Russert’s Biases are Real
02 November 2007 6:43 pm by Taylor Marsh
I've been covering Russert for quite
some time, so this isn't just because Clinton appeared in a debate, with Russert
targeting the frontrunner. Clinton made it through the 1990s, so no one is suggesting
she's a victim. However, when a “moderator” inserts himself into a
debate it matters, especially when he's got a history with the Clinton's, which
I talked about with Dan. It was sure, shall we say, lively.
But one thing Abrams got very wrong. When he accused me of having “antipathy”
towards Russert he couldn't have been more off base. I gave credit to Russert recently for drawing out the fact
that neither Clinton, Obama, nor Edwards would commit to getting out of Iraq
by 2013. This is not personal. This is what
I said after the Drexel debate: “If it wasn't for Tim Russert none
of them would have given up the truth.”
This is about Russert and women, or maybe a better way to put it is his “traditionalism,”
along with his antipathy towards liberalism. As for the Clintons, he's
had it out for them for years.
Flashback, compliments Greg
Sargent.
RUSSERT: Do you regret misleading the American people? And, secondly, in
that same interview you said that those who were criticizing the president
were part of a vast right-wing conspiracy. Amongst those eventually criticizing
the president were Joe Lieberman. Would you now apologize for branding people
as part of a vast right-wing conspiracy?CLINTON: Well you know Tim, that was a very, a very painful time for me,
for my family and for our country. It is something that I regret deeply that
anyone had to go through. And I wish that we all could look at it from the
perspective of history but we can't yet. We're going to have to wait until
those books are written.But from my perspective, you know, I'm very hopeful that we can go forward
in a united way. That certainly is what I've tried to do. And I've tried to
be as forthcoming as I could given the circumstances that I faced. Obviously
I didn't mislead anyone. I didn't know the truth. And there's a great deal
of pain associated with that and my husband has certainly acknowledged that
and made it clear that he did mislead the country as well as his family.
This brings me to something Russert said a couple of weeks ago on “Meet
the Press,” where Sally Bedell Smith was included, along with one of the
first all female panels Russert has had since I can remember. But that didn't
keep him from offering up this whopper:
MS. WOODRUFF: Whatever happens, Tim, she's already had a big effect
on this race. The other candidates all – you go to their Web sites, they
all have pages about where they stand on women's issues. They, they
tout who the prominent women are who are supporting their campaign. Mitt Romney
has Meg Whitman, who's the chairman of eBay, and, and I could go on
with, with many examples. And, finally, Tim, I mean she's influenced
the way we cover the campaign. You have an all-women panel here this morning.
We could call you an honorary skirt.MR. RUSSERT: Yeah. This is the not the first time. I've done
this before.
Huh?
When?
Honestly, I'm at a loss.
When Russert has done family values, abortion and religion shows there is rarely
a woman included. I know Dan Abrams didn't want me to point that out last night,
but it's a fact. It's an all
male values debate most of the time, especially where religion
is concerned. He has no credibility whatsoever on welcoming women into the dialogue
on “Meet the Press,” which is arguably the most important Sunday political
show in production. Are female producers letting him get away with it, or does
he have no woman in power on his show that can speak up? The
lineup on his
Sunday shows is male
heavy (here,
here), with
Kate O'Beirne
a regular, but rarely is a liberal female on the other side, with no regular female liberal
who matches Kate O'Beirne's regularity anywhere in sight. Remember back in '04 when Russert
offered “Meet the Press” up to ratings juggernaut “Dr.”
Phil? Russert's “Meet the Press” booking history offers the proof for anyone watching.
It's hard to see how women will rise politically in this country if the men
who have the keys aren't willing to regularly open the doors. That goes double
for liberals.
