CBS News Comments On Employee's Anti-Republican E-mail

By: Vaughn Ververs
Topics: CBS News Issues

The conservative Web site RedState today has posted an e-mail sent to the Republican National Committee by CBS News employee Vincent Cammisa, a tape archivist at the network. Under the subject head reading, "Perverted Internship Program," the e-mail reads:

Please send me information on how I can become an intern for some perverted, phony family-values Congressman. I know there's no shortage of Republican hypocrites on the Hill, so please rush me the info ASAP. And don't forget to keep covering-up your dirty little secrets, it makes great fodder for your enemies.

I asked Linda Mason, senior vice president for standards and special projects at CBS News, about the e-mail and she told me:

CBS News standards do not allow CBS personnel to identify publicly with either party. Vincent Cammisa is an archivist and has no part in gathering or producing the news. He has been spoken to and told to do nothing like this again. This e-mail in no way reflects the views of CBS News.

RedState's Dan McLaughlin comments on the e-mail:

The first funny thing about seeing the mask drop and the real politics of people high and low in the Mainstream Media revealed is how regularly these sorts of things show not just liberalism, but nasty, gloating, scornful leftism of the most unappealing sort - the very antithesis of the kind of attitude one would want from even a fair-minded journal of liberal opinion, let alone a news source that at least pretends to be objective.

There's not a whole lot more to say. The opinions of a tape archivist do not speak for a news organization, let alone an entire industry. But it's absolutely fair for critics to air such an ill-advised e-mail when it's sent from a CBS News account. CBS News has recently updated its standards, something we'll be addressing in more detail in the coming days, for reasons like this. Here's hoping everyone in the news division takes a couple minutes to read them.

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by huskerarmy October 6, 2006 8:13 PM EDT: "If you want to maintain any credibility as an impartial (supposedly) news authority, you can't have personal opinions and vague attacks at a political party coming out of your company."

Stevewest,

That's surprisingly fair for a conservative. I assume you would be willing to fire all of the Fox News anchors for their anti-Dem attacks coming out on their news cast on a nightly basis. I'd be willing to fire ours if you would be willing to fire yours! ;); Reply to this comment


by huskerarmy October 6, 2006 8:05 PM EDT: "So, CBS ends up having to respond to this sort of e-mail, while the conservatives at the station fly under the radar, and are sometimes hired explicitely BECAUSE they are outspoken conservatives."

The media has cowered and is watering down it's product in response to the scary conservatives. They accomodate the reactionary dichatomy that news that is not friendly to conservatives represents "liberal bias" with a bland, watered down product. The Downing Street memos got nothing; Plamegate... very little; leading up to the war in Iraq, nobody questioned... It's time for the media to take a page from Watergate, so what if it causes Bushies to frown, do their damned job and fulfill their role in the marketplace of ideas that is so critical to our democracy!; Reply to this comment


by huskerarmy October 6, 2006 7:41 PM EDT: "Just lovely. And you wonder why your evening news is in 3rd place. You folks don't even try to be objective. The arrogance and contempt you have is just amazing."

Do the conservative trolls who post here even bother to read the details? It appears they just key in on the words they want to see, i.e.- CBS, anti-Republican e-mail, and they're off to the races with knee-jerk conservative blather. If roles were reversed and this had happened at Fox would it even cause a ripple? I can't see how. At Fox anti-Dem comments are the rule and I think proudly represents the opinions of the station. Do these folks even know the meaning of the word "objective?" Worse... Do they care? Of course not.; Reply to this comment


by stevewest106 October 6, 2006 6:34 PM EDT: To look at this objectively, as a real journalist would, I'd have to say that Mr. Cammisa simply suffered from a lapse in judgement. The real problem here is that he used his CBS email account to fire off an angry email. Shoulda done that from home.

There's no rule that says anyone working at any media company can't express their opinions. But it's both unethical and irresponsible for someone to use the auspices of their media outlet to vent. Even if it's a lapse of judgement. There IS NO EXCUSE, CBS. This man should be fired for his actions, not reprimanded. And the reason for this is simple. If you want to maintain any credibility as an impartial (supposedly) news authority, you can't have personal opinions and vague attacks at a political party coming out of your company. It makes you look bad. Similarly, The House Speaker should also resign, because his lack of judgement when confronted with the facts in the Foley case has sullied the GOP.

And, I'm a conservative. How's THAT for fair?; Reply to this comment


by memekiller October 6, 2006 5:50 PM EDT: Did I mention the time I pretended to be part of the media, and got to sit with the reporters at a fundraiser for Loyd Bentsen? I was sitting next to some journalist who was going on and on, without a hint of irony, about what a fantastic President Tom DeLay would be. This reporter was not from the American Spectator, mind you, or FOX News but the FREAKING AP!!!!

Geeze... I have no problem with a good reporter, whatever their personal politics, but this guy was a cultist wacko, who obviously saw his job as "pushing the cause". And THIS is the guy our wire service has covering Democrats?

Liberal media, indeed...; Reply to this comment


by sanfelz October 6, 2006 5:37 PM EDT: What affect does this tape archivist's opinion have on news reports compared to the effect of Roger Ailes' opinions on news reports?; Reply to this comment


by creekster3 October 6, 2006 3:16 PM EDT: I disagree with pretty much all the commenters so far. Cammisa's opinion of the Republican congressional "leadership" is close to my own; and Media Matters and other sites have effectively documented the predominant right-wing slant of CBS News' on-air coverage since at least the Rather purge. By enabling the Deciderer-in-Chief you and your colleagues have helped to bring us a generation or more of Federalist Society judiciary, degradation of the separation of powers by "signing statement," economic polarization, official endorsement of torture, and worse. So the notion that Cammisa's expression of a personal opinion "proves" that there is "liberal media bias" is ludicrous.
But Cammisa should have exercised his First Amendment rights from his own e-mail account instead of his employer's.; Reply to this comment


by memekiller October 6, 2006 2:17 PM EDT: I knew quite a few reporters and editors who actually shape the news who are outspoken conservatives. I've met people who went to evangelical training camps designed to get Christian conservatives into positions in the media to alter the "pro-homosexual agenda" from the inside. There are many, many conservatives in media, but Liberals, tolerant open-minded hippies that they are, tend to think people are allowed to have their own personal views, and air them. So, CBS ends up having to respond to this sort of e-mail, while the conservatives at the station fly under the radar, and are sometimes hired explicitely BECAUSE they are outspoken conservatives.

Liberals have to be qualified and keep their mouths shut. A conservative is thrust into the spotlight to earn the conservative credentials from folks who think teenagers are to blame for being harassed and molested, if they pedophile is of the appropriate party.; Reply to this comment


by russmc1 October 6, 2006 11:41 AM EDT: CNN/NY Times have a very loyal following, all three of them. It's no wonder they can't stack up with the rest, they have no morals, no honest reporting, a gigantic political goal, poor following, and fools that are chained by the nose to follow them like sheep.; Reply to this comment


by phoenixandy October 6, 2006 1:44 AM EDT: Vincent Cammisa should get a promotion. Those who want him fired should go play at Fox News and whine about it there. test; Reply to this comment