At the age of 91, journalism legendDan Ratherremains on top of the news.
Take the recent CNN town hall with former President and current candidate Donald Trump.
Bad idea, he says.
Dan Rather in the documentary ‘Rather’Courtesy of Wavelength
It allowed straight out propaganda.
It was an unpaid political commercial.
Rather isnt saying the news media shouldnt cover candidate Trump.
Former President Donald Trump on June 1, 2023 in Grimes, Iowa.Scott Olson/Getty Images
Hes saying it comes down to whether the interview happens live.
Rather adds, Im not here to tell anybody how to run their journalism operation.
Ive made my mistakes, certainly, over the years.
You tape it, and then you’re free to edit and add your own editorial comment.
But I think its clear that CNN made a mistake with that.
Regarding Trump, Rather said the twice-indicted former president could still win re-election next year.
I would say be careful.
I dont think thats the case.
That manner of speaking reflects the homespun wisdom of his Texas upbringing.
It certainly is a deep dive, Rather says of the film.
The uninitiated might say, well, how can that be?
The documentary shows Rather reporting from Vietnam, cheek by jowl with soldiers in the middle of a firefight.
I learned a lot when I was in Vietnam.
Its a story that matters.
But yes, of course, you get afraid.
I was in charge of CBS news coverage there that day.
Iwassurprised, quite frankly, at how many times he referred [to me on the tapes].
After all, hes president of the United States, most powerful man in the world.
It turned out he did.
If that was the nadir of his career, Rather has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in recent years.
But they eventually convinced me to try it.
I couldnt have been more surprised if a giraffe had come loping through the room.
[Trumps] relentless attacks have had their effect.
Theyve damaged public trust in the press.
Theyve severely damaged what the press thinks of itself, Rather maintains.
And every time we make a mistake we hurt ourselves.
He says the news media must not hesitate to use the word lie when Trump utters them.
The press, including myself, had always been reluctant to use the word lie, he says.
Early in the Trump presidency, he observes, We almost got to the ridiculous point.
You would say, Hes using sophistry, or anything to avoid the word lie.
Well, of course the answer is yes, there are things that are factual.
Two and two equals four, not five, and water does not run uphill.
