Russert continues pattern of misrepresenting facts in debate questions for Clinton

Summary: During the February 26 Democratic presidential debate, Tim Russert continued a pattern of asking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton questions that include false assertions of fact while suggesting that she is being inconsistent or not being forthcoming.

Media Matters for America has documented a pattern in which NBC News Washington bureau chief Tim Russert asks Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton questions during Democratic presidential debates that include false assertions of fact, while suggesting in the questions that she is being inconsistent or not being forthcoming. In the October 30 debate, Russert misrepresented a letter written by former President Bill Clinton in 2002 to the National Archives to assert falsely that Bill Clinton was banning the release of certain documents related to the first lady and to suggest that Hillary Clinton was complicit in that "ban." During the same debate, Russert misrepresented exchanges Clinton had in prior debates with moderator Judy Woodruff and Russert himself to accuse Clinton of having "one public position and one private position" on the issue of raising the cap on income on which Social Security taxes must be paid. During the February 26 debate, Russert again misrepresented basic, verifiable facts, this time to suggest again that Hillary Clinton was not being forthcoming with documents from her time as first lady. Russert challenged Clinton's response to a question about the release of "10,000 pages of your public schedule as first lady" by falsely asserting "you had it for more than a month," adding "would you get it to the White House immediately?" -- again suggesting that she was not being forthcoming. In fact, a January 30 Associated Press article reported that "Hillary Rodham Clinton's daily schedules as first lady will be forwarded to former President Clinton by Friday [February 1] for review." February 26 is not, in fact, "more than a month" after January 30. During the exchange, Clinton stated, "I've urged that the process be as quick as possible. It's a cumbersome process, set up by law. It doesn't just apply to us; it applies to everyone in our position."

Notwithstanding these questions based on falsehoods, Russert said during an appearance on the February 27 edition of NBC's Today, "It's never the question that's the problem ... it's the answer."

From the February 26 MSNBC Democratic presidential debate:

RUSSERT: One other issue: You talk about releasing documents. On January 30th, the National Archives released 10,000 pages of your public schedule as first lady. It's now in the custody of former President Clinton. Will you release that -- again, during this primary season, that you claim that eight years as experience, let the public know what you did, who you met with those eight years?

CLINTON: Absolutely. I've urged that the process be as quick as possible. It's a cumbersome process, set up by law. It doesn't just apply to us; it applies to everyone in our position. And I have urged that our end of it move as expeditiously as we can. Now, also, President Bush claims the right to look at anything that is released, and I would urge the Bush White House to move as quickly as possible.

RUSSERT: But you had it for more than a month. Will you get to him -- would you get it to the White House immediately?

CLINTON: As soon as we can, Tim. I've urged that, and I hope it will happen.

From the February 27 edition of NBC's Today:

MATT LAUER (co-host): Let's talk honestly about this idea that Senator Clinton put forward about always getting the first question of the debate. In other words, she's got to think quickly on her feet. Senator Obama has a chance to listen to her answer and react and kind of counterpunch. Is there truth to it, and how does the defense work for Senator Clinton?

RUSSERT: Well, there certainly wasn't last night. I heard her -- it was, you know, a scripted spin line that she'd used the very day before at a fundraiser with Ellen DeGeneres. The fact is, last night, whether it was Iraq, Louis Farrakhan, or public financing, the first question was to Senator Obama.

It's never the question that's the problem, Matt, it's the answer. And if candidates for president can't answer tough questions, they can't make tough decisions.

LAUER: Well, what --

RUSSERT: And so I think it's better to keep the issue -- focus on the issues and really not complain about whether or not a question's coming your way. I'll give you a perfect example. Another question I asked last night about the next president of Russia, I didn't direct it at either candidate. Senator Clinton jumped at the chance to answer it. So, too, with health care at the start of the debate. She likes to answer questions.

—J.H.