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Does Katie Couric deserve to be fired for substituting a John McCain answer?

Submitted by Chad on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 3:13pm.

BE-ELECTED
by Chad Rubel

Regular readers know I'm not a fan of the brand of journalism Katie Couric practices. But even if you are a Katie Couric fan, you have to be appalled at her latest "journalism" escapade: censoring an interview with John McCain, removing an answer that made McCain look extremely foolish on Iraq and substituting a different answer.

If the speculation is true, Couric will be replaced around the beginning of the year as anchor of the CBS Evening News. But she will still be doing journalism in some form for CBS, most likely "60 Minutes."

The network of Edward R. Murrow, Douglas Edwards, Walter Cronkite, and Dan Rather has been replaced by the network of Les Moonves, Rick Kaplan, and Katie Couric. This is the same newscast that fired a producer for plagiarism for one of Couric's "essays."

At least that producer got fired. Who will get the boot for this blatant violation of basic journalism?

If a network has protected Obama in such a fashion, we would be hearing huge outcries for firings. Just because a network protected a Republican candidate (again) doesn't mean the outcome should be any different.

I'm sure they will try to find a lackey to take the fall this time. But Couric has the title of managing editor, and Kaplan is the executive producer, and that should count for something. Is anyone willing to admit they are in charge of the news department at CBS?

In the real world, performance and yes, sometimes, ethics sometimes happens if you are worried that you lose your job. You may not be the most ethical person in the world, but if you thought you would lose your job, you might be more ethical than what would be in your heart.

If Couric or Kaplan figured they could get away with substituting a McCain answer that would make him look really bad and place one in that makes him look good, and not pay a price for their deeds, what would prevent them from doing so?

For all the Dan Rather hoopla, which did cost him his job, the truth behind the story was never disputed. In this instance, the deception is not in dispute.

If Couric lost her job and her $15 million a year salary; if Kaplan lost his multi-million dollar salary; if other journalists saw immediate repercussions to their efforts, you would see changes in the MSM that would produce long-term efforts that could restore some credibility to the process.

Is there anything different in what Couric did than the fates of Jayson Blair, Janet Cooke, and Stephen Glass? And if there isn't anything different, should TV news get away with cheap tricks such as this that get people fired in newspapers and magazines?

I may be biased against Couric, but I will leave it up to you: Should CBS fire Katie Couric and Rick Kaplan? Fire one but not the other? Some other punishment? Let us know what you think.




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Can We Just Fire Her For Terminal Stupidity?

Submitted by drprodny on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 8:15am.
While I side w/those who think Couric's not smart enough to have pulled off this bit of chicanery (and to be honest, she WAS personally traveling w/Obama so the edit was probably done, and hte decision probably made, in New York), anybody who considers her a "journalist" in any non-Faux Noize sense of the word needs their head examined.

Just "laterally transfer" her to co-host SURVIVOR - or better, co-star w/Billie Piper on SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL.... >:)

EDIT: My wife objects to my last comment, saying "Why would you do that to Rose from DOCTOR WHO? That's mean...."
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too transparent!

Submitted by bbode on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 7:37pm.
Of course, she and Kaplan should both be fired. But, let's be honest, Couric isn't smart enough --or well read enough-- to have caught McCain's "mistake." And even if she had a vague notion, I doubt she'd know how to cover it. What she does understand is sophmoric sexism. So she finally caught on to some of the complaints about Hillary Clinton. Hence, she's become one of those Hillary separatists, thoughtlessly committed to McCain and willing to leap at every chance to trash Obama.
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Katie Couric

Submitted by ChingarraSan on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 3:46pm.
I'm an old person and I don't think Katie is either cute, or perky! I think she is a fake journalist, and a bought and paid for political hack, and propagandist! She should be fired for her indiscretions! It would be my wish that her future employment entail prostitution in some small, seamy, town in rural Nevada! Good Bye Katie! Don't let the door hit you on your money maker!
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But She's Perky and Cute and Old People Like Her

Submitted by bobl on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 1:29pm.
Older people watch traditional network news. Older people like cute and perky. She did it because she and her network understand her audience of old people would be upset if one of their own made a fool of himself on TV. So she played the fixer. At one time she would have made a good porn star.
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Does Katie Couric deserve to be fired ....

