Tim Russert: Obama Responsible For Harry Belafonte, Too

I think most people this side of Brit Hume winced uncomfortably when Tim Russert tried to make Barack Obama responsible for everything Louis Farrakhan had ever said in last week's debate.

I'd forgotten (until Jamison Foser reminded me) that this was standard operating procedure for Russert. I wrote this in 2006:

What the hell is Tim Russert asking Barack Obama to express his opinion about Harry Belafonte for? Harry Belafonte said George Bush was the "greatest terrorist in the world" this week, but it was virtually identical to a comment he made two weeks ago in Chile. Russert has had two weeks to ask anybody on his show about it; why does he save this particular question for Obama? What sort of special expertise does Obama have about Harry Belafonte, a private citizen with no connection to the Democratic party, that none of Russert's other guests would have?

It's interesting to note that the only other time Russert questioned anyone about Harry Belafonte before, according to what Glenn Greenwald (via email) could find was when he asked Colin Powell.

On Fox News Sunday, Brit Hume said Russert's questions to Obama regarding Farrakhan had nothing to do with race. If he's just concerned about the endorsement of religious figures that might be of concern to Jewish people, then why is he not pressing John McCain, who is "proud" to get the endorsement of John "God so loved the Jews he gave them the Nazis to drive them back to Israel" Hagee?

Jane Hamsher blogs at firedoglake.com.

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Comments

[wilhelmR]

I friend (Joan) of a neighbor, whose a cousin of another neighbor in another country whose an acquaintance of a Hotel Manager who has a brother married to a woman whose friend is a retired teacher in Chile went to a Restaurant one day and met a tourist who went to the same school as a third cousin of Farrakhan who fought in the US Army in Vietnam, North Korea, and Iraq. Question: Should Joan apologize for Farrakhan?

[darkladyofala]

Time and again Tim Russert, Mr. Potato Head, comes down much harder on Dems than Rapepublican (sic). He is not alone in that when it comes to the mainstream media; Bob Schieffer is equally guilty, though more subtle, most of the time.

I recall an interview, on Face the Nation, where Schieffer actually said, to Sen. Harry Reid, 'that's your side of the story.' I don't even remember what the discussion was about but, can one imagine any of these, so called journalists, saying something like that to ANYONE on the RIGHT? Of course not!
I have absolutely nothing against holding any 'elected' officials feet to the fire.; I'm all for it. However,
no one with a couple of brain cells to rub together pays any mind to Fox Fake News; unfortunately, too many, formerly respected outlets, sound more like Fox every day! It's sad really; when the history of this era is written, many will come off no better than Sen. Joe McCarthy! And worse because the press, as do those officials, have a Constitutional mandate to inform the citizens of this Democratic Republic. I have no idea how much longer I will be able to describe our form of government as such; time's running out for 'we the people'.

[Mike169]

Like Bush isn't the biggest terrorist in the world. Why should he have to apologize for that just because that pumpkin head doesn't believe it?

[Robertsteven]

Put the picture of Obama dressed in African clothing along with the Farrakhan question from Russett you get a Black American Muslim thats the picture they want to paint, People are smarting up about this hate and fear

[bas1311]

This is not the issue. I'm happy to take Obama at his word that he rejects Farrakhan. That part is easy.

The real question is does he reject his own pastor and close friend, Jeremiah Wright, who strongly supports Farrakhan. This is the issue at hand.

As usual, Russert acted as if he were asking a tough question but blew it.

[GuiltyUndertaker]

Why do you even care about this? I'm sure the 49 million Americans with no health coverage have more important things to worry about. This is why the corporate-­controlled media stink.

[BardEric]

Sorry, I don't buy that. other than "the question" on the debate, the networks havent touched this story (that I have seen anyway). When you call someone a "mentor" you admittedly share at lest some of the Values and the Ideals of the person in question..­Rev Wright DID, and HAS prasied Farrakhan.­.repeatedl­y....If you argue that you can pick and chose which ideals you share with a mentor,and ignore the ones you disagree with, fine I get that. But I need to know more..And I want to know why Obama did not distance himself from the Rev. Wright 's (and his church's) admiration of Farrakhan long before now..He HAD to know this was going to come out eventually­..If he had prepared me before-hand for this contorversy I wouldn't have been left feeling a little misled.

[Dajo]

Jane Hamsher asks,

"""What the hell is Tim Russert asking Barack Obama to express his opinion about Harry Belafonte for? """


Because Tim Russert is a "MORON" that is why!

If I was Obama I would have responded to the question this way.

I am glad you asked me about whether or not I agreed with Harry Belafonte about the fact that President Bush is the biggest terrorist in the world. I havent actually quantified the total number of people Tortured, Rendered ,Raped and Murdered by US Military or BlackWater type Mercinaries sent to the Middle East by Bush to conduct his illegal pre-emptive war, but that being said. I would say that if Bush is not the actual biggest terrorist in the world, he ranks right up ther with the worst of them.
I am quite sure my friend Harry Belafonte would be willing to go along with my assesment and therfore I intend to ask him to be my VP. Then when I am elected president, I will assign VP Belafonte his first task, rounding up all the Bush administration War Criminals including, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, Rice and any other Military, CIA & private Citizens who committed these war crimes and turning them over to the International War Crimes Tribunal.

[PioneerKing]

As one person put it was Sen. Obama’s, “Sista Soul Ja moment." There are folks in the media who like to do the race baiting. If a person of color were to question why they should be asked such a question they would be considered as "playing the race card?"

