Brave New Films: Is Tim Russert Keeping Arianna Off NBC?

It seems that Arianna Huffington has run up against the impenetrable wall that is Tim Russert's ego. Huffington, who is currently on tour for her new book Right Is Wrong: How The Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded The Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe, will be appearing on CNN, ABC, and CBS. She had been booked on Morning Joe and Countdown with Keith Olbermann as well, but those bookings were suddenly and inexplicably cancelled.

NBC confirmed that Huffington wouldn't be booked on any NBC-affiliated show to promote her book, but refused to explain why. Huffington's people say that this is Tim Russert's doing, that Russert is out for revenge because Huffington called him a "conventional wisdom zombie" in her book and devoted seven pages to faulting Russert for allowing his Meet the Press guests to go unchallenged (not to mention HuffPo's RussertWatch).

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Balzac]

I really despise Tim Russert. I've despised him ever since I saw through his facade of neutrality and realized he's a Bush-lackey and a fascist propagandist.

[loki]

Ok, not that I like Russert, but I dont blame him. Arianna trashed him on this blog for a long time. He runs the show there, and if he doesnt like her or want her on, its his choice. Its not like she is a news story. She is out plugging her new book. She wants free promotion, and he doesnt feel like he has to give it to her. That is fair. Besides, some of the stuff you read here, and the way they censor the post is opposite of what Arianna preaches in her books. She , like many, is a hypocrite seeking fame and fortune. I didnt like finding that out either as I really loved her stuff and have just about every book she wrote up to Pigs In the Tough. Then I find out here she is for censorship as long as she can dictate the rules. She is no better than the rest of the little dictators in the corporate world.

[Serfie]

Funny, the Huffington Post is not an equal opportunity blog. It routinely censors people who disagree with the Obama party position or Arianna's ideology.

And what gives her the right to go on TV anytime she wishes? Is she part of the incestuous pundit union?

[gayleg]

Russert has some serious issues with women. The vast majority of his shows exclude women all together, and look at how obnoxious he is towards HRC. I'm hardly surprised he would refuse to invite Arianna on, especially if she is critical of him.

Of course if a Republican man criticized him, he would not only be invited on, he'd be treated with kid gloves.

[loki]

I dont think its issues with women. If you remember Arianna did a long and loud trashing of Russert for almost a year here on Hufpo. And Russert has no obligation to help someone promote their product, and that is all she wants to do. Plug her book. Now she is pouting because he wont let her do it on his turf. I dont blame him. She did her best to get him fired, or at least lower his ratings. Why do her a favor? Its a 2 way street out there.

[Honza]

Who the hell is mellon head Tim Rustart ?, just another media flunky out of hundreds who are parroting the Murdock doctrian. Gotcha, gotcha, Tim's favorite game, he can dig up shit that has gone through the sewers of every body that has lived in the White House.

[ljfrommin]

Does Ms. Huff allow all views on her website? Fair is fair.

[loki]

Nope, she censors everyone here. She doesnt even follow the rules she preaches in her books or on TV. Hypocrite is what she is. But, she is in this for the fame and fortune, nothing else.

[jhink465]

Russert is a stooge and lacks any journalistic training or integrity. He is a showman like most of these so-called TV newspeople who supposedly keep the public informed on. Arianna is a leader in a new brand of journalism. The new netroots media which will soon overtake the traditional media as the source for informing the younger generations will make the Russerts, Blitzers, and the other news jackals as irrelevant as they really are. It looks like the NY Times is already circling the drain. BTW, when I look at Russert's massive head I have to ask: is that Russert's head or the box it came in?

[NABNYC]

There are so many worse things said about Tim Russert every day, that I find it hard to believe he's offended by being called a "conventional wisdom zombie." Hack is the word I always used about him. Two-bit hustler, brain-dead, racist, Bush groupie, war lover -- those are others.

