Tim Russert's Hall of Shame: - Also, a link to let Russert Know How U Feel

[Jon8503]

The Worst is What Tim Did Not Do
Tim Russert conducted the most disgusting and shameful interview in his career today on Meet the Press. He invited Aaron Broussard, President of the Jefferson Parish in New Orleans on his show for the second time in what appeared to be a discussion about the effects of hurricane Rita on Jefferson Parish.

Shortly into the interview Russert played the video of his previous interview with Broussard in which Broussard accused bureaucracy of murder during hurricane Katrina. In that interview Broussard closed his statement with a tearful recounting of the death of the mother of the man in charge of emergency management for Jefferson Parish. His mother died in a nursing home waiting to be rescued.

Russert re-played Broussard's emotional statement and then challenged him on the facts of the statement. Today Russert had the callousness to tell Broussard that bloggers had investigated his story of the death of the woman in the nursing home and that Broussard's facts were false. Russert said that bloggers had uncovered that Broussard had the date of her death wrong and Russert went on to ask Broussard why he blamed federal government and not local government for the aftermath of Katrina.

Broussard did a wonderful job defending himself and I urge you to read the transcript here. Broussard demanded to know "what kind of agenda is going on here?" and said several times "what kind of sick mind, black-hearted person would nit pick the death of a man's mother." He told Russert that "Congress can do an investigation and burn witches. The media can burn witches, they are great at that," and offered to come on to Russert's show and debate anyone. He told Tim Russert, "Wind me up with a good nights sleep, I haven't had one in 30 days, and I will come on your show and debate anyone." He also said it was sick that someone with a cup of coffee and a flushing toilet would take the time to watch his interview and nit pick his statements about the death of a man's mother.

http://karenas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/09/disgusting_tim_.html

[rodeodance]

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[rodeodance]

2. kick

[nickyt]

3. Jon, I'm not seeing the link to contact Russert.

(Do I just need more coffee?) thanx

[Jon8503]

14. Thanks Nickyt, just scroll down the blog and you will see "click

here to let Tim Russert know how you feel and it will take you there.

Jon

[itzamirakul]

4. Karena's blog is really great...thanx for the link...n/t

[Gman]

5. Russert did a great job

He gave Broussard an opportunity to swing back at the freepers that have been slamming him all this time now. Broussard did a great job and made all freepers look very petty and vindictive on behalf of Bush.

I was glad to see Russert ask him those questions. Its not like Broussard had no idea or was blindsided.

[Atman]

6. Broussard wasn't blindsided?

Did we watch the same interview? The one I saw seemed to shock Broussard when Russert played back the video of him crying. He said it was the first he'd seen it, and didn't know they were going to play it, and broke down in tears again...that's when he ripped into Russert.

So, I'm not sure where you're getting your info. Clearly, Broussard knew he had given the first interview, but it sure didn't seem like he knew it was going to be thrown in his face in Russert's attack. I'd say that he was indeed "blindsided."

[Connie_Corleone]

7. And Russert kept saying it was local government's fault...

for the deaths of the seniors in the nursing home. How was it local's fault when the owners of the home refused to evacuate the seniors? They had a chance to evacuate with buses, but they turned it down.

[Gman]

8. Well apparently you watched a different interview

I watched MTP. You don't think Broussard was aware of how badly he had gotten ripped in the last 3 weeks? Do you really think he knew nothing of any allegations until that moment in the interview? Do you think Russert called him 2 minutes before the show and said, "hey, come be on the show this morning!" Sounded to me like he was prepared with the right answers. Sounded to me like he was ready for 'em which is why he made the "give me a full night's sleep" comment. I think Russert gave him a chance to swing back at the assholes that started ripping him within minutes after the first interview.

[Atman]

9. Wow. You also know a different Russert than we do!

"I think Russert gave him a chance to swing back..."


You can't be serious? Russert grew a heart overnight?

I'm not saying Broussard wasn't prepared to discuss the aftermath of the storm, of course he was. But watch that interview again, G...when Russert showed the clip it left Broussard speechless, he broke down, and said he hadn't seen the clip. So you think one of them is lying, and that it's Broussard again, and that Russert is just a nice guy who was allowing the man to defend himself before he went back to fellating Bush? Puh-leeze.

[Gman]

18. I saw Broussard's reaction

and it looked to me like the emotion hit him all over again, or something which is why he hesitated or paused, or even taken aback because he was looking at it with some distance between now and then.

I guess I just don't have such a bad opinion of Russert because, eventhough he doesn't lob softball questions and he is tough, I think the people he brings on he gives an opportunity to speak fully without cutting them off like Hannity says (to me) that at the least Russert isn't partisan, and hopefully even leans Dem. He usually brings up and gives his guest an opportunity to respond to some of the talking points of the week.

I guess the difference I see is that Russert's style is not to blast someone with the talking points, but to give them an opportunity to respond to the talking points from the previous week. He's not a Hannity.

[Maddy McCall]

12. It's very probable that Broussard DIDN'T know what was going on...

in the media about his earlier appearance.

Those of us here in the wake of Katrina have been living in a bubble. We are worried about whether or not we have to boil water today, if we have enough MREs to get us through the week, if our neighbors need help. The last thing concerning us is what is going on in the national media.

And I'm just an ordinary citizen, not a parish president. Like Broussard said, for someone with a flushing toilet and a hot cup of coffee to be scrutinizing from the outside is ridiculous. If you are outside the destruction zone, you have no idea what we have been through. The "news" is the last thing on our mind, unless it's news about where the REd Cross is set up today, or where ice or water is being distributed.

[Spazito]

13. Russert DELIBERATELY ambushed Broussard by playing the

the clip from his previous appearance, it was VERY clear that Broussard had no idea this was going to be played. He thought he was going on the show to do an update on how Rita affected his parish. I find it astounding anyone would think Russert was doing anything other than being a shill for the bush admin.

It was priceless to watch black hearted Timmy's reaction to the ass-kicking he received from Broussard.

[dogday]

16. Thank you for this statement

Is everyone going nuts here or what? Russert was clearly waiting to ambush him with this story, not just Russert but MSNBC. They had to try to smear him, he has a lot of standing with the public after his heartfelt plea for help. Smells of Rove if you ask me....

This was a hatchet job pure and simple....

[txindy]

17. Yes, we obviously watched different interviews. Russert was a * tool.

You think Broussard has been paying attention to what Powerline or anyone else has been saying about him since Katrina? Please. He's too busy trying to put his parish's world back together and make it semi-livable, again.

Russert is a WH stenographer. Period. Big Russ would vomit in shame.

[Chalco]

10. I watched the clip on Crooks and Liars and when it was done

my husband said "Broussard for President!" Broussard was fantastic. Let him debate monkey boy. Down with the wimps. Up with the Broussardians!

[madokie]

11. Here is my reply to Meet The Press.

At first glance when I noticed that Mr. Aaron Broussard was to be on your show this Sunday I was happy to say the least. Then you attacked this fine Public Servant over a statement he made and he handed you your ASS. I think you owe the MAN an apology and soon. You Pissed me and a lot of people off to say the least. I'm not sure if I can ever watch Meet The Press with Tim Russert again. I'll try to watch this Sunday but I'll probably have to turn it off and if I turn it off I'll never try to watch again. Have you no shame?
Tim, are you on the Whitehouse payroll?

[dogday]

15. I had to write to them on this one

It never ceases to amaze me how low the news and government can get. Tim Russert is a puppet on a string for the government, that simple and I will never watch him again and I asked everyone to boycott his show until he apologizes on the air to the President of Jefferson Parish....