In this column, Gene Lyons compares the CBS News failure in the phony memo controversy with "three of the most egregious press failures in American history: the Whitewater hoax; the Washington Press clique's "war on Gore" during the 2000 election, and its disgraceful parroting of Bush's Iraqi "weapons of mass destruction" propaganda."

"All three benefited the Republican right. All were perpetrated not by Rush Limbaugh and The Washington Times, although they did their best, but by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the major broadcast networks. Each involved ethical and professional lapses far worse than CBS’ recent screw-up; to my knowledge, none of the perpetrators has paid any price whatsoever. It just doesn’t happen."