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20080528

Scott McClellan - Book - Noteworthy - US - Iraq - Corporate - Media - Military - Government - Politics - Marketing - Television - History - Gore - Obama - McCain - Russert - Cheney - "Scott McClellan on the "liberal media"." ... "In a minimally rational world, this extraordinary passage, from the new book by Scott McClellan, would forever slay the single most ludicrous myth in our political culture: The "Liberal Media":"

"If anything, the national press corps was probably too deferential to the [Republican President Bush] White House and to the administration in regard to the most important decision facing the nation during my years in Washington, the choice over whether to go to war in Iraq."

"The collapse of the administration's rationales for war, which became apparent months after our invasion, should never have come as such a surprise. . . . In this case, the "liberal media" didn't live up to its reputation. If it had, the country would have been better served."

"Just consider how remarkable that is. [Republican President] George Bush's own Press Secretary criticizes the American media for being "too deferential" to the Government. He lays the blame for Bush's ability to propagandize the nation on the media's uncritical dissemination of the Republican administration's falsehoods. And most notably of all, McClellan actually uses cynical scare quotes when invoking the phrase which, in conventional political discourse, is deemed the most unassailable truth of all: The Liberal Media." ... "How much longer can this preposterous myth be sustained when even the White House Spokesman not only mocks the phrase but derides the media for being "too deferential" to the right-wing Government "in regard to the most important decision facing the nation during [his] years in Washington"? If one were to set about with the goal of debunking the "Liberal Media" myth -- as Eric Alterman specifically did four years ago and other media critics have more generally done before that -- one couldn't dream up evidence more conclusive than McClellan's admissions." ... "Blindingly conclusive evidence which would -- for any rational person -- forever negate the "Liberal Media" myth has been piling up for years. The extraordinary (though woefully incomplete) 2004 mea culpa from The New York Times acknowledged that not just Judy Miller, but the paper as a whole, re-printed pro-war government claims that were "allowed to stand unchallenged." The Washington Post's own media critic, Howard Kurtz, documented that anti-war views were systematically buried at that paper. The NYTrecently exposed that network and cable news shows for years continuously allowed Pentagon-controlled operatives to masquerade as "independent analysts" spouting the pro-government line with virtually no challenge. And the media's pathological fixation on the Clinton sex scandals -- which led to his impeachment -- stood in stark contrast to the widespread indifference among the citizenry." ... "Beyond all that, are there any reporters left who deny that the campaign-covering media in 2000 was gushingly enamored of [Republican] George Bush and oozing with contempt for [Democratic] Al Gore? Identically, their intense affection for [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] John McCain is something they openly proclaim; as they shamelessly acknowledge, they're his "base." And while some journalists undoubtedly harbor admiration for [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] Barack Obama, the non-stop coverage of one anti-Obama narrative after the next -- Jeremiah Wright, lapel pins, patriotism "questions," "Bittergate," "problems" with Jewish and white voters -- simply has no parallel in any coverage of McCain." ... "Beyond that objective evidence, just look at the claims which "Liberal Media" complainers make to support their grievance. As examples of "liberal" journalists, they'll cite people like Chris Matthews -- who voted for [Republican] George Bush, and did more than anyone to prop up his image as our Great War Leader and demonize Bush critics. One of the leading examples of a biased "liberal" journalist is therefore someone who actually went on television in late 2005 and said this:"

"I like [Bush]. Everybody sort of likes the president, except for the real whack-jobs, maybe on the left -- I mean -- like him personally."

"Or they'll point to "liberal" Tim Russert -- Tim Russert -- about whom [Republican Vice President] Cheney press aide Cathy Martin said: "I suggested we put the vice president on 'Meet the Press,' which was a tactic we often used. It's our best format, as it allows us to control the message." That's the same "liberal" Tim Russert who confessed that he operates by the defining law of the Government propagandist: "When I talk to senior government officials on the phone, it's my own policy -- our conversations are confidential. If I want to use anything from that conversation, then I will ask permission."" ... "Or look at the recent "controversy" reported by the Associated Press over whether NBC News' reputation as an objective news outlet is being tainted by virtue of the "liberal" commentators MSNBC features. Nobody questioned whether CNN's objectivity was imperiled by featuring the likes of [right-wing commentators] Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs, nor, for that matter, did anyone raise these questions about NBC when, for years, MSNBC shows were hosted by the likes of Tucker Carlson, Joe Scarborough and Michael Savage." ... "But a single unapologetic Bush critic appears on the TV -- Keith Olbermann -- and this rarest of occurrence suddenly leads to controversy over whether the "respectability" of television news can survive while allowing a single "liberal" voice to be heard." -By Glenn Greenwald -Salon