Submitted by The Skeptical Cynic on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 7:21pm.

Surely this was a rhetorical question, was it not?
Consider the smarmy irrationalizing "cover her ass" story by a CBS corp.exec. Here's another rhetorical question:

Do you think she will be fired?

And, another:

Do you think America's overwhelming demographic of dim, dumb, and deluded give a s***?

The Skeptical Cynic doth spake.

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What was fair for Dan Rather is fair for Katie Couric

Submitted by roadrunner on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 11:27am.
To begin to reestablish any kind of credibility, CBS must let Katie Couric go. Only the beginning. Meaningful correction will occur only when CBS apologizes to the public and broadcasts McCain's real response. And we have leverage, for example: pressuring the advertisers for CBS' nightly news program and (okay, less effective than financial persuasion) sending complaints to the FCC. This CBS fact-fixing is an egregious assault on democracy and cannot be passively tolerated. roadrunner
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Fire her, for openers...

Submitted by chicagodude on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 2:37am.
and purge the rest of the treasonous, neocon-enabling corporate news collection of asshats along with her. Charlie Gibson should be right on her $500 heels in the pink slip collection line. This useless, jaded personality driven media has repeatedly tried to become bigger than the stories they distort. It looks like they're running out of material, along with Botox and hairspray, so it must be time to serve up some fresh bullshit for the rubes. The biggest problem for them, along with their Republican masters is that they chose a mistake prone idiot, once again, as their front man. But rather than being intimidated by the likes of Rove and Bush into conformance with the party line, they must now make stuff up from scratch, edit heavily, and hope like hell no one catches on.
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Fire Couric?

Submitted by inditer on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 7:32pm.
Forget Couric. She's just a reader with the news sophistication of a lobster. I lived during the Soviet Union era and CBS is as fascist in their manipulated reporting as TASS and PRAVA ever were. We have no idea how many stories Friedman and company edited to serve their right-wing corporate masters and the White House. The McCain edit might just be the tip of the iceberg. We do know this ridiculous news operation has no credibility. Their excuse was patronizing and pathetic. And there's no use pressuring their sponsors, since they're the one's ordering this propaganda in the first place, lest Obama get elected and challenge their stranglehold on this country. We're way past Chicken Little...progressives have screamed that the sky is falling for years. And it finally has! The United States is now a third-world country, ethically. The neocon corporate takeover of the media and anything else that matters has destroyed America.
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Coric mentioned in same sentence as Ed Murrow?

Submitted by elbajoeste on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 5:59pm.
FIRE HER. SHE'S AN EMBARASSMENT TO WHAT JOURNALISM ONCE WAS... A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT HAS BECOME THAT IS DEMOCRACY-DANGEROUS...AND SHOULD BE A LESSON TO ALL THOSE WHO FOLLOW THAT AMERICAN JOURNALISM MUST NOT COMPROMISE THE TRUTH. FIRE HER. TODAY...SO PEOPLE KNOW WHY.
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Couric interview with McCain - interview transcript altered

Submitted by bluesky45207 on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 3:24pm.
Couric doesn't write the so-called "news" she reads. Couric almost surely didn't alter the transcript of the interview with McCain to change his answer either. Couric is a "star" in the same way that Paris Hilton is a "star". Both are media whores. She deserves whatever she gets. Can we use this incident to take away CBS license to broadcast?
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Does Katie Couric deserve to be fired

Submitted by stpa0001 on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 2:44pm.
Yes. Yes she does. We already have enough neo-con apologists, thank you very much.
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She deserves to lose her job...

