Why Does Tim Russert Repeatedly Give Carville And Matalin A Platform To Promote Their Candidates?

[babylonsister]

The Carville-Matalin Joke Is on Us
by Steve Kornacki Published: November 26, 2007


For the love of God, please stop enabling them.

“Only 39 days until the Iowa caucuses,” Tim Russert gravely intoned over the dramatic John Williams “Meet the Press” score. “The Democratic race: too close to call. The Republican race: too close to call. Which issues, policies, strategies will resonate?”

If Mr. Russert really wanted a thoughtful and provocative discussion of that subject, then why did he—yet again—hand over half of his show to James Carville and Mary Matalin, two of the four panelists whose punditry monopolized Sunday’s one-hour broadcast?

This is not an issue of disclosure. Mr. Russert correctly noted in his opening that Mr. Carville “helped put Bill and Hillary Clinton in the White House in 1992” and that Ms. Matalin supports Fred Thompson, and later pointed out that Mr. Carville has also donated money to Hillary Clinton’s ’08 campaign.

Instead, it’s a question of quality, fairness and basic respect for the intelligence and time of the viewing audience. Does Mr. Russert, the host of what is supposed to be the preeminent news discussion program on television, actually believe that Mr. Carville and Mrs. Matalin provide viewers with objective analysis? And why does he continually include them—on a regular panel that also features Republican Mike Murphy and Democrat Bob Shrum—without offering a similar platform to any of the other candidates’ prominent supporters?

It took about 14 seconds on Sunday for Mr. Carville to show his stripes, when Mr. Russert used the first question of the show to ask Mr. Carville to analyze the latest Iowa numbers, which show Mrs. Clinton trailing Barack Obama, 30 to 26 percent (with John Edwards at 22 percent). Released last week, the poll prompted a round of Is-Hillary-Suddenly-In-Trouble stories in the press.

Mr. Carville’s response could have been written by Howard Wolfson: He immediately downplayed the significance of what is inarguably a negative development for his candidate.

more...

http://www.observer.com/2007/carville-matalin-joke-us

[lisa58]

1. They're friends

[Hieronymus]

5. I've never liked Matalin, and Carville is becoming tedious, as well.

[blm]

2. Because they have been DESIGNATED as our representative voices.

By Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton and the media masters that are served.

[Skidmore]

13. Kicking and wishing I could recommend this response because

it is absolutely spot on.

[hlthe2b]

3. Well, for one thing, Russert's son does a sports show /w Carville

on XM radio... Just the promos have me ready to :puke:

His son has the same smarmy attitude as that Neil Bush frat boy son that tried for his 15 seconds of fame last year.

[movonne]

4. because they are both repugs...carville is the lieberman side of

the dems...

[Me.]

6. That Show Was So Last Century

They might just as well been daguerreotypes. Those four so called experts seem to be the best MTP can do and they're all, including Russert doing the best they can to marginalize the show.

[MADem]

7. Because Russert is being SHUNNED a bit. That's why.

Russert was up to his ass in the Plame business.

He played the craven coward throughout.

The Democrats think he's a lying chickenshit, the Republicans think he is a traitor.

He ain't feeling any love--so he fills up his Sunday table with gasbags and has-beens.

[peace frog]

9. Thanks for posting

You said it best.

[onelittleindian]

8. russert

russert could not carry a show for an hour that is why he has guests.

[stellanoir]

10. GE

it brings weird things to life. . .

[Javaman]

11. Because they are all party of a secret 3 way....

ohhhh, I think I just hurt my brain while thowing up.

:puke:

[BuelahWitch]

12. He's Mary's bitch when cue ball is out of town n/t