Friday, December 19, 2008

NBC new WH correspondent Chuck Todd's "no-cut" contract with NBC.

Chuck should have been named the moderator of Meet the Press instead of David Gregory. Chuck carries less baggage than David since we all remembered his dance routine with Karl Rove and David being the source of leaking Valerie Plame's covert ID by Ari Fleischer in the Libby trial. Chuck is much of political analyst. Speaking for me only.

Chuck Todd never saw it coming.

NBC's fast-rising political director -- named today as chief White House correspondent -- was "shocked" when he was offered the plum late last week.

"It came out of left field," says Todd, 36, who joined NBC in March 2007. "It's not a job I aspired to, and I don't mean it negatively. There were 500 different ways I thought they could go.

"I never viewed myself as a correspondent. I didn't even view myself as a TV guy."

He does now. With President-elect Obama about to move in, the White House is arguably the best beat in journalism. Still, Todd says he spent last weekend "trying to talk myself out of it."

His primary concern was the travel. The father of two young children, Todd "had heard the horror stories" about its effect on families.

He consulted with his White House predecessor, David Gregory, moderator of
"Meet the Press," and with anchor Brian Williams, another ex-White House correspondent. Both are dedicated dads.

"They both said the job can consume you," Todd says. "You draw your lines."
Under his new four-year deal, he will retain his title as political director. He will appear frequently on "MTP," where he was named a contributing editor.

Read on.

2 comments:

KittyBowTie1 said...

Chuck Todd should have gotten "Meet the Press." Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was on last week and that may be the last time the cat watches.

The Muppet Gregory cannot analyze his way out of a box.

SP Biloxi said...

The last time I watched MTP was with Obama. Other than Obama, it has been a year since I watched MTP. Gregory lost his intergrity card with me when he decided to get his groove on and get cozy with McRove. Good luck with Gregory. I'll stick with watching Bob Schieffer's commentary if I am able on Sundays and Moyer on PBS. Other that, ABC on Sunday and Fox News Sunday are in the running for the koolaid shows with wingnuts. Other that, Biloxi will get some zzzs on Sundays.