20080303

Barack Obama - Tim Russert - John McCain - John Hagee - Religious - Homosexual - Woman - Politics - 2008 Election - Arizona - Illinois - Texas - "After repeatedly asking Obama about Farrakhan during debate, Russert ignored guest's reference to Hagee's endorsement of McCain on Meet the Press." ... "Summary: On Meet the Press, host Tim Russert ignored Republican strategist Mike Murphy's reference to [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate and Arizona Senator] Sen. John McCain's acceptance of an endorsement by evangelist John Hagee. Russert did not identify Hagee by name or mention Hagee's statements denouncing or disparaging homosexuality, Islam, Catholics, and women. By contrast, during the last Democratic debate, Russert persisted with questions to [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate and Illinois Senator] Sen. Barack Obama about Louis Farrakhan's support of Obama, despite Obama's repeated denunciations of Farrakhan's statements." ... "During the March 2 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, host Tim Russert ignored a reference by guest commentator and Republican strategist Mike Murphy to Sen. John McCain's acceptance of an endorsement by evangelist John Hagee, founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas." ... "Nor did he [Tim Russert] mention Hagee's endorsement of McCain, the Catholic League's Bill Donohue's criticism of McCain over the endorsement, or Hagee's controversial statements about, among other topics, homosexuality, Islam, Catholicism, and women. Rather, Russert moved on to a different subject after Murphy finished speaking. By contrast, during the February 26 Democratic primary debate in which he was a moderator, Russert repeatedly asked Sen. Barack Obama about comments made by Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan despite Obama's saying in answer to Russert's first question on the topic: "I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan's anti-Semitic comments. I think that they are unacceptable and reprehensible" and despite repeating his "denunciation" in response to follow-up questions. Obama had also previously_denounced Farrakhan's statements." ... "On February 27, Hagee endorsed McCain at a press conference in which the two appeared together. Following Hagee's endorsement, McCain said, "All I can tell you is I'm very proud to have pastor Hagee's support." Subsequently, Donohue_criticized McCain for his failure to repudiate Hagee's support, issuing a statement in which he called Hagee "anti-Catholic" and a "bigot" and stated: "Senator Obama has repudiated the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan, another bigot. McCain should follow suit and retract his embrace of Hagee."" -MediaMatters.org

20080228

Barack Obama - Tim Russert - John McCain - John Hagee - Religious - Homosexual - Woman - Racist - Book - History - Media - Politics - - 2008 Election - Illinois - Arizona - Arkansas - Texas - US - Israel - Germany - "Will MSNBC devote as much coverage to McCain's embrace of Hagee's support as it did to Obama's rejection of Farrakhan?" ... "Summary: On February 27, MSNBC devoted significant coverage to an exchange from the most recent Democratic presidential debate in which NBC Washington bureau chief Tim Russert repeatedly questioned [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate and Illinois Senator] Sen. Barack Obama about praise he received from controversial minister Louis Farrakhan, whose statements Obama has denounced. The same day, Pastor John Hagee -- who has made controversial comments about homosexuality, Islam, Catholicism, and women -- endorsed [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate and Arizona Senator] Sen. John McCain, who embraced Hagee's support. Hagee's endorsement and McCain's response to it raise the question of whether MSNBC will report on them as extensively as it did on Farrakhan's praise." ... "A March 7, 1996, article (accessed via the Nexis database) in the San Antonio Express-News reported that Hagee was going to "meet with black religious leaders privately at an unspecified future date to discuss comments he made in his newsletter about a 'slave sale,' an East Side minister said Wednesday." The Express-News reported:"

"Hagee, pastor of the 16,000-member Cornerstone Church [in Texas], last week had announced a "slave sale" to raise funds for high school seniors in his church bulletin, "The Cluster."" ... "The item was introduced with the sentence "Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone" and ended with "Make plans to come and go home with a slave.""

"A July 27, 2006, Wall Street Journal article about Hagee noted the incident:"

"To help students seeking odd jobs, his church newsletter, The Cluster, advertised a "slave" sale. "Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone," it said. "Make plans to come and go home with a slave." Mr. Hagee apologized but, in a radio interview, protested about pressure to be "politically correct" and joked that perhaps his pet dog should be called a "canine American.""

