Media Matters - Tim Russert

Media Matters - Tim Russert http://mediamatters.org/tools/syndication/tag_rss/tim_russert This link is for use by RSS-enabled software to retrieve Media Matters items matching the term: Tim Russert en-US Copyright 2008, Media Matters for America Will pundits who blasted Howard Dean in 2003 over troop-numbers response question McCain's fitness following his Iraq troop-level falsehood? http://mediamatters.org/items/200805300012 During a May 29 campaign appearance, Sen. John McCain falsely stated that U.S. troops in Iraq "have [been] drawn down to pre-surge levels." As the Associated Press reported, "[T]here are 17 brigades in Iraq" right now, as opposed to the 15 brigades in place before the increase. In 2003, then-Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean was criticized in the media for his response to a question about the number of active-duty soldiers, with Tim Russert and others questioning his fitness to be commander in chief. In light of McCain's troop-surge falsehood and numerous national security gaffes, will the media similarly question his suitability to be commander in chief? http://mediamatters.org/items/200805300012 Fri, 30 May 2008 21:41:18 EST Amid spate of high-profile stories, Russert continues to ignore "the story about Senator McCain and lobbyists and ethics and money" on Meet the Press http://mediamatters.org/items/200805280004 NBC News Washington bureau chief Tim Russert, who in February stated that "the story about Senator [John] McCain and lobbyists and ethics and money -- that continues," again ignored the issue of "McCain and lobbyists and ethics and money" on the May 25 edition of Meet the Press, despite numerous recent, related developments bearing on that issue. http://mediamatters.org/items/200805280004 Wed, 28 May 2008 15:00:29 EST Russert: "[T]he story about Senator McCain and lobbyists and ethics and money -- that continues" -- but not on Meet the Press http://mediamatters.org/items/200805230005 On February 24, Tim Russert stated on NBC's Today that "the story about Senator [John] McCain and lobbyists and ethics and money -- that continues. It's been on the front page of several papers for the last three days. ... We have not heard the end of that discussion about Senator McCain." However, since that date, "the story" has not "continue[d]" on Meet the Press. http://mediamatters.org/items/200805230005 Fri, 23 May 2008 15:17:16 EST On Meet the Press, Russert allowed GOP strategist Murphy to falsely claim that "Rubin mischaracterized," "paraphrased" McCain http://mediamatters.org/items/200805180002 On Meet the Press, Tim Russert failed to correct Mike Murphy's false claim that James Rubin "mischaracterized" Sen. John McCain in a Washington Post op-ed. Russert said, "And there is an interview with James Rubin, as you know, from Senator McCain where he said that in time, we would have to talk with Hamas." Murphy replied, "Right. Well, but I think if you look, like many of us did, at the full YouTube of that, Rubin mischaracterized him in his op-ed. ... McCain had a lot of qualifications, if you look at the full context of it, which is not what Rubin paraphrased in that op-ed." In fact, Rubin did not "mischaracterize[]" or "paraphrase[]" McCain's comments, as video posted on YouTube shows. http://mediamatters.org/items/200805180002 Sun, 18 May 2008 17:11:24 EST Will Russert offer Libertarian candidate Barr the same Meet the Press platform he gave Nader? http://mediamatters.org/items/200805130004 Now that former Republican congressman Bob Barr has announced his candidacy for the Libertarian Party nomination for president, will NBC host Tim Russert invite Barr to be interviewed on Meet the Press, giving Barr the same platform to discuss his candidacy that Russert gave Ralph Nader? http://mediamatters.org/items/200805130004 Tue, 13 May 2008 14:05:11 EST Russert noted media's lack of scrutiny of McCain over Hagee, other issues, but not Russert's own McCain "grace period" on Hagee http://mediamatters.org/items/200805070002 Discussing a column by Frank Rich about media coverage of controversial comments made by televangelist John Hagee, who has endorsed Sen. John McCain, and those made by Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, NBC Washington bureau chief Tim Russert said on Imus in the Morning: "I don't think -- the Hagee thing, McCain has not been questioned ... scrutinized about that." But Russert ignored his own role in the lack of scrutiny, not mentioning Hagee once on Meet the Press since his endorsement. Russert also said "You know, if there was video of Hagee, it makes all the difference in the world." But there is audio of Hagee stating that Hurricane Katrina was "the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans" for its "level of sin" and audio of his defending those comments. http://mediamatters.org/items/200805070002 Wed, 7 May 2008 12:11:22 EST Russert suggested GOP would run ads against Obama featuring "Pledge of Allegiance" charge without noting it's false http://mediamatters.org/items/200804200001 On Meet the Press, Tim Russert asserted that "many Democrats fear Republicans in the fall will string together an ad which shows," among other things, "[Sen.] Barack Obama with his hands clasped in front of him rather than holding his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance." However, the photo to which Russert was apparently referring appeared in Time magazine with a caption indicating it was taken during the national anthem, not the Pledge of Allegiance. http://mediamatters.org/items/200804200001 