Submitted by kennethetucker on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 1:33pm.
She deserves to lose her job because she SUCKS! This 'cut & paste' "event" is, more than likely, via Corporate fiat OR anti-Obama/pro-McSame producer so... She SHOULD lose her job, but not for this, THIS should be a producer heading down the road, SHE should lose her job because she SUCKS! What do you think "the most trusted man in America", "Uncle Walter" thinks of this shit...? One PISSED OFF Viet Vet ('72-'73)
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Couric is doing the job her employer wants

Submitted by Braised Cod on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 10:59am.
It is easy enough to don the tinfoil hat and assume the fix is in by the mainstream media. Between Couric's manipulation and the ABC debate pile-on with Gibson and Stepanfetcholis, one would think they have it in for Obama to preserve their fascist grip on the Fourth Estate. Maybe. I think it is more likely that it is a "bottom line" decision. The economy is sinking like a stone and along with that goes advertising revenue. Political advertising is the largest sector of TV advertising. The closer the gap between the polling of the two candidates, the more ads the candidates will buy. Keeping it a horse race instead of a blowout also keeps more eyeballs on the screen, increasing the price of the ads. It is in the financial best interests of MSM to keep McCain afloat for the advertising bucks as they have been drooling over Obama's war chest for months. Journalistic integrity on television died with the Fairness Doctrine. It's about ratings, not truth. How else do you explain the existence of Fox News?
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egg act lee . . . .

Submitted by Jess Wonderin on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 8:49pm.
You are correct on the media NEEDING to keep these guys "neck'n'neck" . . . if McCain WAS covered and reported truthfully, the U-Haul truck could show up tomorrow to move Bush, his signed "My Pet Goat" and bike back to Crawford and just call it OVER. But the half BILLION in advertising would be missed . . . so instead we get media coverage tailored to make McCain seem lucid enough to occupy the WH . . . maybe.
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nah.... SHE DESERVES TO BE FIRED FOR MANY OTHER REASONS

Submitted by codypup on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 9:57am.
of course... i dont know her job title.... but if it has in it anywhere the word NEWS she should lose her job
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Substituting answers for John McCain

Submitted by debhall on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 9:15am.
Katie Couric's action of hiding McCain's answer clearly violates the public trust and calls the entire CBS News operation into question. If Dan Rather was fired for telling the truth, then there is no question here. Everyone involved in this event should go.
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Whiners Given a Favor

Submitted by ernieson on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 8:42am.
Those Reps whining about unbalanced coverage favoring Obama should count their blessings. They are getting a favor from the likes of CBS for limiting the broadcasts of the numerous gaffes by the too old, too slow to think, too confused candidate McCain. BUT intentional doctoring by CBS should result in punishment of sometype. It is deceptive untrue use of the broadcast airwaves.
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Of course CBS wants McCain elected

Submitted by charlabob on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 8:25am.
"There has been comment upon my contribution to Democrats like Senator Kerry. Senator Kerry is a good man. I've known him for many years. But it happens that I vote for Viacom. Viacom is my life, and I do believe that a Republican Administration is better for media companies than a Democratic one." --Sumner Redstone, President of Viacom, parent of CBS Time Magazine Sep. 27, 2004
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Fire her and revoke CBS's license

Submitted by Ken duerksen on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 7:59am.
I haven't watched CBS for about 7 years now - and its been about 5 years since I gave up on ABC and NBC. They are all worse than sterile. We need to institute some strictly monitored government standards regarding how our public airwaves are used to present the crucial information our democracy depends upon. "Editing for time"? Screw that; we should mandate that broadcast networks reserve at least four hours a day for open presentation of civically relevant information. "Editing" an interview should be a crime.
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Katie Couric

Submitted by Mathmn on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 7:19am.
This woman and her editors must be fired immediately; no severance pay, no golden parachute, only the disgrace she so rightly deserves. Imagine; Dan Rather is fired for trying to tell the truth about Bush's bogus service and this blatant censor stays? Liberal Media indeed!
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Terminated

Submitted by StoneSoupStation on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 6:43am.
Actions such as this one have become so commonplace in mainstream media that it barely causes a raised eyebrow anymore. It's one of the reasons they have ZERO credibility with so many Americans, and rightly so. Swift and decisive action resulting in termination and a ban from any political and/or investigative pieces is warranted here. "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis
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Don't bother with Couric

Submitted by loosecannon on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 4:31am.

The idea that Katie Couric was responsible for what went on at CBS Tuesday night is laughable. I find it impossible to believe that:

a) she knew that what McCain said was untrue

b) she gave it a moment's thought after he said it

This was done by News Directors in New York, not a glorified set decoration in the Middle East.