"A December 23, 2007, Reuters news article on former Arkansas [Republican Governor and 2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Gov. Mike Huckabee's (R) visit to Hagee's church reported that "some Catholics were angry about the visit." The article noted:"

"In his recent book "Jerusalem Countdown," Hagee wrote: "Most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking Adolf Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews.""

... "Investigative journalist Sara] Posner also noted that in another Hagee text, "Bible Positions on Political Issues," (John Hagee Ministries, 1992) Hagee wrote, "[T]he feminist movement today is throwing off authority in rebellion against God's pattern for the family.""

-MediaMatters.org

Barack Obama - Tim Russert - John McCain - John C Hagee - Religious - Racist - Political - Journalist - 2008 Election - Hurricane Katrina - Homosexual - New Orleans - Louisiana - Texas - "Some hateful, radical ministers -- white evangelicals -- are acceptable." ... "One of this week's hysterical press scandals was that Minister Louis Farrakhan praised [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] Barack Obama's candidacy even though Obama had previously denounced numerous Farrakhan remarks and the Obama campaign did nothing to seek out the Farrakhan praise. Nonetheless, [MSNBC TV political journalist] Tim Russert demanded that Obama jump through multiple hoops to prove that he has no connection to -- and, in fact, "rejects" -- the ideas espoused by Farrakhan deemed to be radical and hateful." ... "Yesterday, though, the equally fringe, radical and hateful (at least) [Reverend] Rev. John Hagee -- a white evangelical who is the pastor of a sprawling "mega-church" in Texas -- enthusiastically endorsed [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate]] John McCain. Did McCain have to jump through the same hoops which Russert and others set up for Obama and "denounce" Hagee's extremism and "reject" his support? No; quite the opposite. McCain said he was "very honored" to receive this endorsement and, when asked about some of Hagee's more twisted views, responded: "all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee's support."" ... "McCain's sainted supporter, [Connecticut Independent Democrat Senator] Joe Lieberman, last year spoke to Hagee's group and lavished him with such obsequious praise that Lieberman actually compared Hagee, favorably, to Moses. Why is Louis Farrakhan deemed by our political establishment to be so radioactive as to not be fit for good company -- black candidates are required to repudiate his support even when they haven't sought it and denounce his views even when they've never advocated anything close to those views -- but John Hagee is a perfectly acceptable figure whom mainstream GOP [GOP=Grand Old Party=Republican] politicians are free to court without any consequences or media objections?" ... "From an NPR interview Hagee gave to Terry Gross in 2006:"

"TG [Terry Gross]: If you use the Bible as the basis for policy, is there any room for compromise? And if you use the bible as the basis for policy, should Muslims use the Koran as the basis for their policy, and then again, what possible basis is there for compromise at that point?" ... "JH [John Hagee]: There is really no room for compromise between radical Islam --" ... "TG [Terry Gross]: I'm not talking about radical Islam. I'm just talking about Islam in general." ... "JH [John Hagee]: Well Islam in general -- those who live by the Koran have a scriptural mandate to kill Christians and Jews."

...

"JH [John Hagee]: All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans [Louisiana] had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that." ... "The newspaper carried the story in our local area, that was not carried nationally, that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it would was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other gay pride parades." ... "So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the Day of Judgment, and I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans."

"In the framework of the Russert-led establishment press, white evangelical Christians are, by definition, entitled to great respect no matter how radical, extreme and hateful their professed views are." ... "The entire GOP [GOP=Grand Old Party=Republican] establishment is permitted actively to lavish them with praise and court their support without the slightest backlash or controversy." ... "By contrast, black Muslim ministers like Farrakhan, or even black Christian ministers like [Reverend] Rev. Jeremiah Wright, are held with deep suspicion, even contempt." -By Glenn Greenwald -Salon

