Rather says he can't get a job

NEW YORK, May 8 (UPI) -- Veteran U.S. newsman Dan Rather says in his amended lawsuit against CBS that his recent past with the company means he can't get a job now elsewhere.

The New York Post reported Thursday that Rather filed papers in Manhattan Supreme Court claiming the network failed to follow through with promises it made to defend him after it made him the scapegoat for a controversial news report.

Rather, 76, said that since he and CBS parted ways, CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox, HBO, the History Channel, A&E and the Discovery and National Geographic channels have all declined to hire him.

"None of these networks were interested in hiring Mr. Rather, each of them ultimately indicating to his agent that he had 'too much baggage,' 'was too hot to handle,' 'there was too much controversy,' or words to that effect," the court papers allege.

But a CBS representative told the Post: "Mr. Rather is trying to put forth fraud complaints that the court has already determined to be legally unfounded. We believe he will fail a second time. We will file an appropriate motion to dismiss."