NBC News
updated 9:50 a.m. PT, Fri., June. 13, 2008
Msnbc: Tim, http://www.fightthesmears.com/ is a web site launched by the Barack Obama campaign to combat potentially damaging rumor about the candidate and his wife, Michelle. Is this necessary? How big of a problem is this really?
Tim Russert: It’s amazing how much the Internet has changed our lives. People get emails that make accusations without foundation and they are circulated around the country within seconds and suddenly become topics of conversations around water coolers or in lunchrooms.
updated 9:50 a.m. PT, Fri., June. 13, 2008
Msnbc: Tim, http://www.fightthesmears.com/ is a web site launched by the Barack Obama campaign to combat potentially damaging rumor about the candidate and his wife, Michelle. Is this necessary? How big of a problem is this really?
Tim Russert: It’s amazing how much the Internet has changed our lives. People get emails that make accusations without foundation and they are circulated around the country within seconds and suddenly become topics of conversations around water coolers or in lunchrooms.
I remember being in Indianapolis covering the Indiana primary and a man came up to me and said he wasn’t going to vote for Senator Obama because he was very concerned about the comments made by Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s pastor.
I said, “That’s interesting. As a reporter, I’m curious what comments particularly bothered you?” He said, “Well, I can’t think of any that come to mind, but I also read on the Internet that he’s a Muslim.” And I said, “Now wait a minute. You can’t have both. You can’t be offended by his Christian minister and then say he’s a Muslim. You’ve got to pick one.”
But that just underscores what we’re dealing with in this modern era.
Now I’m told there’s a counter organization with a very similar name that is going to be positioned and posted to spread the rumors, so that people that go to the Internet to get clarification will go to the wrong web site and get confused.
It’s a virus. You have bloggers on both sides, liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats all trying to utilize this vehicle without any kind of fact checking and without any kind of editorial control.
To offer messages of condolence to Tim Russert's family, e-mail: Russert.Condolences@nbcuni.com
FYI:
Who Will Replace Russert?
UPI) - NBC is looking inward for a successor to Tim Russert, the late host of the U.S. current events TV program "Meet the Press," talent representatives say.
Anonymous talent representatives said that in the wake of Russert's death of an apparent heart attack Friday, the TV network has been considering three TV personalities already under contract with NBC as his possible replacement, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.
Among those personalities are former "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough and "Race for the White House" host David Gregory.
The talent officials said it was unlikely NBC executives would consider attempting to lure away talent such as "CBS News" anchor Katie Couric from a rival network.
The Times said no matter who the network picks to fill Russert's chair on the political news program, they will be forced to follow a host who made "Press" a major success.
In 2001, when Russert signed a long-term deal to host the popular series it earned an annual profit of $50 million for NBC.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/14/NBC_eyeing_staff_for_Russert_successor/UPI-70581213472590/
Former host of Hardball? Is someone trying to tell us something? I lean toward David Gregory to be the next successor if the choosing is between Tweety or Scarborough. Whoever it is, he or she better keep the same format and formula of Meet the Press.
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