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:12:41 EST On Today, Russert, Mitchell, and Lauer highlight Clinton's tax returns, don't mention McCain's http://mediamatters.org/items/200804090004 On Today, Matt Lauer, Tim Russert, and Andrea Mitchell discussed Bill and Hillary Clinton's tax returns, speculating about, in Lauer's words, the "actual impact" the returns will have on "those so-called blue-collar workers that are so much a part of her base." They did not mention that Sen. John McCain has yet to release his tax returns, nor did they speculate as to what impact McCain's family's wealth would have on his ability to connect with "blue-collar workers." http://mediamatters.org/items/200804090004 Wed, 9 Apr 2008 14:27:01 EST On Morning Joe, Russert mischaracterized Democrats' Iraq positions, his own debate question http://mediamatters.org/items/200804080008 On Morning Joe, Tim Russert asserted, "I remember I asked the candidates in a debate last fall whether they would pledge to have all troops out within their first four years. None of them would make the pledge. By the last debate in Cleveland, both [Sens. Barack] Obama and [Hillary] Clinton were saying, 'Oh no, we'll have them out by '09.' " In fact, neither candidate said during the Cleveland debate that he or she would withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by 2009. During the "debate last fall," they talked about beginning withdrawal as soon as possible, while leaving troops to perform certain functions after the withdrawal is complete, and Russert himself stated during the Cleveland debate that both candidates have said they would "keep a residual force" in Iraq. http://mediamatters.org/items/200804080008 Tue, 8 Apr 2008 20:21:41 EST On Tim Russert, Hitchens said to Sullivan: "Oh, well don't be such a lesbian. Get on with it" http://mediamatters.org/items/200804070005 On MSNBC's Tim Russert, responding to Christopher Hitchens, Andrew Sullivan said, "And now you've made me forget my second point," to which Hitchens replied, "Oh, well, don't be such a lesbian. Get on with it." http://mediamatters.org/items/200804070005 Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:31:54 EST On Tim Russert, Hitchens asserted Clinton's actions made her look "sort of alternately soppy and bitchy" http://mediamatters.org/items/200804050001 On Tim Russert, Christopher Hitchens said regarding Sen. Hillary Clinton, "[I]f you think of women who really have been put upon by men and by male supremacy, like Benazir Bhutto, as well, you can't imagine her resorting to this kind of self-pity or suddenly decide to feminize herself in the most clichéd way, of such -- by welling up and sobbing." Hitchens later added: "I just think that if she knew how it made her look, sort of alternately soppy and bitchy, she'd stop it. But she can't help herself, can she? She just can't." http://mediamatters.org/items/200804050001 Sat, 5 Apr 2008 17:05:05 EST So that's why NBC and MSNBC wanted Clinton's schedules? http://mediamatters.org/items/200803200012 On Today, Tim Russert discussed the schedules from Sen. Hillary Clinton's time as first lady and asserted: "Senator Clinton has made her experience such a part of this campaign, particularly her eight years as first lady. So this may be very rich in terms of exactly how did she spend her time, who did she meet with?" Russert added that "this, I think, today will be analyzed very closely by all of us at NBC News and media organizations across the country." Indeed, while NBC and MSNBC journalists discussed more substantive issues related to her schedules, they also repeatedly discussed what the schedules say, or do not say, about where Hillary Clinton was during Monica Lewinsky's encounters with President Clinton, in many cases teasing segments or leading them with that information. http://mediamatters.org/items/200803200012 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:52:20 EST Russert did not mention McCain campaign's reported distribution of Kessler op-ed when suggesting McCain wouldn't publicly criticize Obama over Wright http://mediamatters.org/items/200803190007 NBC's Tim Russert suggested on the Today show that Sen. John McCain would "refrain from any public criticism of" Sen. Barack Obama over controversial comments made by Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. However, McCain's campaign reportedly circulated to reporters a Wall Street Journal op-ed that asserted Obama's association with Wright "raised legitimate questions." http://mediamatters.org/items/200803190007 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:58:43 EST Russert falsely attributed "epitomized greatness" quote to Rev. Wright http://mediamatters.org/items/200803030010 During the February 26 Democratic presidential debate, Tim Russert falsely claimed that Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the former pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, which Sen. Barack Obama attends, "said that Louis Farrakhan 'epitomizes greatness.' " http://mediamatters.org/items/200803030010 Mon, 3 Mar 2008 19:54:16 EST After repeatedly asking Obama about Farrakhan during debate, Russert ignored guest's reference to Hagee's endorsement of McCain on Meet the Press http://mediamatters.org/items/200803030006 On Meet the Press, host Tim Russert ignored Republican strategist Mike Murphy's reference to 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 Sen. Barack Obama about Louis Farrakhan's support of Obama, despite Obama's repeated denunciations of Farrakhan's statements. http://mediamatters.org/items/200803030006 Mon, 3 Mar 2008 16:51:25 EST