And a homophobic bigot? And a sexist? And somone who hates working people, Jews, environmentalists, liberals, progressives and Democrats? Because, well, inquiring minds want to know if he really is such a low life piece of biased Republican pond scum based on the following evidence (via Media Matters):
During this week’s Democratic presidential debate, Russert didn’t ask a single question about global warming, continuing his longstanding habit of all but ignoring the topic. He didn’t ask a single question about the mortgage crisis. (As one Cleveland resident noted, “We’ve got the mortgage industry’s toxic waste scattered all over this city, but Mr. Blue-Collar-Buffalo-and-Cleveland-Marshall-Guy Russert couldn’t be bothered with a question about it.”) He didn’t ask a single question about executive power, the Constitution, torture, wiretapping, or other civil-liberties concerns. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise; of all the questions he has asked while moderating presidential debates during this campaign, only one has dealt with any of those topics.
He has, however, asked Dennis Kucinich what he felt compelled to insist was a “serious question” — whether Kucinich has seen a UFO. And he has asked about John Edwards’ expensive haircut. […]
Russert’s performance as a moderator of this week’s debate has drawn widespread criticism. Most appalling was his bizarre fixation on Louis Farrakhan.
Russert asked Barack Obama about Louis Farrakhan’s praise for the Illinois senator. Obama, who had previously denounced Farrakhan, did so again. Then Russert asked about Farrakhan again. So Obama reiterated his denunciation. Then Russert, (who, I can only assume, was not bothering to listen to Obama’s responses) asked about Farrakhan again. So Obama again reiterated his denunciation. Russert, plowing ahead, asked yet another question about Farrakhan, prompting Obama to answer yet again. […]
This wasn’t the first time Russert made the odd decision to ask Obama about controversial comments made by a famous African-American. During a 2006 interview, Russert asked Obama about controversial comments Harry Belafonte made the day before. But Belafonte, as Jane Hamsher noted at the time, had made similar comments two weeks before, and Russert had never asked any guest about them. Russert gave no indication of why Obama was uniquely qualified or required to comment on Belafonte’s comments. […]
Last November, Pat Robertson endorsed Rudy Giuliani during a joint event at the National Press Club where Giuliani praised Robertson as “a person of great, well-deserved reputation.” Robertson has endorsed Jerry Falwell’s claims that 9-11 was the fault of “abortionists,” feminists, and the ACLU. He has suggested that the annual Gay Days event at Disney World would result in “the destruction of your nation. It’ll bring about terrorist bombs, it’ll bring earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor.” He has linked Hurricane Katrina to legalized abortion. He has said “Jewish people” are “very thrifty” and “very wise in finance.” […]
That’s who Pat Robertson is; that’s who Rudy Giuliani praised as “a person of great, well-deserved reputation.” Now: How did Tim Russert react to Giuliani’s enthusiastic acceptance of Robertson’s endorsement? On Today on November 8, 2007, Russert said it would be “helpful” to Giuliani. In early December, Russert hosted Giuliani on Meet the Press. Russert didn’t ask Giuliani a single question about Robertson. On January 24, Russert moderated a GOP debate. Russert didn’t ask a single question about Robertson — even though the debate took place in Florida, which was central to Giuliani’s campaign “strategy” and which is home to a large number of Jewish voters who might not look kindly on Robertson’s theories about a “satanic conspiracy led by Jews.” […]
At the beginning of Russert’s June 2004 appearance on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show, Limbaugh noted: “We don’t have guests on this program, but we made an exception here for our friend Tim Russert of NBC News.” Russert replied, “It’s an honor to be here, Rush. Thank you very much. ” Later, the two reminisced about sharing a steak dinner. Although the appearance came just weeks after Limbaugh’s comparison of the torture at Abu Ghraib to a fraternity prank, Russert politely chose not to ask his host about the comments, or about any of Limbaugh’s countless inflammatory statements about women and minorities. […]
Russert was a frequent guest on Don Imus’ radio show and appeared just two days after Imus’ comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team that ultimately led to his firing. Russert didn’t say anything to Imus about the comments, nor did he comment on the Imus controversy in any other forum. Phil Noble noted in the Columbia Journalism Review in 2000 that at least one of Russert’s appearances on Imus’ radio show featured the two men engaging in what Noble described as “kidding” about homosexuality. Noting Imus’ lengthy history of anti-gay rhetoric, Noble concluded: “Russert’s kidding was the equivalent of sharing a watermelon joke with David Duke.”
Maybe Russert is simply ignorant about the nasty, bigoted, inflammatory statements made by his conservative friends and their supporters. Or maybe he is such an idiot that he can’t see the significance of asking Republican politicians about their relationships with, and willing acceptance of endorsements from, such foul, intolerant, hateful and divisive figures like Robertson, Limbaugh and Imus. Maybe he really doesn’t view their opinions as racist, homophobic, sexist and slanderous bullshit that deserves nothing but our collective scorn.
Then again, maybe he shares those reprehensible attitudes and beliefs. Or maybe he’s a hypocritical mouthpiece for his corporate masters at NBC who pay him a figurative thirty pieces of silver every week to go easy on the racists, homophobes, misogynists and anti-semites on the right who are so firmly entrenched in the mainstream conservative political power structure of the Republican party, while gleefully pursuing the art of character assassination when it comes to Democrats, progressives, and liberals at every available opportunity.
So which is it Tim? Either way, it’s a pretty damning indictment of your brand of journalism, not to mention your alarming lack of integrity, character and good judgment. Then again, if someone was paying me millions of dollars a year to be a media hit man for the right wing agenda of your corporate masters, maybe I’d fail this character test too.
