CBS: The Cover-Up Broadcasting System - Press Release - June 4, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 1999

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katie Wright/Keith Appell (703) 683-5004

CBS: The Cover-Up Broadcasting System

"Oh how the mighty have fallen. When it comes to China coverage the 'Tiffany Network' prefers ailing pandas to national security scandals that threaten the United States," said Media Research Center Chairman Brent Bozell. "Ten years ago Dan Rather and Eric Engberg thought they were hot on the trail of Ollie North and Ronald Reagan. Today, they're covering up the worst presidential scandal since Watergate."

CBS Evening News has yet to report that Johnny Chung testified he got $300,000 (Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1999) from a top official in the People's Liberation Army to contribute to the Democratic Party, but did a full story last night on the worsening health of Hsing-Hsing, a panda given to the U.S. by China who resides at the National Zoo in Washington. CBS did not even cover Chung's testimony before a congressional committee on May 11.

A Study In Bitter Contrast

CBS News reporter Eric Engberg, throwing cold water on the Cox Report ... "The Cox Report says China uncovered the secrets of seven U.S. nuclear warheads, but the intelligence evidence is unclear. It may be as low as four, two of which are obsolete. Amidst all the voices raised in alarm there is a bottom line: Unlike many of the things in the Cox Report there's no argument here. Number of strategic nuclear weapons? U.S.: 6000; China: less than two dozen" (5/27/99).

Dan Rather and Engberg on Oliver North's Iran-Contra trial ... Dan Rather: "Eric Engberg has investigated the use of secrecy, lying, and deception as instruments of ideology and policy." Engberg: "... Once secrecy is embraced, rather than public debate and compromise, the freewheeling covert operators can do as they wish because an invisible policy can't be questioned. ... But secrecy leads to deception. ... Deception leads to lies. Lies tear apart the rule of law" (5/4/89).

Media Interviews
To schedule an interview with Brent Bozell, or Director of Media Analysis Tim Graham, contact Katie Wright (ext. 106) or Andrew Langer (ext. 116) at (703)-683-5004.