Russert v. ABC: Steel Cage Stupidity Death Match

Poor Tim Russert. No longer the most simple-minded questioner on the block. Surprisingly surpassed by Stephanopoulos and Gibson with their hand fed questions from Sean Hannity.

What to do?

I know. Let's lie and accuse Barack Obama of not putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance! That would be both superficial and dishonest at the same time.

This whole hand over heart meme rests on what now appears to be a subtle distinction. We put our hands over our hearts during the Pledge of Allegiance but we do not during the National Anthem. Why? Who knows, but that is what we do.

For some reason Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, and Ruth Harkin have their hands over their hearts in this picture that was taken during the National Anthem. I'm thinking Hillary started it, but that's just my evaluation of the pander-meter. Obama, at the front, never got the word and stands at attention. (Otherwise, he looks just like the other three, right?)

Now everybody who follows these things, even Tim Russert, knows that the right wing has taken this photo, falsely claimed that it was taken during the Pledge of Allegiance, and has used it to allege that Obama is unpatriotic. All those same people know the charge is not only stupid, but untrue, because the picture was taken during the Star Spangled Banner.

So, why did Russet ask David Axelrod about the Pledge of Allegiance on Meet the Press on Sunday?

RUSSERT: Let me ask about two final issues. David Axelrod, based on the last couple of weeks, many Democrats fear Republicans in the fall will string together an ad which shows . . . Barack Obama with his hands clasped in front of him rather than holding his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Either Russert doesn't care or he doesn't know. In any event, he is not qualified to host this show every week.

Here is the video from Media Matters:

Follow Stephen Kaus on Twitter: www.twitter.com/stephenkaus

Comments

[zizyphus]

From Wiki:

former Cheney communications director Cathie Martin, testified that she "suggested we put the vice president on 'Meet the Press,'" hosted by Russert on NBC, and that it was "a tactic we often used....It's our best format."

I guess Megaceph is trying to help the Republicans by planting lies in the public awareness. If Cheney feels Meet the Press is his best platform, that says a lot about Tim Russert's credibility. It means Cheney can count on Russert to not ask hard questions, at least to Republicans. Maybe he can ask McCain if he is still taking anti-psychotic medication.

[Oldchef]

Tim Russert is a Republican shill. Personally, I'll never forgive him for not speaking out before the 2004 election with what he knew about the Bushies lying about the Valerie Plame thing. If the truth had come out before the election Bush would have lost. It was pretty close as it was and Bush only won because they stole Ohio. If people had known the truth then even stealing Ohio wouldn't have helped. I will not forgive him for that, nor will I watch the pumpkin head son of a bitch ever. If his face shows up, I'm off to another channel.

[Cherlesq]

There is something afoot here when the normally trustworthy media we have all watched for years becomes a schill for the right and Clinton. What are they all afraid of? What are we missing here? Could it truly be that this country just will not elect a black no matter what. I just can't account for any other reason why a good man like Russert would throw it all away and outright lie promoting all the Right and Clinton talking points.

[twinkerbell]

Obama and his grassroots, botom-up supporters represent a direct threat to the power structure t which Hillary Clinton belongs. We the poeple, lead by a "we the people" President have the power to make America a better society. the media and the oligarchs are perfectly happy the way things are, so they have to marginzalize Obama any way possible. And Hillary Clinton is a big part of oit.

[Jjc2006]

Is there anything Hillary does that you won't call a pander? I am sure when she smiled at some supporters it was just pandering. An evil woman like her could never really smile, now could she?
Now Saint ...er....Senator Obama.....his smile, his words, his forgetting anything, his gaffes....all sincere and honest.

Sad, really. I though the days of messianic worship ended with putting W into office. We did it with Reagan (well, they did, I never voted for the fool and see nothing admirable about him), and followed with Bush. I understand how easy it is for the paternalistic mentality of the right to get into the good vs evil messianic view of the world. I just never thought the left would go there again.

[stepintothelight]

More trashing ???? Or is there a point in there somewhere related to the article about false images being used to prop up ignoramus' like you? The reason everything Billaroid "I was named after the explorer" Clinton does is titled as pandering is because ... IT'S TRUE!!! If you see Obama message as Messianic as opposed to political then you were brain dead and washed long ago!

[rfk68]

Yeah, what happened to the good ol' days when it was bad to be inspirational?

[katsushin]

"I understand how easy it is for the paternalistic mentality of the right to get into the good vs evil messianic view of the world."

You mean as youre exhibiting now? YOU are implying that very same "good vs. evil" confrontation within the dem party. Clinton gets hammered for EVERYTHING and Obama gets a pass on EVERYTHING is your basic premise. Sounds to me as if you are using the very same tactic you seem to despise.

[Irons]

I wonder what Russert does after-hours to stay on TV.

[stepintothelight]

Don't you mean "Who" Russert does???