Barack Obama - Tim Russert - Hillary Clinton - John McCain - John C Hagee - Religious - Politician - Journalist - Texas - 2008 Election - "Farrakhan's Support For Obama? Hugely Controversial. Hagee's Backing Of McCain? No Problem." ... "[2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] Barack Obama was questioned at Tuesday night's debate by [MSNBC TV political journalist] Tim Russert and [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] Hillary Clinton about repudiating Louis Farrakhan's endorsement — which Obama said was unsolicited — in the strongest terms possible. He was repeatedly badgered by Russert, and was forced to disown Farrakhan over and over again." ... "The very next day, [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] John McCain appeared onstage in Texas with Pastor John Hagee, an influential activist in the Christian Zionist movement. Hagee's comments about world affairs can make Farrakhan seem pedestrian at times: He eagerly awaits the Armageddon, considers the Catholic Church to be the Anti-Christ, and has said that Jews brought their own persecution upon themselves." ... "[WATCHMax Blumenthal's report at John Hagee's conference Christians United For Israel.]" ... "On the right, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League is objecting Hagee's extremist writings, particularly his denunciations of the Catholic Church. For example, Donohue pointed to instances in which Hagee has referred to the Catholic Church as, "The Great Whore," an "apostate church," the "anti-Christ," and a "false cult system."" ... "So here's the question: Will the same media outlets who have hammered Barack Obama about Louis Farrakhan's uninvited endorsement now ask John McCain to denounce and reject the support of John Hagee, which was actually sought and publicly accepted?" -By Eric Kleefeld -TalkingPointsMemo.com

20080613

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[NOTE: On the day MSNBC's Meet the Press television political journalist Tim Russert died, MSNBC published this interview with Tim Russert:]
"Vigilance needed on campaign claims: Big issues, not smears, need to be the focus." ... "Msnbc: Tim, www.fightthesmears.com is a web site launched by the [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] Barack Obama campaign to combat potentially damaging rumor about the candidate and his wife, Michelle. Is this necessary? How big of a problem is this really?" ... "Tim Russert: It’s amazing how much the Internet has changed our lives. People get emails that make accusations without foundation and they are circulated around the country within seconds and suddenly become topics of conversations around water coolers or in lunchrooms." ... "I remember being in Indianapolis [Indiana's capital] covering the Indiana primary and a man came up to me and said he wasn’t going to vote for [Illinois] Senator Obama because he was very concerned about the comments made by Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s pastor. I said, “That’s interesting. As a reporter, I’m curious what comments particularly bothered you?” He said, “Well, I can’t think of any that come to mind, but I also read on the Internet that he’s a Muslim.” And I said, “Now wait a minute. You can’t have both. You can’t be offended by his Christian minister and then say he’s a Muslim. You’ve got to pick one.”" ... "But that just underscores what we’re dealing with in this modern era." ... "Now I’m told there’s a counter organization with a very similar name that is going to be positioned and posted to spread the rumors, so that people that go to the Internet to get clarification will go to the wrong web site and get confused." ... "It’s a virus. You have bloggers on both sides, liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats all trying to utilize this vehicle without any kind of fact checking and without any kind of editorial control." ... "Msnbc: Given the way people use the Internet, do you wonder if there are going to be some things said or done during the course of this campaign that will be very unsettling?" ... "Russert: That’s what we have to be conscious of and vigilant against, particularly at the end of the campaign as things are put out there. We’ve already had a few fake videos with different words dubbed in and people say, “This must be true because I saw it on the Internet.”" ... "What we hope to do in this campaign is recognize there are big differences on big issues between John McCain and Barack Obama – the war in Iraq, Iran, Social Security, taxes. You don’t need to get into this other stuff. If it does surface, then I think the mainstream media has an obligation not to just instinctively put it out there without vetting it. Or, if it is something that is manufactured as a virus, report on that – who did it and why. But sometimes it’s very hard to trace it back to its original source." -MSNBC

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20080227

Barack Obama - John McCain - US - Iraq - Military - Osama bin Laden - Terrorism - 2008 Election - Ohio - "Obama also has news for McCain." ... "[2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack] Obama departed from his regular stump speech today in Columbus [Ohio's capital] to respond to [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] John McCain." ... ""John McCain may like to say he wants to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell, but so far all he’s done is follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq," he said." ... ""McCain thought that he could make a clever point by saying, 'Well let me give you some news, Barack, Al Qaeda is in Iraq,' like I wasn’t reading the papers, like [I] didn’t know what was going on." Obama said, leaning into his developing McCain impression." ... "He then described the context -- a hypothetical question from Tim Russert -- and said, "First of all, I do know Al Qaeda is in Iraq, and that’s why I said we should continue to strike Al Qaeda targets."" ... ""I have some news for John McCain," Obama continued, "That’s there was no Al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain" began the Iraq war, he said." ... ""They took their eye off the people who really were responsible for 9/11," he said." -By Ben Smith -Politico.com

