Kerry Spot    [ jim geraghty reporting ]
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USA Today founder Al Neuharth wants Dan Rather gone now:

Rather absented himself from the newscast Monday evening, the day the independent investigators' report and Moonves' response were made public. Then on Tuesday he was back in his usual role, after issuing a statement to CBS News colleagues that concluded: "I have seen us overcome adversity before. I am convinced we can do it again."

No apology. No acknowledgement that the buck stopped with him.

Rather has had many high points in a distinguished career since he succeeded Walter Cronkite on March 9, 1981. But this low point likely will haunt him forever, unless ...

Unless he quits the anchor's chair now, gives up any thought of continuing on 60 Minutes and helps his former co-workers who took the fall for his fumbling the ball find new jobs.

RatherGate.com is less than impressed, reminding us that USA Today editors said they ran with the story about the memos because they chose to “rely in part on 60 Minutes’ reporting” and on [White House communications director Dan] Bartlett’s decision not to immediately contest the documents.

Neuharth’s newspaper is commenting on the splinter in CBS’ eye and ignoring his own myopia. In the name of journalistic ethics, Neuharth at the very least needs to disclose his own newspaper’s Memogate problem in the same column in which he spanks Rather.

[Posted 01/14 11:58 AM]