Tom Brokaw Acting As NBC Liaison With McCain Campaign

Tuesday's New York Times features a profile of Tom Brokaw ahead of the October 7 presidential debate being hosted by the veteran NBC newsman. The Times reveals that Brokaw has "played a pivotal role out of public view, both within NBC and in its dealings with the campaign of John McCain in particular."

Mr. Brokaw said that over the summer he had "advocated" within the executive suite of NBC News to modify the anchor duties of the MSNBC hosts Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews on election night and on nights when there were presidential debates. Their expressions of strong political opinions from the MSNBC anchor desk has run counter to the more traditional role Mr. Brokaw played on "NBC Nightly News" for more than two decades. NBC said earlier this month that the two hosts would mostly relinquish their anchor duties to Mr. Gregory, while being present as analysts.

"Keith is an articulate guy who writes well and doesn't make his arguments in a 'So's your old mother' kind of way," Mr. Brokaw said. "The mistake was to think he could fill both roles. The other mistake was to think he wouldn't be tempted to use the anchor position to engage in commentary. That's who he is."

Brokaw said he has also conducted some "shuttle diplomacy in recent weeks" between NBC and the McCain campaign.

His mission, he said, was to assure the candidate's aides that -- despite some negative on-air commentary by Mr. Olbermann in particular -- Mr. McCain could still get a fair shake from NBC News. Mr. Brokaw said he had been told by a senior McCain aide, whom he did not name, that the campaign had been reluctant to accept an NBC representative as one of the moderators of the three presidential debates -- until his name was invoked.

"One of the things I was told by this person was that they were so irritated, they said, 'If it's an NBC moderator, for any of these debates, we won't go,' " Mr. Brokaw said. "My name came up, and they said, 'Oh, hell, we have to do it, because it's going to be Brokaw.' "

The article led off with the news that NBC is considering an ensemble of hosts for "Meet the Press," led by Chuck Todd:

[The network] is leaning toward an ensemble of hosts that would be led by Chuck Todd, NBC's political director, and include David Gregory, a correspondent and MSNBC anchor, according to a person who had been briefed on the proposal but was not authorized to comment, partly because the plans were not set. Like the turnover of anchors at all three network newscasts, the process of choosing a successor for Mr. Russert has been closely watched in media and political circles.

Read the full story here.

Comments

[sonson]

I knew it! Witness McCain's easy stints on Meet The Press this week, and his frosty comments to Obama during the debate.....He rode him hard & barely said a word to McCain.

So much for NBC's unbiased coverage!

[longislandlol]

It's the morn after the 3rd debate--- here is what I see is going on between talking heads at MSNBC and NBC----- it just became clear to me this morning that Brokaw looks more and more pissy faced abouth his macpals descending poll numbers; joining Mr. Brokaw in looking sad-angry-pissed this fine morn- are colleagues Mitchell and Mika--- both these women on the hideous morning j show have been using their body language and smirking looks whenever an Obama spokesman is on this pro macpal panel--- that it so obvious== Keith, Rachel, and Chris M. are the real superstars of MSNBC-- and Mr. Steve K should realize that Keith and Chris are dynamic-- whether alone anchoring or together doing analysis--- as for Rachel--- she outperforms everyother women on cable -

[trulib]

Reply:

Have someone look up the footage of Ann Curry of NBC ( National Barack Co-conspirators ) who interviewed "a typical cross section" of voters after the last debate. She asked a racially charged question that she NEVER should have asked! The question was very cleverly posed. It went like this: Do you know someone who might not vote for Barack Obama because he's black?

Anyone who raised their had inferred that they knew someone who had a racial bias against blacks.

Since she dove into the cesspool with that question, I waited for the next FAIR and BALANCED question: Do you know someone who might vote FOR Barack Obama because he's black?
Did that question follow her "might not vote for" question? NO! Was it ever posed? NO!

Conclusions: 1) Ann sees the possibility of racism against Obama because of color - but not the other way around. 2) She doesn't mind spinning that angle for all 327,000 NBC viewers.

How stupid does she think America is? Wonder if she reads Al-Jazeera?

Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:41 PM
Subject: NewsMax.com Article

Check out the article:
http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/Al_Jazeera_Obama/2008/10/21/142620.html?s=al&promo_code=6DE2-1

If ANY whites vote for McCain, they're racist. If 95% of blacks vote for Barack, they're not. Go figure.

[AnalyzeIT]

Brokaw, is now only a mouth piece.

[Britishdemocrat]

Tom Brokaw used be to be a favourite journalist of mine. I used to watch him on Nightly News. Well, we all did. But after seeing the debate the other night he just didn't do what a lot of us expected and that is include the audience more. Since it is the American people's country and we are in these increasingly difficult times, people are worrying and are wanting answers to questions about where we are headed. I thought as a jesture of good will he would let somebody ask a question to either of the candidates about whether they will have a home at Christmas or a job. But he didn't and he failed on that one. It was a townhall debate, which allows for more audience participation. It might as well not have been a townhall debate.

[margardner]

I didn't even watch Meet The Press today. I watched CNN instead. Brokaw is a shameful replacement for Tim Russert. Poor Timmy is probably rolling in his grave right now!

[boing007]

Has anyone noticed that most of these Republican Party supporters all have upside down smiles?

[FarmetteReport]

'Oh, hell, we have to do it, because it's going to be Brokaw.' "

In other words, please don't throw us into that briar patch!" Well, at least I have a better understanding of why Brokaw appeared to be so biased during the Nashville debate.

[PT6]

Will Mr. Brokaw FEEL he has to salvage the McFlipFlop Campaign?

He has shown a strong bias recently on Meet the Press!

I hope he will be a moderator and not pick questions that DISTORT the results!

If he does show his bias his standing in the media and among Americans will suffer badly!

[kathismom]

I agree. Where is the outrage at Brokaw being the moderator???? He had better hold it together and be bipartisan...my money says he won't be. Ugh.

[sueno]

COME BACK, DAN RATHER!!!!!!!
Tom is a GOP mole, isn't a fair reporter.
He's one of the Press Corp. "elite's" who have lost their way
during the Bush years and who haven't found their way back
to rational, normal, unbiased reporting-

[TakingBackTheUSA]

My question is this:
If the righties were all up in arms over Ifill's yet to be finished book and felt that she should resign as moderator because of "obvious bias", then shouldn't those on the left feel the same about the McCain liason moderating a debate, or in the case of the 3rd debate, a self-professed friend of the Bush family being the moderator?

[AggravationKills]

Oh Jeez.....

1. I thought Brokaw was working FOR McCain these days.

2. Brokaw is the cure for Insomnia. He is a total bore and can put me to sleep i less than 10 minutes flat.

Where is my old friend Dan Rather? I miss him.

[jakie]

I CAN'T STAND BROKOW I QUIT LOOKING AT MEET THE PRESS WHEN HE TOOK OVER

[santamonica39]

what a tool.

[majorteddy]

You mean kissing McCains rear end?

[bittertooth]

http://www.talentism.com/business_talent/2006/04/working_at_elec.html?cid=133634927#comment-133634927

Leave Tom alone. He is like the rest of us. BLah blah BLeha lblha blah