20080128

Tim Russert - John McCain - Hillary Clinton - US - Iraq - Military - Politics - 2008 Election - Arizona - New York - "Russert let McCain mislead on Clinton's Iraq withdrawal proposal." ... "Summary: [MSNBC political journalist] Tim Russert left unchallenged [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate and Arizona Senator] Sen. John McCain's false claim that [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate and New York Senator] Sen. Hillary Clinton "would set a timetable within 60 days of withdrawal, complete withdrawal from Iraq." In fact, Clinton said that if she were to become president, "[W]e will start withdrawing within 60 days," and would continue to withdraw "one to two brigades a month" with the goal of having "nearly all the troops out by the end of the year [2009]," except for those necessary to "protect our embassy" and other "strategic interests."" -MediaMatters.org

20080113

Tim Russert - Hillary Clinton - Barack Obama - Civil Rights - History - Politics - 2008 Election - Illinois - "Russert falsely claimed to show "exactly what President Clinton said," aired truncated quotes from both Clintons." ... "Summary: After falsely asserting that he was showing viewers "exactly what [former Democratic] President Clinton said," referring to January 7 comments Bill Clinton made about [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate and Illinois Senator] Sen. Barack Obama, Tim Russert played a truncated quote from Clinton. In addition, Russert read a quote from The New York Times that truncated [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] Hillary Clinton's statement about civil rights, omitting her reference to President Kennedy." -MediaMatters.org

20071216

Mitt Romney - Massachusetts - 2008 Election - 2002 Election - "Romney Claims NRA Endorsement He Didn't Receive." ... "Under [MSNBC TV host Tim] Russert's grilling about guns on this morning's "Meet the Press," former Massachusetts governor [and 2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney claimed an endorsement he'd never won." ... "In answer to questions about whether he would sign an assault weapons ban, Romney said: "Just as the president said, he would have, he would have signed that bill if it came to his desk, and so would have I. And, and, and yet I also was pleased to have the support of the NRA when I ran for governor. I sought it, I seek it now. I'd love to have their support."" ... "Later in the interview, he added the following:" ... ""I just talked about, about guns. I told you what my position was, and what I, what I did as governor; the fact that I received the endorsement of the NRA."" ... "The problem?" ... "He was never endorsed by the NRA, and didn't have their official support during his 2002 [Election] gubernatorial campaign." -By Michael D. Shear -WashingtonPost

20070219

Secret - Libby - Cheney - Government- Military -Intelligence - Media - Politics - Enforcement - "The Libby-Cheney Connection: Libby Testimony Raises More Questions About Cheney's Role In The CIA Leak Case." ... "In the fall of 2003, as a federal criminal probe was just getting underway to determine who leaked the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame to the media, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the-then chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, sought out Cheney to explain to his boss his side of the story." ... "The explanation that Libby offered Cheney that day was virtually identical to one that Libby later told the FBI and testified to before a federal grand jury: Libby said he had only passed along to reporters unsubstantiated gossip about Plame that he had heard from NBC bureau chief Tim Russert." ... "The grand jury concluded that the account was a cover story to conceal the role of Libby and other White House officials in leaking information about Plame to the press, and indicted him on five felony counts of making false statements, perjury, and obstruction of justice." ... "At the time that Libby offered his explanation to Cheney, the vice president already had reason to know that Libby's account to him was untrue, according to sources familiar with still-secret grand jury testimony and evidence in the CIA leak probe, as well as testimony made public during Libby's trial over the past three weeks in federal court." ... "Yet, according to Libby's own grand jury testimony, which was made public during his trial in federal court, Cheney did nothing to discourage Libby from telling that story to the FBI and the federal grand jury. Moreover, Cheney encouraged then-White House press secretary Scott McClellan to publicly defend Libby, according to other testimony and evidence made public during Libby's trial." ... "If Libby is found guilty, investigators are likely to probe further to determine if Libby devised what they consider a cover story in an effort to shield Cheney. They want to know whether Cheney might have known about the leaks ahead of time or had even encouraged Libby to provide information to reporters about Plame's CIA status, the same sources said." -By Murray Waas -NationalJournal