Not that I'm okay with that, I just think that any energy spent blaming Couric is wasted.

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Yes, Curic should be let go.

Submitted by blackjack on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 1:20am.
It will never HAPPEN, Curic is doing what the BIG BRASS AT THE CORPORATE CONTRILED MEDIA likes, make McCain look good and make OBAMA look and sound bad. I keep telling every one that the CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA is not going to let the REPUBLICANS leave this stage QUIETLY, the PARENT COMPANYS OF THE CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA has made BILLIONS off this war and when John McCain is put in the White House in November they will make BILLIONS of the next war. Wake up WE the PEOPLE and smell the COFFIE or ROSES, it is lator than you think.
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Fire Somebody

Submitted by Rockytonker on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 11:31pm.

Couric is employed to look cute, and she does that. The "managing editor" title is just the justification for the inflated salary.

The person truly responsible would be the producer. Fire him and drum him out of journalism.

It is not the job of the media to make the candidate look good. It is the job of the media to accurately present the candidate so that the voters might actually make a good choice.

It IS their country, after all.

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SHE DOESN'T EVEN DO THAT ANY MORE!

Submitted by kroses98 on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 9:24am.
NO LONGER IS SHE "CUTE!" SHE IS TOO OLD TO BE "CUTE!"
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Unreal....

Submitted by GOPHater on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 9:54pm.
If Obama had made the same slip-ups that McCain has made, getting the shia and the suni mixed up, naming countries that no longer exist, saying that Iraq shares a border with Pakistan, etc., his candidacy would be toast. So, it ain't just CBS and Couric, it's the whole mainstream media. The rest of the world knows that the United States has no freedom of the press. The only people that don't know it are Americans.
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I agree

Submitted by oneeggcream on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 10:01pm.
I don't know what it is that Americans pay attention to but it certainly is NOT the news! The news is so spun out from reality that even if you do watch it you're NOT getting the real story. You have to watch The Daily Show for that!
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What Journalism??

Submitted by oneeggcream on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 9:44pm.
I'm sorry but, Katie Couric is NOT a journalist and you are insulting most journalists by calling her one! Perhaps if she was on Fox Noise she would fit in! She REALLY needs to go!!
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Couric doesn't do an adequate job.

Submitted by Tahoe Progressive on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 8:43pm.
Katie Couric has a poor delivery style which is the reason I don't watch The CBS Evening News. She is more suited to entertainment which is why she was so popular on The Today Show. This said, I think the buck should stop at the top of the ladder. As managing editor, she is responsible for content, i.e., good or bad, she should get the credit. Our next objective should be to get news back to news and away from entertainment owners. We, Americans, own the airwaves and deserve responsible reporting.
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Does Katie Couric deserve to be fired?

Submitted by vaughn1111 on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 8:41pm.
It brings me a sadistic pleasure in knowing that CBS is throwing away $15 million a year on Couric. I think CBS should base her bonus on lost viewers. For every week the percentage of viewers decreases, the same percentage her wages should increase. I call it "Rather's Law". What would this have to do with Dan Rather? What did firing Dan Rather to protect bushco/GOP have to do with logic and intelligent decision making? The pure genius of the executives at CBS know best Chad. Let them manage the unraveling of CBS without our help. If we all jump on the bandwagon and yell at them, no doubt they'll find pleasure in that. I'm happiest when I enjoy their pain, and refuse to let them see any pain they've created for me.
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UNFAIR AND UNBALANCED

Submitted by bluewhitered on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 7:50pm.
Fw: WHY I READ BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC SITES. - FROM THE FAIR AND BALANCED NEWS SITE. THIS FROM FOX NEWS. REPUBLICAN SITE Iraqi PM Steers Clear of Obama Plan Nouri al-Maliki doesn't endorse any specific time frame for U.S. troop withdrawal, official says THIS FROM DRUDGE REPORT. Iraq Leader Maliki Supports Obama's Withdrawal Plans In an interview with SPIEGEL, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Barack Obama's 16 month timeframe for a withdrawal from Iraq is the right one FROM WORLD NET DAILY, REPUBLICAN SITE REBUILDING IN THE GULF Iraq leader Maliki supports Obama's withdrawal plans 'Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement' FROM NEWSMAX.. REPUBLICAN SITE Iraqi Leader: US Should Leave As Soon As Possible BERLIN -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says U.S. troops should leave Iraq "as soon as possible," according to a magazine report, and he called presidential candidate Barack Obama's suggestion of 16 months "the right timeframe for a withdrawal." Need I say more?Katie is trying for a job on Fox.
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Fired? She should be sued for Copyright Infringement

Submitted by grolaw on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 7:05pm.

