I did some more poking around on the Media Matters page and they have a bone to pick with Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the Press.
On NBC's Meet the Press, moderator Tim Russert repeated the crisis rhetoric of proponents of the administration's plan to privatize Social Security. In a December 12 interview, Russert asked former Democratic presidential candidate and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean the following: "Social Security faces a crisis. Should Democrats work with the president in trying to set up some private accounts as a way of cutting the cost of Social Security long-term?"
Media Matters opines that Social Security is not in need of an immediate fix. However this is not my point. Media Matters must be Manna from Heaven for the ultra-left as they outline in full detail the "vast right-wing conspiracy". Lots of really cool stuff and I say keep it up - it is working brilliantly so far! Which brings me back to Tim Russert and that they feel they must criticize how he characterized Social Security. It seems to me that Mr. Russert is about as good as it gets in the news media and I am a big fan of his shows. He is informed, asks tough and pointed questions, and does not let the interviewee off when the answer in generalities or fluff. Besides this is a guy who worked for Democratic Senator Moynihan and Democratic Governor Cuomo (in confirming this fact I found this):
Tim Russert is the host of a national political talk show called Meet the Press on NBC. He is a former counselor to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Governor Mario Cuomo. However, that is not the reason he has made our "Hall of Shame" list. We single out Mr. Russert, because in almost every interview with an elected official, he will ask, "how can we afford to save social security, offer a prescription drug plan, conduct a war and offer tax cuts" or he will ask, "can America afford tax cuts or the Bush tax cut". Mr. Russert never refers to controlling spending as a solution to deficits. This is truly the mindset of a liberal. The billions of dollars that America gives in foreign aide around the world has been well documented as well as the fraud and waste in federal government. Mr. Russert portrays himself as an independant moderator, but his position on taxes is strictly liberal.
I quote this not because I am being critical of Mr. Russert but to show he is not someone Media Matters should fear. I guess I should be proud of Media Matters though at least they take a position and stick to it, criticizing friend and foe in support of this position. I will have to check back there in the future.