20060402

US - Iraq - Military - Intelligence - Politics - "Meet the Press: Transcript for April 2." ... "MR. RUSSERT: I want to bring you back to a book you co-wrote with Tom Clancy called "Battle Ready." And you wrote this: "In the lead-up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw, at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence, and irresponsibility; at worst, lying, incompetence, and corruption." That's very serious." ... "[General Tony Zinni (Ret.)] GEN. ZINNI: Yes." ... "MR. RUSSERT: Where did you see that? At what level?" ... "GEN. ZINNI: Well, I-first of all, I saw it in the way the intelligence was being portrayed. I knew the intelligence; I saw it right up to the day of the war. I was asked at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing a month before the war if I thought the threat was imminent. I didn't. Many of the people I know that were involved in the intelligence side of this, or, or in the military felt the same way. I saw the-what this town is known for: spin, cherry-picking facts, using metaphors to evoke certain emotional responses, or, or shading the, the context. We, we know the mushroom clouds and, and the other things that were all described that the media's covered well. I saw on the ground, though, a sort of walking away from 10 years worth of planning." ... "You know, ever since the end of the first Gulf War, there have been-there's been planning by serious officers and planners and others, and policies put in place. Ten years worth of planning, you know, were thrown away; troop levels dismissed out of hand; General Shinseki basically insulted for speaking the truth and giving a, an honest opinion; the lack of cohesive approach to how we deal with the aftermath; the political, economic, social reconstruction of a nation, which is no small task; a belief in these exiles that anyone in the region, anyone that had any knowledge would tell you were not credible on the ground; and on and on and on. Decisions to disband the army that were not in the initial plans. I mean there's a series of disastrous mistakes. We just heard the secretary of state say these were tactical mistakes. These were not tactical mistakes. These were strategic mistakes, mistakes of policy made back here. Don't blame the troops. They're the ones that perform the tactics on the ground. They've been magnificent. If anything saves this, it will be them." ... "MR. RUSSERT: Should someone resign?" ... "GEN. ZINNI: Absolutely." ... "MR. RUSSERT: Who?" ... "GEN. ZINNI: Secretary of defense, to begin with." (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) -MeetThePress -MSNBC

20050722

- Karl Rove - Dick Cheney - - - - Secrets - "Rove, Libby Accounts in CIA Case Differ With Those of Reporters." ... "Two top White House aides have given accounts to a special prosecutor about how reporters first told them the identity of a CIA agent that are at odds with what the reporters have said, according to people familiar with the case." ... "Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, told special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald that he first learned from NBC News reporter Tim Russert of the identity of Central Intelligence Agency operative Valerie Plame, the wife of former ambassador and Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson, one person said. Russert has testified before a federal grand jury that he didn't tell Libby of Plame's identity, the person said." ... "White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove told Fitzgerald that he first learned the identity of the CIA agent from syndicated columnist Robert Novak, according a person familiar with the matter. Novak, who was first to report Plame's name and connection to Wilson, has given a somewhat different version to the special prosecutor, the person said." -By Richard Keil -Bloomberg

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Tim Russert Weblog: Tim Russert Blog:

Tim Russert opinion news. AKA "Timmeh." *

Opinions on Tim Russert: Includes articles on Tim Russert's bias, Tim Russert's falsehoods, Tim Russert's distortions, and Tim Russert's manipulations that favor Republicans and attack Democratic leaders. Summary: Tim Russert has been a partisan Republican political operative for many years, Russert's manipulations have grossly distorted America's political discourse, most egregiously in helping Republican Vice President Cheney "control message" through Tim Russert's GE/MSNBC show "Meet the Press".

[NOTE: Most of the Media Matters articles include VIDEO.]

20080310 "NBC - Give Tucker Carlson Russert's Meet The Press Chair." ... "He's [Tucker Carlson] mastered the art of silencing people with whom he disagrees by talking over them (a skill Mr. Russert only evidences when ambush-questioning Senators Clinton and Obama while moderating debates)." ... "What you lose in gravitas you'll more than make up for in intellectual honesty. Installing Carlson in the Meet The Press moderator's chair would put an end to that kabuki of even-handedness that Mr. Russert, you and your owners at General Electric have been fobbing off on Sunday morning political junkies for years." ... "Mr. Russert would also be available for more of those softball games between your network and the Republican Party. Nobody can throw softballs to Republicans like he can." -Peter Smith
20080307 "Tim Russert is Bought and Owned by General Electric." ... "TIM RUSSERT." ... "For reporting that is an embarrassment to the profession of journalism, and for being beholden to corporate paymasters rather than the citizens of America." ... "Yes, Tim Russert -- General Electric's favorite waterboy for the irrelevant and throwing softballs at the Dick Cheneys of the world -- joins the few, the wealthy, the compromised, and the faux sincere political journalists as a two-time winner of the BuzzFlash Media Putz of the Week Award." ... "Conrad N. Sawyer of Fayetteville, Arkansas nominated Russert for "Being a shill for the Republican Party at the Tuesday night Ohio Democratic debate. Why didn't he ask if the candidates have a contingency plan if evil Zircon people from Pluto attack us with Q rays?"" -BuzzFlash.org
20080304 "Catholic Media Figures Mum On McCain's Embrace Of Hagee." ... "During the Sunday Morning liveblog, it was noted that Tim Russert, dean of gotcha journalism, all but ignored one of the more controversial events of the week, anti-Catholic bigot John Hagee's endorsement of GOP [GOP=Grand Old Party=Republican 2008 Election Presidetnial Candidate] frontrunner John McCain. It seemed to be a tailor-made moment for Russert, and the opportunity was well served up by McCain partisan Mike Murphy, but Russert whiffed." ... "But it's easy to see how McCain, who once stood firm against "agents of intolerance," is going to skate by this election cycle seeking the warm embrace of bigots: too many agents of tolerance occupy the space where scrutiny is warranted." -Jason Linkins
20080303 "After repeatedly asking Obama about Farrakhan during debate, Russert ignored guest's reference to Hagee's endorsement of McCain on Meet the Press." -MediaMatters.org
20080302 "Russert falsely attributed "epitomized greatness" quote to Rev. Wright." -MediaMatters.org
20080302 "Tim Russert: Obama Responsible For Harry Belafonte, Too." -Jane Hamsher
20080302 "Russert misquoted Clinton one day, falsely stated Clinton's and Obama's positions on NAFTA the next." -MediaMatters.org
20080301 "Russert mum on McCain embrace of Hagee." -Denise Oliver