My Sig. has never said it better. This case is such obvious pandering to the corporate media powers that the matter really calls for an investigation and lawsuit. Of course, only McCain has standing to bring the action - and he won't.

The obvious fact is that the change was not hers - nobody believes that KC has the technical skill to make the edits and produce the final cut. She is going to be the scapegoat - and she will accept the responsibility for the act and cover her bosses' butts...and for that she will have a nice parting lump sum and a retirement.

The only positive thing here is losing the KC from the small screen. Now, if only Limbaugh, O'Reily and Hannity could join her in corporate exile....

"In the part of this universe that we know there is great injustice, and often the good suffer, and often the wicked prosper, and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying."
- Bertrand Russell -

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"People are scratching their heads"..............

Submitted by ERW on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 5:59pm.
Trying to figure out why Katie Couric still has a job on television.
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ABSOLUTELY....YESTERDAY!

Submitted by Democracydiva on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 4:42pm.
HER INTERVIEW WITH OBAMA WAS SHAMEFUL AS WELL!
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AS WAS HER "60 MINUTES" INTERVIEW WITH JOHN & ELIZABETH EDWARDS!

Submitted by kroses98 on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 2:11pm.
Couric attempted to trip them up, on numerous occasions. Anything for a headline! She is a joke, and not really a "journalist." For those of us who remember CBS's "Golden Age of News," CBS "news" has become an embarrassment and a "RAG," and Couric merely a "purveyor of trash!"
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Couric Is A Disgrace

Submitted by bigdavefromqueens on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 4:42pm.
Madam Deep Thoughts has been shilling for Republicans for year. To substitute an answer for a question b/c the answer was a gaffe is as bad if not worse than what Jason Blake did. It is certainly a million times worse than what Dan Rather was accused of doing. Couric should be fired for cause and shamed wherever she goes. As for replacements, I think Lara Logan, Christiana Amanpour, or Rachel Maddow would make excellent evening news anchors.
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Yeesh

Submitted by drprodny on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 4:37pm.
I can't decide if she's a Bush Nazi - or just The Ultimate Braindead Twinkie.

In either case, WTF is she allowed on any show more newsworthy than STEP IT UP AND DANCE...?
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couric should be fired

Submitted by godblessfdr on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 4:06pm.
the right wing propaganda machine has been having a field day because the NY Times refused to carry McLiars rebutal to Obama on Iraq.MY local Abc chanel had headlines that the liberal media wasn"t playing fair with the Republicans.I hope this gets played up big time,but it won't.
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Re-THUG-licans Crying about Fairness....

Submitted by kjlovell on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 4:32pm.
They love to pull the same stunts, but when someone else plays their game on them they throw temper tantrums like little school children. I love it!
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Katie Couric Should Be Fired

Submitted by kjlovell on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 3:42pm.
Little katie should have been terminated long before now. It is clearly obvious that she is and has been a media mouth piece for the GOP. She can't be bothered to be a fair and impartial journalist. Speak no evil about the evil dumbya or his minions. If things get too hot for her, she will do a fluff piece. I find her disgusting and will not watch her or any show she is on. I believe she is no longer associated in any form with news and has crossed over the line into show business - just like faux "news".
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Katie Couric

Submitted by abbyjo2001 on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 3:42pm.
YES!!!! She should be fired. She is changing the news to what, I believe, she has been told by her higher ups, neo-cons and Bushies, to do, to make McIdiot look like he is sane. Shame on her!!! Fire her today!!!
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Like His Forgetting That Afghanistan Was The FIRST 9/11 WAR

Submitted by lapdogs on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 5:34pm.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/24/154947/110/915/556395
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