I think my favorite Russert idiocy in recent weeks was when he asked the Democratic candidates, in a national debate: "Will you PLEDGE to the American people that you will not allow Iran to get a NUCLEAR WEAPON." WTF is this guy talking about? Doesn't he read the news, that they're not even close? Does he like war? Is he that desperate for ratings? He does work for GE, a company that makes lots of money off of war, so maybe that's just his sales pitch. Is he just straight-up campaigning for more years like the Bush regime?

You almost have to be anti-American to push for yet another war of aggression to be launched by the U.S., at a time when our economy is devastated, we're getting the s**t kicked out of us in Iraq, our military is exhausted (not Tim's kids I'll bet). Come to think of it, was Tim ever in the military, did he ever put his neck on the line, did he send his kids? Bet not. Typical war-lover: never been, never will.

[duckfan00]

His son serve in our military..never..Russert acts like the Iraq war is a Buffalo Bills game and we will have a 4th quarter touchdown and game over....unfortunately this is a tragic situation that one day with the right leadership we will get out of...

[Joeblue]

Tims a pig

[Raymondf]

Tim Russert don't have that kind of power, whats NBC affraid of Arianna has even been on the O'reilly factor, and was treated like a lady I might add.

[eyecon]

Hmmmmmm

Coutler - OK
Huffington - Not OK

Sure. That makes perfect sense. Can you say "abuse of power" Mr. Russert?

[Diana]

Surely Tim was one of those the NYTimes had in mind when in its expose of the pentagon-generals-propaganda:

"Though many analysts are paid network consultants, making $500 to $1,000 per appearance, in Pentagon meetings they sometimes spoke as if they were operating behind enemy lines, interviews and transcripts show. Some offered the Pentagon tips on how to outmaneuver the networks, or as one analyst put it to Donald H. Rumsfeld, then the defense secretary, ''the Chris Matthewses and the Wolf Blitzers of the world.''

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E7DF103CF933A15757C0A96E9C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2

[Americanium]

Dear Mr. Russert,

Keeping Ms Huffington off your show is a good thing. You see sir Ms Huffington wants it both ways. Her website plays hosts to some of the vilest forms of journalism and seeks to use your medium to add credibility her dubious format.

She defends Mayhill Flower by saying she is an Obama supporter. A bold bare faced lie. Ms Huffington needs to stick to the gossip that she breeds on her website and leave credible media houses alone.

[awcbuddy8]

But you make appearances on Bill Maher? A show that allows the likes of Tim Robbins and Sean Penn to lie constantly?

[peggio]

Okay, why am I not surprised? Appalled, yes, surprised no! His show has become a joke. His challenges very selective. I am truly disgusted that NBC would allow this yesterdays journalist dictate who goes where on NBC. I am more disgusted that the one person I respect on MSNBC (not Joe Sleazeborough) would just let it happen.

[MzTexas]

Why should he have someone on who trashed him in her book?

[tabby]

Wow - this is a mistake on Russert's part - it is only making him look petty and foolish. He isn't "God of NBC" is he? I guess the truth hurts. If he was smart, he'd have her on his show and try to challenge her. I'd love to see a debate between them.

[SmootyBooty]

Russert's not capable of informed debate. For one thing, he's NOT informed about anything...

[knosiswar]

Tim has lost his way. He has gone to the dark side. He only wishes to maintain his political integrity, and has forsaken any shred of journalistic integrity. He has been courted and persuaded that might makes right, and has forsaken the truths of Mother Liberty. He has become a fan of the Politicians, and has relinquished his duty to the people. He should tender his press pass, and take his place at the front of the DC bus and enjoy his comfortable ride.

[1dogs2]

Dear me! Is Timid Russert afraid of a woman? Or only of truth?

[CynAnne]

... Perhaps both, 1dogs2! HuffPo bloggers like Lawrence O'Donnell appear on MSNBCs "Countdown" and "Verdict" (which used to be "Live w/ Dan Abrams") on a regular basis, but there's a dismal dearth of Arianna! Grrr..! >:( ...

[engineer68]

He is not afraid to stick a knife in Hillarys' back any chance he gets.