20080229

Stirring McCain’s Hagee Pot.

unacceptable and reprehensible

John Hagee

Mr. McCain, who has been on a steady search for support among conservative and evangelical leaders who have long distrusted him, said he was “very honored'’ by Mr. Hagee’s endorsement. Asked about Mr. Hagee’s extensive writings on Armageddon and about what one questioner said was Mr. Hagee’s belief that the anti-Christ will be the head of the European Union, Mr. McCain responded that “all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee’s support.'’

20080229 "Meet Tim Russert." -MediaMatters.org
20080229 "McCain "Proud" of Endorsement From John Hagee Who Calls Catholics "The Great Whore." Where's Tim Russert Now?" -Jane Hamsher
20080229 "Tim Russert’s double standard and an end to the Farrakhan litmus test." ... "I’d suggest a shout out to Tim Russert to ask repeatedly if McCain will disavow his endorsement by John Hagee, as he did to Obama with Farrakhan’s, but since McCain has been courting Hagee for a year, that might be too pointed a question to ask, eh Tim?" -CrooksandLiars.com
20080228 "What Hath Russert Wrought?" ... "Like the little manager man in pro wrestling -- the one who tosses the folding chair into the ring when the ref isn't looking -- he slipped McCain something to hit Obama with. And like the little manager man, he got away with it." ... "It was typical Russert hatchet work. Another example of his greasy thumb weighing heavy on the already-unbalanced scale of mainstream media political reporting. From Whitewater to impeachment to Florida to Iraq -- right on through last Tuesday evening, the man has consistently veered right. And his mainstream media colleagues have let him get away with it." -Peter Smith
20080228 "Russert continues pattern of misrepresenting facts in debate questions for Clinton." -MediaMatters.org
20080227 "I Have Some Questions For Tim Russert." -Bob Cesca
20080227 "Questions for Tim Russert: When will you denounce your supporter Don Imus?" ... "Of course, Russert himself has much fewer than six degrees of separation from radio shock jock Don Imus, maker of highly offensive remarks like calling the Rutgers' women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" and referring to top journalist Gwen Ifill as "the cleaning lady." Unlike the tortured association between Obama and Farrakhan, Russert has chatted on Imus' show dozens of times and used it to promote his book "Big Russ" into a best seller. When the scandal broke, Russert's response was no so much to criticize Imus as to simply not defend him." ... "And when Imus was inevitably brought back onto the air, it took a few weeks, but Tim Russert came back." -Attytood
20080227 "Dear Tim (Second Try)." ... "I like you, you seem like a nice guy and at times are a probing questioner, these being among your several other endearing qualities discernible from my humble station." ... "However, I no longer retain any respect for your integrity as a journalist following last night's debate, mostly after a key line of questioning that lacked logical coherence and supplied disrespectful and irresponsible innuendo in plenty." -Alex White
20080227 VIDEO: "Democratic Debate: Tim Russert Frames It For The GOP [GOP=Grand Old Party=Republican]." -Nicole Bell -CrooksandLiars.com
20080227 VIDEO: "When Russerts Attack." -TalkingPointsMemo
20080227 "Russert persisted in questioning Obama on Farrakhan -- even after his repeated "denunciation[s]" of Farrakhan's "unacceptable and reprehensible" comments."
20080226 "Russert's Lowest Moment (and that's saying a lot)." -TalkingPointsMemo.com
20080226 "How Do We Defeat Tim Russert?" ... "Judging by their silly questions tonight, Russert and Williams obviously know nothing about health care policy, Iraq, Islamic terrorism, economics, global trade or any other subject that requires more than five minutes study to come up with some gotcha question or a stupid Jack Bauer fantasy. It's embarrassing." -Digby

