?" I asked him the last time I saw him, standing outside the Convention Centre in the Green Zone in Baghdad last January.

"Oh, the usual. Just trying to find out what's going on."

That was Peter's greatest art - or as he would have said, in his self-deprecating Canadian way, his skill. It is something which is fast disappearing.

[devilgrrl]

96. Interesting that he had to go to Great Britain to say that...

why couldn't he do that here? It would have made all the difference in the world.

[Moderator]

101. Locking...

This thread has become inflammatory.