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

[LEFT-TURN-AHEAD]

Hey dems checkout PADebbie's profile and her list of paid Operation Chaos bloggers sent here by Limbaugh. Do not reply to them directly. they get paid

PADebbie
Member Since August 2008
Bio
The subversive element -- a motley collection of Marxists, Stalinists, Trotskyists, Maoists, anarchists and malcontents -- organized themselves in the 60's and became known as the New Left. For over forty years, the New Left has been waging a Gramscian 'quiet' revolution for the overthrow of the America of our Founders. Today these subversives call themselves liberals, progressives.
BEWARE OF HER Friends:
1099,1will, 2warvet, AProudRepublican, AzRealProgressive, BandH08, BarakOhYoMama, BinBaldwin, BradPittsburgh, BushJustdrivesdemscrazy, DEConservative, Flamnikita, Jrtrollspaceman, KBAR, Leatherhelmet, Lemmiwinks

let's take our HuffingtonPost back from these GOONS

[JessWonderin]

tx

[gtorres]

Looks like McCain is looking for a job at McDonald's. He is turning into McChicken.

[majorteddy]

They could fire Katie and give Dave a raise.

[gtorres]

It seems as if McCain is looking for work at McDonald's. He has turned into McChicken.

[LEFT-TURN-AHEAD]

Letterman's show make them a huge amount of MONEY - he is more profitable than their crappy right wing news that never unveils McCains lies. The news is too busy trying to install McCain as president the same way they made it easy for Bush. The executives are real angry when the get those huge revenue checks from the advertising revenues from Letterman's show - oh pity the angry rich. Change is coming and a lot of talking heads wlll roll and it is about time!

[JeanPaulSatire]

There are also hard news aspects to this story that don't seem to be getting much attention.

First, there is the fact that Mc Ancient deliberately and unequivocally lied to Letterman because he thought it suited his immediate interests. Clearly there were a number of options available that did not include telling any lies, but he consciously and deliberately *chose* dishonesty instead. Lie number two results from Mc Ancient knowing Letterman would repeat the reason and he thus made Letterman an unwitting propagandist.

Then there's the fact that this demonstrates that Mc Ancient can only think one move at a time and therefore could not see how this would play out. His willingness to accept damage to his long-term interests by satisfying his short-term interests speaks volumes about his judgment and cavalier attitude about risk-taking.

Finally, there's how CBS News looks in this. Clearly CBS News knew that Mc Ancient was scheduled to appear on Letterman's show and that he canceled. They also knew his breathless assertion that he must *immediately* rush back to DC was a lie, too, because Mc Ancient was still in NYC to do the interview. Yet they did not report either lie.

Obama's surrogates can now point to hard evidence that CBS News is giving Mc Ancient a pass and treating him deferentially. (Obama himself should stay out of that particular squabble.)

[BlueZoo]

NBC's Brian William covered McCain's ditching of Letterman and David's displeasure; however, other than Jon Stewart (see my post above), I haven't heard anyone else cover the story. I guess it isn't important when a candidate for the White House lies!

[JessWonderin]

Basicly boils down to:

McCain LIED

McCain can't multi-task

McCain-Pailn a PAIR of worthless liers - BAD fro America . . . .

[shela88]

It was such a treat to watch my tape of the entire Letterman vs McCain show starring Keith Olbermann and Dave. The clips did not do justice to the wonderfulness that was Dave not letting go or moving on by letting that rude, lying boor who is running for President of this great country get away with the crap he has been pulling on people for years. McCain's family, his wives, his staff and his handlers have been whipped into submission because his doctrine is, "Trample on others" ..I am so glad that David Letterman was having none of it. Bravo, Dave!

[sadbutrue]

Who coordinates the lying in CBS? Tsk tsk bad job buddy

[mounthood]

"Who coordinates the lying in CBS?'

I think it's the Vice-President of Vice, Deceit, and Chicanery.

[imsosure]

Obama has so overwhelmed McCain that there is no doubt in my mind that McCain has no intention of being the President. Their campaign is clearly tactical and lacks the strategy of a winner. Last minute candidate/running mates decisions, self-claiming victories and numerous other non-realistic tactics. McCain like Bush is being used by others as a puppet and unfortunately he's worse at it than GW is. Fortunately too, we don't have to vote for McCain, there's a choice and the clear, obvious best choice is Obama.

[NHGranite]

Nah, I've thought about it and what will happen is Palin will drop out and be replaced by Hillary Clinton; that's why Bill has been praising McCain.

[imsosure]

Ah gee then what will people have to complain about?

[starrianna]

CBS, get a grip.
You participated in a completely idiotic lie.

[V4Vigilance]

BOO F*ING HOO!

If they actually are "aggravated" (I agree w/previous post pointing out NY Post's dubious credibility), they should be aggravated at being used by the McSame Campaign for this transparently political stunt.

[PADebbie]

LOL @ the Libs.

[Neocon1]

PADebbie,

Is that the best you can do?? You are getting paid for this and we expect more from you! OK folks, here's the deal. The reason you need to vote for John McCain, and for Republicans in all future elections, is that the Republicans are the party of God and God is angry at humans for being sinners. He wants to punish everyone and make us suffer as much as He possibly can. He did a great job with Iraq and he wants to do the same to the U.S. McCain and Palin will very likely cause another depression or possibly a nuclear war where massive radiation sickness, riots, hunger, and martial law will result. This is what God really wants for us, so you should vote with this in mind. Remember, a vote for Republicans is a vote for God!!! You don't really want to vote against God do you??? Think about it. I know the corruption, mendacity, stupidity, and arrogance of the Republicans is hard to swallow, but God always chooses evil people to carry out His will. Read your Bibles. Hold your nose if you must when you vote, but vote for McCain, because it is God's will, and God gets very VERY angry when you don't do what He wants you to. You have been warned!!!!!

[fdavidm]

Letterman should remind the CBS News Department of a legal term in the copyright law called "Fair Use". CBS News uses this exemption all the time when they want to use, i.e. steal, film clips without asking permission and without paying for them.

[Janelynne]

CBS is miffed because it backs McCain. CBS is part of the corporate problem that dogs this nation and would like the happy days for corporations to last forever. CBS does not take its news division seriously and it doesn't really care about about anything but corporate profit. CBS is, just another fat cat invested in greed.

[hellinahandbasket415]

I loved his comment "the road to the white house runs right through me."