Ted Koppel addressed a forum at Fordham University in New York City on Monday that was organized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Koppel called “the ouster of Dan Rather from CBS News in 2006 a “travesty,”” and he said that he “hopes the $70 million suit filed by Mr. Rather against CBS and Viacom will bring Mr. Rather “relief from his [emotional] pain.””

Mr. Koppel said he “hurt” for Mr. Rather, whom he characterized as a friend. Addressing the “60 Minutes” report about President George Bush’s National Guard service that preceded Mr. Rather’s departure from CBS, Mr. Koppel said the story was “much more correct than incorrect.” Mr. Koppel said that those responsible for the incorrect parts of the report deserved to be chastised and punished.

Apparently not everyone in the news media is willing to cast an ugly, biased view on Rather’s lawsuit, as Charles Lane of the WaPo did on Monday. Good for Ted Koppel for speaking out…

Koppel also explained to the forum “why the White House has not let him have a one-on-one interview with Mr. Bush at any time since Mr. Bush has been president.”

When Mr. Bush was running for president, Mr. Koppel asked then Governor Bush what qualified him to be president. Mr. Bush cited his experience as governor of Texas, his experience running the Texas Rangers baseball team, as well as the fact that he was a loving husband and father.

Mr. Koppel replied that those qualifications would seem to be good qualifications if one were running for president of the Kiwanis Club, but not for president of the United States.

Ever since then it’s been the big freeze for Mr. Koppel from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Firedoglake has more.

RELATED POSTS:

Filed under: Bush Admin, In The News, Politics, Republicans | Get Permalink or trackback |