Russert: Talk Show Host, Or Potato Head?

I watched Meet the Press this morning, with Tim Russert. The guest for the entire hour was Democratic party head Howard Dean.

I think the bottom line is that if you didn't like Howard Dean before watching, you probably continued not to. And if you're like me--I like ol' Howard--then you thought he did well. A transcript of the whole hour is available at that clickable icon above, so if you have the interest, check it out.

Howard Dean is a wild card of sorts because of what he says, how he says it, and peoples' reactions to what he says. He doesn't dance around sensitive issues, he lays them out. He laments how Republicans keep getting elected on issues like God, guns and gays, when what's far more important are jobs and health care and national security. The Republicans figured out a long time ago how to hit emotional hot buttons to cause reactions in people. Those hot buttons often have little to do with peoples' day-to-day lives, but they work on election day nonetheless.

After the hour was over, my wife turned to me and complained about the format. "It's like Tim Russert pulls out every quote, yanks it out of context, then asks guests if he wasn't being too rash, or if he wanted to apologize." I was happy to see Dean stick by his word and offer no apologies.

But more importantly back to my wife's complaint, Dean spent about 47 minutes answering questions of Russert but most all of that was spent defending this or explaining that instead of being able to detail a Democratic vision. Dean was able to work that in to his response several times, but it most importantly, that wasn't Russert's objective. His objective isn't to delve into a guest's platform, but to confront him with his own words.

It's an odd format which seems like journalism--it's all about facts, right? There are dated and sourced quotes put on the screen, and well...facts don't lie, do they? That's not the really important question. What we should have after 47 minutes of watching a guest is a far better understanding of who they are, what solutions they have to offer, and how they will manifest their vision.

We didn't get that today.

I don't suggest that Mr. Potato Head (couldn't resist, with a name like Russert) isn't tough on Republicans. I've seen him be pretty strident with them too. But I will suggest that his show is far more about the heat than the light. And that one of America's premiere journalism programs is far less of one than it could be.

Tim Russert should be tough as hell on his guests. And he should ask the question--and be prepared to listen--"What is your vision for changing America for the better?" He should also say something like "We've covered a lot today, but maybe there's something we didn't hit on that you'd like to talk about..."

That doesn't mean Tim wouldn't get to probe even during guests' free question. But wouldn't it be nice if we got to see guests who didn't spend all their interview defending themselves. The questions Tim asks, regardless of the guest, tend to have a "what the hell were you thinkin'" tone to them.

So Tim, since I know you're a regular reader here (I jest) I expect a change...next weekend. Got it? Thanks!