Talk:Dan Rather

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Cold 45's

He was the first PA anouncer for the Houtston Colt 45's it needs to be in here. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.246.57.146 (talk) 01:49, 25 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Dan Rather, Charlie Wilson, and the Soviet Afghanistan War

Should some mention be made of the impact of Dan Rather's reporting from Afghanistan, specifically in regards to Charlie Wilson and eventual US secret involvement? By all accounts, like this for example, it was Rather's televised reporting that moved Charlie Wilson to maneuver the US government to secretly arm the Afghan rebels, which apparently lead directly to the Soviet's eventual defeat. This seems not a small matter. The current article entry, "During the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, Rather was on camera wearing a traditional Mujahadeen headdress and garments while reporting from near the front lines. These reports helped Rather gain prominence with the Evening News audience (and the nickname "Gunga Dan"; Rather's reports were also spoofed by the comic strip Doonesbury)," not only makes no reference to any of this, but seems to trivialize Rather's Afghanistan reports. -BC aka Callmebc (talk) 13:52, 20 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Do the book Charlie Wilson's War, the movie, or historians consider Rather's report to be significantly influential? Or is a Pakistani refugee camp considered a significant influence? -- SEWilco (talk) 06:14, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. Apparently Charlie Wilson first became aware of the plight of the Afghan rebels when he saw one of Dan Rather's reports, and that was what got him motivated to look into matters further. It would appear then that Afghanistan bit in the article needs to be updated a wee bit. Actually the entire article is a bit of mess, but I have too many things on my plate already to spend much time on it. I'll correct the Afghanistan stuff, though, in a couple of days if there is no substantial objection. -BC aka Callmebc (talk) 02:46, 1 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Since nobody has objected, I added the Wilson bit, and I as well replaced the Citation Missing tag regarding him wearing sweater with an NY Times ref that refers to it. -BC aka Callmebc (talk) 23:17, 8 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The horseshoes and hand grenades remark is NOT a "Ratherism"

And it shouldn't be degraded as such by being associated with him. I'd bet it's older, but the GySgt. at Parris Island, as portrayed by (R.) Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket (1987).Steven (talk) 16:59, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It is a common phrase, not one notably by Rather. Removed. -- SEWilco (talk) 18:07, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm fairly sure that the "His chances are slim to none right now... ...Slim will have left town." comment is also not an original Ratherism. Can anyone confirm/deny? Sleepeh (talk) 20:51, 23 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

King Features S.

Mabye there is more than one, but that is a newspaper comics outfit, somebody's idea of a joke, it needs to be deleted, Dan Rather likey is not writing for the funny papers. 71.114.181.145 (talk) 22:34, 6 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Follow the link to the Syndicate's article and read about what they do. -- SEWilco (talk) 22:55, 6 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

NPOV dispute

This article states that Rather has been "accused of having a liberal bias" (my emphasis). How is the liberal perspective of an individual an accusation? Can this be written in a more NPOV way? This is the first time that I have heard of an American journalist being accused of having a liberal bias.Sumthingweird (talk) 09:28, 2 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Are you serious? You've never heard of an American journalist being accused of having a liberal bias? I find that very difficult to believe.

At any rate, turn it around: would you have complained had some other journalist - say, for example, Brit Hume - been accused of having a conservative bias?

It's my opinion that the NPOV tag should be removed. The act of having added it is in and of itself an expression of POV. Mark Shaw (talk) 11:58, 2 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Done, as some time has now passed without response from anyone. Please discuss here before restoring the tag. Mark Shaw (talk) 12:25, 3 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Mark, sorry I didn't reply earlier. Maybe I don't follow the American media culture wars very closely, and perhaps it is a common accusation in the US to accuse someone of having a certain political perspective. I don't know who Brit Hume is, but at any rate surely it would be less POV to say "Brit Hume is considered to have a conservative bias". The word "accused" carries a value judgement that it is wrong to have a liberal or conservative (or radical) bias. I have my own point of view, but Wikipedia shouldn't be passing value judgements.

Perhaps the argument is that certain people (for example journalists) should never reflect any kind of bias at all. (I'm sorry if I'm building a strawman argument here, I'm unclear as to what your objection is). The underlying assumption here is that it is possible to express oneself on political topics without expressing any kind of bias. However, this kind of reporting would either support the status quo (and therefore be conservative) or question the status quo (and therefore be liberal or radical) or not address the issue at all (and therefore be irrelevant). Any journalist who expresses herself or himself on a political topic will necessary be reflecting a certain bias - to say that they are "accused" of bias is to reflect a value judgement on the particular bias they hold.

I'm sorry if I'm responding to arguments you haven't put. I hope we can get to some consensus and improve the article together. Sumthingweird (talk) 14:17, 3 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

So "described as having a liberal bias" would be better. -- SEWilco (talk) 18:05, 3 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sumthingweird, I checked your talk page so now I have some idea of your background. I agree that you would not be expected to know much about American news media, and although I don't hold that against you I must say I find it interesting that you would describe "supporting the status quo" as evidence of political conservatism. And, yes, people in the news media (as opposed to their colleagues in the editorial office) are expected to be impartial, although of course it seldom works out that way.

This is a discussion for a different time and forum, of course.

I think SEWilco's suggestion makes sense, as the objection seems to be over the weight of the word "accused." I won't make the change right now, though; perhaps someone else wishes to comment. Mark Shaw (talk) 19:14, 3 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I also agree that SEWilco's suggestion makes sense, and I'm glad we've managed to come to some consensus (but I'll wait for further comments). I agree that it's a discussion for another time and place, but I would be interested to know what your definition of conservatism is, if it doesn't have something to do with the status quo. I'd also be interested to know what impartiality would look like in a report on, for example, sub-Saharan poverty, or on an al-Qaeda attack. Perhaps you can reply on my talk page.Sumthingweird (talk) 15:08, 6 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I see that Sumthingweird has made the indicated edit. I'm not sure there's really consensus on that, so I invite other editors to weigh in. I certainly won't object at this time, of course, as I'd previously expressed agreement to it (and my thoughts on this have not changed). I still would like to hear from others, though. Mark Shaw (talk) 19:11, 4 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Reference (currently #56, #44, others) ratherbiased.com is just a website written by someone that hates Rather. Using it as a source brings bias into the article. If there are verfiable sources referenced from that webpage or others, please specify them directly. Many of the statements beginning with "Critics say..." seem to add more bias than information.

24.7.125.134 (talk) 02:35, 5 January 2009 (UTC) Les[reply]

instead.

Pictures of Rather's childhood home

Could those two pictures be moved down into the biography section. I think the page would look better if they were placed below the content box. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Starrymessenger (talk • contribs) 13:14, 11 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No CBS Lawsuit update?

There was some activity on the Rather-CBS lawsuit last April, when a judge removed the three executives named. But there seems to be nothing substantial since then. The section at least should include this, as well as any info for 2009. (I am still looking.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.230.222.18 (talk) 00:31, 2 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Pronunciation

How is the "ra" of "Rather" pronounced? Like (1) the "ra" of "rat" or (1) like the "ra" of "rah" or "trance"? I thought it was the former(1), but then I don't understand how the name "Rather" could be a pun on the word "rather" (which I pronounce with the second "ah" type of sound). But perhaps this is because I am British. Perhaps Americans prounce the word "rather" with the "ra" of "rat"? Anyway I would like to know how to prounce this man's name.--133.62.200.185 (talk) 06:54, 10 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]