Motive

I've puzzled over the stupidity of the 60 Minutes WEDNESDAY forgeries, and chalked it up to sheer unadulterated arrogance on the part of Dan Rather. I have to admit it smacks of poetic justice to see Rather, who once seemed to gloat over the fall of Richard Nixon because of a third rate burglary, now himself fallen because of a forgery that comes no where close to third rate quality. How could it be? Well, here's something that didn't occur to me. Revenge. In a 1988 interview Rather was especially hard on Bush '41.

"President Bush and Dan Rather, the CBS anchor, had become mortal enemies as a result of their live interview during the 1988 presidential campaign. Rather is a self-proclaimed liberal whose weekly radio show on CBS openly condemns conservative policies and ideas. He clearly hoped to damage Bush in the TV interview, rehearsing all day, taping a prosecutorial lean-in about Iran-Contra, and turning over much of his regular newscast to others so he could concentrate on the interview. He immediately went on the attack about Iran-Contra, and Bush countered, asking Rather if he would like his entire career judged by the time he walked off the set during a newscast and left the network dark for seven minutes. Rather was stunned, looked in shock, and came back with shrill and ugly questions. The consensus afterward was that Bush had won big, destroying Rather and establishing himself as a tough competitor. Rather, of course, hated Bush after that."
--Former Bush press secretary Marlin Fitzwater in his 1995 book, Call the Briefing.

The fact that there is motive beyond partisanship doesn't make this forgery affair any less stupid, or any less arrogant, but it does explain how Rather could go overboard with it. I haven't the slightest bit of sympathy for him. I'm happy to see him where he is. He is an arrogant, dishonest son of a bitch, and I'll be quite happy to kick him while he's down.

The link to Daniel Wiener comes via Roger L. Simon.