It’s just as it is in America. No one ever questions why white candidates are not identified as the “white woman” or the “white man.” Never once has Sen. Clinton been referred to as “the first white woman.”

Russert has not pointed out nor requested that Sen. McCain reject, denounce nor repudiate the comments and support of folks like Rev. Hagee and before his demise Rev. Falwell. If someone brings up the matter to Sen. McCain or any of the pundits in the media it blown off as "I don't agree with everything that everyone who supports me sys or does." Once this canned reply is given it is then ok for Sen. McCain to seek and accept their support.

Unfortunately, the media likes to have a litmus test for any candidate who is not white. Never was Sen. Clinton nor when her husband was president were they ever asked to reject favorable comments that Farrakhan made on their behalf or by other controversial religious leaders. Moreover, President Clinton even praised Farrakhan for his million man march.

[Steamboater]

What Russet did is about offensive as what the reporter who continuously asked Hillary Clinton if she believed Obama is a Muslim. We're at war, the economy is shit, people go without heath care, our relations with the rest of the worl dare in a hole and the Consititution has been spat upon by Bush and everyone who voted to give hism his way, and Americans who are Gay are bashed and killed even. The list of offenses is long yet Russet and Tweetie Bird harp on Belafonte and Obama's religion. Charming.

[sesshoumaru]

Starboymikey is incorrect.

The words "gutter religion" was never used and isn't on tape anywhere. Jude Wanniski wrote to Jack Kemp on this matter in the year 2000 and included a look at the circumstances surrounding the comment. The full text of his memo to Jack Kemp can be found online and makes clear that Farrakhan's anti semitic remarks are a media myth that can never be directly traced to any comment he's made. Here is a portion of Mr. Wanniski's words to Jack Kemp:

" It was because of you, after all, that I began to look into these issues and discover the great injustices being done to Minister Farrakhan. You know how I've introduced several of our mutual Jewish friends to Farrakhan and how they uniformly agree he is not what the media say he is. Like you, they are still afraid to have their names used to vouch for him, because the price to be paid for breaking ranks is so high. Joyce Purnick of the NYT told me she is doing some research now into this issue, after I raised the issue of her "gutter religion" quote, but individual journalists can’t bear this burden. Their careers would end if they would take up a defense of Farrakhan. Heck, in 1998, when Tim Russert had Min. Farrakhan on Meet the Press, the ADL took out a full page ad in the NYT blasting Russert and NBC."

[alvdh1]

I would like invite everyone to log onto Media Matters. They have painstakingly itemized the lournalistic offenses of Tim Russert, Tucker Carlson, Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough, Bill Oriley and Michael Savage. They have all of the appropriate links to contact their bosses to complain about their omissions, lies and misstatements. If enough people write into NBC maybe they will actually will force them to become more reputable journalist. It is great find a media watchdog so that we can get to the truth. FAUX News is a hopeless cause. but maybe there is hope for NBC.

[Skepticat]

Perhaps all the candidates could learn some Hillary-isms - to deal with dim media questions. You can even try it at home.

Consider
"As far as I know - Bush isn't the biggest terrorist in the world - I'll just have to take him at his word."

I'm sure there are bigger terrorists somewhere in the world. I think my (opponent, president, whatever) should be given the chance to deny these accusations.

There are some who would disagree that - Bush is (insert fault, from wide choice) - as far as I know anyway.

As far as I know - My opponent still denies sacrificing infants at satanic zombie fund raisers after all these years - Well I've never seen him do it personally. That time of night I'm usually at home waiting for the red phone to ring ever vigilant in my service to America.

I'm sure I remember hearing somewhere that my opponent doesn't necessarily agree with every single statement by ( insert controversial person - or group) despite his/her life long commitment to what some might consider to be (insert repugnant thought) I'll just have to give him/her the benefit of the doubt.

There are some who say my opponent can not be trusted because of his many years of
(pick suitable loathesome vice ) - I've actually heard people say that many many times but I don't want to contribute to these salacious rumours -- oh, was the microphone on? I've certainly never seen him do it - but then I don't associate with such people.

And you lucky folks can have 9 more months of this - have fun!

[Spider53]

Jane, were you on the Azamora Journey cruise to Antarctica that ended February 28th?

[jerseywolf]

Great post. I'm happy that other people find Russert's question a bit disturbing.

[jazzman]

Let's see if I can sort this out for you.

Obama is a black.
Belafonte is a black.
All black people are the same. They think alike. Talk alike, Like the same music and food. They can all jump high and they have rhythm.

Therefore, it is perfectly alright for Tim Russert to make Obama the spokesman for all blacks, anywhere, any place, and at anytime except for Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell who are now really white people because they became Republicans and are right wingers. Kind of like Russert himself.

Does all this make any sense to you? No, I guess not but Tim Russert will never gain anykind of self-perspective because he's nothing but a right wing shill anyway rather than a serious journalist like he pretends to be.

[Cos1]

Oh, so true, you forgot Condi Rice. Also notice how now there are more black and latino journalist on cable as a part of all the campaigns coverage. Question is, will they still be employed if Hillary wins the nomination. Hillary can complain about sexist behavior. If Barack even thinks about defending himself against racial tendencies, it's OH get over it or Barack is playing the race card.

[GwenElle]

Farrakhan. Farrakhan. Farrakhan. Say the word enough and maybe it loses the ominous power. Maybe the same tact should be taken with the F word that has been taken with the N word. Use the obscenity enought until it loses its ugly specter.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

When was the last time Farrakhan was relavent?