CBS News Executives "Aggravated" By Letterman's Use Of Internal News Feed: Report

David Letterman vaulted himself into the headlines this week by mocking John McCain for canceling an appearance on his show only to show up on the CBS "Evening News" with Katie Couric. And in a classic stunt, Letterman showed the internal CBS News feed on his show to demonstrate McCain's hypocrisy.

WATCH THE VIDEO

The New York Post's Don Kaplan reports that trick didn't go over so well with CBS News executives:

Asked if CBS officials had a problem with Letterman using the internal news feed, a spokeswoman for "The Evening News" refused to address the issue.

But several CBS News executives - who asked not to be identified - said that the stunt did not go down well within the news division.

"If we had done something like that to him, someone around here would end up getting fired," one said.

News officials found out Letterman was using the internal feed shortly after it showed up on an internal CBS feed carrying the "Late Show" taping.

"They were pretty aggravated," a CBS News source told The Post.

"But they were not about to start a fight with Letterman," the source said. "We're in the middle of a heavy, heavy news cycle and Letterman is Letterman.

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"He does whatever he wants and always has."

Read Kaplan's full article here or click below to watch video of the event in question.

WATCH: Letterman Mocks McCain For Canceling "Late Show" Only To Appear On "Evening News"

Letterman kept on McCain for a second night, saying Thursday, "I feel like an ugly date."

WATCH: Letterman Attacks McCain Day 2: "I Feel Like An Ugly Date"

Comments

[LauraCullen]

I have been watching David Letterman since I was in high school and 20 years later he just keep getting better. The execs at CBS are just mad that he pulled a fast one on them and had no way to get out of it. I bet the McCain camp is so ticked about that segment that exposed their big man lying. Why didn't he have the balls to tell Letterman the truth? Then he still would have been ragged on by Letterman, but at least it would have blown over by now. The truth is not as interesting to the media as someone getting caught in a lie. BRAVO LETTERMAN! YOU ROCK!

[spartanmom]

CBS News got scooped on a story that was going down under their noses. Sounds like sour grapes

[joannericec]

Dave is simply pointing out just what a lying piece of whatever John McCain really is. He lies as easily as that other group of low-lifes we've been suffering with for the past 8 years. ENOUGH! Dave's stunt may have pointed out the truth to some who are not yet paying attention or are too shallow to be able to see the obvious. Way to go Dave! And, btw, I used to think McCain was not such a bad guy. But, his true colors sure are showing now...and they're the color of slime. Can't wait 'til we don't have to hear his name anymore. That's how many days now?

[FZliveson]

Being aggravated at Letterman is like trying to stay aggravated at a puppy that chewed up your shoe. It can't last long....They're so cute at what they do.

[epitomized]

He should have every right to use in-house content.

I'd bet a month's income that something will be done to prevent other shows from using feeds in the future.

[LibRS]

thank you dave for enlightening us on this. i mean, who wouldnt respect your opinion. after all, your background in law making, leadership, acting as a world leader certainly enables you to be way smarter than the average folks. Oh! wait a minute. you haven't done any of that have you? in fact, you are a comedian arent you. umh. well dave, in retrospect, i put no more value on your opinion that i do my nephew, who is also a comedian.

good try dave.

[Vige]

Yep, a comedian that has more balls than the MSM. He was lied to and he exposed the lie.

[wotcanisay]

Or us - did we not take this administration's lies for the last eight years?

[randyman99]

Here's an idea. Dave letterman can invite Katie Couric on his show. Katie can do another interview with McCain, and then escort him to the set of Letterman's show, and interview him there.

Then Dave can ask McCain in person "Hey John! Do you need a ride to the airport?"

[hollyhock100]

Thank you Dave!
We need more people in the Media with the balls you've got!

[Kay72403]

Bravo, Dave! If McCain had told the truth and been on a plane to DC, the CBS executives would not be complaining about the stunt? Thanks to Dave he exposed McCain's stunt.

[slj316]

What were they so upset about? It wasn't like Dave was lying or anything. McCain lied to him and got called on it. It's a shame that David Letterman's doing their job and they're getting their panties in a bunch at him. Maybe if they had called Bush and Cheney on some of their b.s., the US wouldn't be in the spot it's in now.

[lizr]

LOVE Letterman. So typical that McC AIN THINKS he can lie and get away with it, just like W. He will surely be moreof the same if we allow this bozo to steal the office.

[suhud]

Bravo to Letterman, for one-up on Camp McCain! And SHAME on CBS and other media, for NOT reporting the news that "Freedom of the Press" allows us to hear. Would love to tattle to their mothers about their slack of patriotic duty--but I'm too distraught about how a suddenly cow-towing media (with some brave exception) threatens the security--perhaps the very existence--of my children, this country, and the world. How low do we have to go before that happens? Voting day? C'mon guys!

[MeritRs]

Letterman should be fired! News Media and TV Talk Shows have gone too far - I am not a fan of Katie Couric either - Media has shown no respect at all for the McCain/Palin Team - I don't blame Palin for not wanting to do interviews. I have lost respect for Media and I'm not alone.

[speakyourmind]

Respect is that which must be earned. The McCain/Palin "team" is getting the respect they have earned.

[coolmaiden]

Oh I know! How dare those news/talk show hosts ask questions? Who do they think they are? I mean, McCain and Palin should be able to go on talk shows and not have to answer questions at all!

Disgust.

[lizr]

LOL- Oh you are so funny!

[wotcanisay]

How can you feel any respect for a pair of nincompoops ....er... idiots?

[EnviroLitigator]

Grow up, CBS. Letterman had every reason to be unhappy; afterall, he had be lied to and deceived. He had every right to show the feed as part of his commentary on deception. He simply offered additional proof of the deceptive manner of Brother John by showing the interview with Ms. Couric [who, to everyone's surprise, did an excellent grilling of Governor Palin]. This is no different that if he showed McCain at the Bill Clinton function the next morning, many hours before Brother John finally headed off to D.C., nearly a full day later than his purported "rush back to Washington". It was all an act, all a show, and Letterman was perfectly justified in doing one of his funniest shows ever on the subject. I am a Leno fan myself, but I recorded the Letterman show that night, and have enjoyed the political humor over and over again.

[LINY516]

I'm fedup with CBS news for not reporting the news.
Check your facts and act like reporters.
The only thing that has come out of CBS news lately was that ridiculous interview with Couric and Palin.

Letterman had more newsworthy items on that show than CBS news has had in a long time. Get over it overpaid execs.

[EllaMcC]

Can you do me a favor please? Tell CBS News that I'm "aggravated" by the fact that they only bother to report whatever happens to cross their desk: true or not, checked or not, whatever is already printed by the AP or other groups. (They, much like MSNBC, don't even bother to spell-check the presidential candidates' names!)

[stubbornbelle]

It was so worth them being mad! I'd forgotten how funny Letterman is. Now he's a must watch for us .

Does anyone other than me find it ironic that the NEWS division is unhappy that news was made? What, is CBS admitting that they don't want to lose their nice, cushy relationship with McCain by calling him out on a bold-faced lie?

At least someone at CBS still has some journalistic integrity. It's just telling that that person is a late night COMEDIAN.

Belle

[foxisms]

So, at his age and with his daily agenda, how many prescription drugs do you think John uses every day to get him up for and through any given 24 hour segment of this presidential campaign??

[rabbit1939]

How many pills does McCain take? Who cares!!! I DOUBT IF HE KNOWS EITHER. IF HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW MANY HOUSES HE OWNS, HOW THE HELL IS HE GONNA KEEP TRACK OF LITTLE PILLS???