20080122

Media Matters.

asked a grand total of four questions about global warming

according to the LCV

excellent video

focus on the human race, not the horse race.

20080122 "Was Race a Factor in Russert's Obama Interview?" ... "Tim Russert asked Senator Barack Obama to respond to Harry Belafonte's remarks about George W. Bush being the "greatest terrorist in the world."" ... "My question is, why? Why did Russert ask Obama in particular about the statements of someone who isn't an elected official, who doesn't speak for Democrats, who doesn't represent Obama, who doesn't represent the Democratic Party, who is entitled to his own opinion." ... "Why? Imagine how the Sunday shows would go if Republicans were asked to explain the vicious rantings of random rightwing figures." ... "An astute blogger tells us about the only other time (based on a preliminary search) that Russert asked a guest about Belafonte. And who was that guest? Why, Colin Powell.... Do the math." -Peter Daou
20080120 "Russert: Giuliani will get support in FL from "people who still have memories of September 11th"." -MediaMatters.org
20080119 "Russert suggests irony in women identifying with "self-avowed feminist" who showed emotion." -MediaMatters.org
20080116 "Russert misrepresented Dems' Iraq statements to suggest shift in "emphasis" from previous debate." -MediaMatters.org
20080114 "Upcoming debate moderator Russert added to record of distortions on Sunday's Meet the Press." -MediaMatters.org
20080113 "Russert falsely claimed to show "exactly what President Clinton said," aired truncated quotes from both Clintons." -MediaMatters.org
20080104 "Russert called Huckabee's foreign policy message "anti-George W. Bush" despite Huckabee's claim to the contrary." -MediaMatters.org
20071116 "Debate moderators overlook key questions." ... "Through 17 debates this year, roughly 1,500 questions have been asked of the two parties' presidential candidates. But only a small handful of questions have touched on the candidates' views on executive power, the Constitution, torture, wiretapping, or other civil liberties concerns." ... "But Tim Russert did ask [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] Congressman Dennis Kucinich -- in what he felt compelled to insist was "a serious question" -- whether he has seen a UFO." -MediaMatters.org
20071102 "This always happens, the pundits have said. As always, their statement is false." ... "Do liberals and Democrats understand, even now, that Tim Russert and the rest of the NBC gang have played a key role in this process? (We speak now of the most famous “Lost Boys”—[Tim] Russert, [Brian] Williams and [Chris] Matthews.) As you may recall, this team was assembled by Jack Welch, a near-billionaire conservative Republican who was also numbered among the nation’s largest defense contractors. Over the course of the past dozen years, they have become exceptionally rich—and they have trashed both Clintons and Gore in ways that are truly extraordinary. Each of the three embarrassed himself in Campaign 2000, for example. And yet, the career liberal world has basically refused to discuss this, right up this present day. ... "Let’s say it again: This group was hand-picked by a powerful conservative Republican, then turned loose to savage the Clintons and Gore." -Bob Somerby -Daily Howler
20071031 "Media figures note Russert's repeat performance as Clinton's "opponent" during debate." ... "After the October 30 Democratic presidential debate, numerous media figures commented that co-moderator Tim Russert had acted as, in the words of The New York Times, [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate and New York Senator] Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (NY) "third toughest opponent on the stage." During the debate, Russert asked a total of 30 distinct questions (not including follow-up questions).* Fourteen were either questions directed to Clinton or questions directed to other candidates about Clinton. Many media outlets took note of Russert's focus on Clinton. Russert has received media attention for his conduct toward Clinton in previous debates as well, including criticism following a debate he moderated in 2000, when Clinton was running for Senate against then-[New York Republican Representative] Rep. Rick Lazio (R-NY)." -MediaMatters.org
20071031 "Tim Russert: Stop the Inanity." -Paul Waldman
20071028 "Tim Russert Accuses Senator Dodd Of Using FISA Hold For Political Purposes." ... "Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd has been front and center in the