[lafrance]

Mr. Kaus, I saw that yesterday and was outraged by Russert promoting this untrue smear. At the same time Timeh was promoting this rightwing hash, on CBS, Scheifer was talking about the phoney patriotism and silly flag pin rants that the press promotes for the right as well.
He was telling the truth and slamming this phoney patriot thing and Russert was slumming with the rightwing.
Maybe on Sundays it's not MTP but, Face the Nation and get some truth.

[wendy82551]

Scheifer is one of the great under-appreciated newspeople on TV. He seems to be -- gasp! -- an actual journalist who actually knows something about the stories. I was so depressed when they brought in Katie Couric to replace him. Of course, we're all nitwits, right? We can't deal with an older man reading the news. Oy.

[WAstateliberal]

I didn't see Meet the Press, and every clip stops after the question. So did Axelrod correct him or not? That is the most important part of this story, isn't it? Russert can say it all he wants, but it has no impact when it is immediately debunked. And the Democrats need to aggressively meet each one of these BS charges head on in order to win elections.

[peggio]

I'm one of the people who watched it because I wanted to know what crap Russert would spout this week. So, as I stood screaming (my dog now is sure I'm crazy) first at Russert for asking a false question but also at Axelrod for not correcting him.
On the plus side if Penn was a bloviating, over fed liar and he was. The new strategist and I use the term w/ tongue planted firmly in cheek was an inept , mousey no nothing what so ever and Axelrod cleaned his clock.

[sandtats]

I was screaming at the TV too, and my dog ran for cover, again! lol David did correct him, sort of, giving a generalized denouncement of the smears that have been leveled against Barack. But this was inexcusable of Russert! He not only felt the need to yet AGAIN, bring up the whole "patriotism" slam, he didn't even have the FACTS!

In fact, Barack was singing the Natl. Anthem the day he didn't have his hand to heart; geesh I have attended hundreds of baseball games and cab count on my fingers the number of people who hold their hand of over their hearts when the Anthem is played.

Russert also couldn't resist getting another dig in, Michelle's comment about pride in her country. He really misrepresented her on that one, not only leaving out the words "really proud," but worse, something likes "Michelle Obama saying she's never felt pride in her country." This has to end soon.

Last straw for me today was watching the video of Hillary shill PA Gov. Eddie Rendell praising to the rafters, Farrakhan (who was in attendance at the gathering) and the Nation of Islam; he couldn't say enough good things about him or the religion. Wonder when/if TImeh is going to ask Hillary if she plans on "denouncing and rejecting" HIS comments. Listen here; it's surreal, the hypocrisy.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DXum_-8I1TA

[joja]

A couple of obsevations --

First, Tim Russert is simple-minded. Period.

Next, who the fuck even watches that lame show anymore?

Last, this is the 1950s, right? And everyone has to prove their patriotism b/c the patriot-police say so???!!!

This is weird.

[johnpherson]

Will Russert ask the "maverick" why he denounced his country, calling it's policy in Vietnam to kill innocent and Children?

[JimmyCrackcorn]

Please write to NBC and yell at Pumpkin Head Russert:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6872152/

put them on notice.

[JimmyCrackcorn]

Why did Tim Russert lie about Barack Obama on Sunday. He was complicit in spreading a rumor that Obama will not put his hand over his heart during the pledge of alligence. A lie goes around the world while the truth puts it's boots on.

What will Tim Russert and NBC do to correct this vile falsehood from further spreading? I think you own Obama an Apology as well as some airtime with a LARGE NATIONAL AUDIENCE to put an end to this smear of Russert's:

RUSSERT: Let me ask about two final issues. David Axelrod, based on the last couple of weeks, many Democrats fear Republicans in the fall will string together an ad which shows . . . Barack Obama with his hands clasped in front of him rather than holding his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.

[joeinvt]

That's was Russert does....to Democrats at least. Look what he did to Al Gore in 2000, Howard Dean four years ago and even to Hillary Clinton this year. He'll present completely inaccurate and usually inflammatory info and demand an explanation. He's guilty at least of shoddy journalism, but he does it so often to Dems that outright lying on his part is more likely.

[Pammy1151]

I just sent them an email.

[dtd]

A better question is why the hell did David Axelrod NOT correct the lie! He had a better than usual performance on Sunday, but he's still a piss poor surrogate for the Senator!

[mexamerican]

interesting.

[fnygy]

More pinheaded crap from the pinheads. It's all blah blah blah - they've got hours to fill and they'll fill it with more crap. In the end, it all comes down to who has the better ideas - and it ain't McCain.

[wndrwrthg]

Saying the pledge has become nothing more than a petty jingoistic exercise in fake patriotism. I never recite the pledge, but instead recite the Preamble to the Constitution. To me it is a more heartfelt statement.

[reverence]

I just about jumped out of my seat when I heard Russert WRONGLY accuse Obama of not putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge. I immediately sent an email to Meet the Press informing them of Mr. Russert's incorrect statement and how I felt he needed to correct that statement immediately and everytime he appears on TV, because he has a high profile and therefore can influence the vote.