Tim Russert Claims Lousy Obama Interview Was Obama's Fault
"He's mesmerizing", says Tim Russert, "I think he hypnotized me in some fashion." Those answers from NBC's Meet the Press man were in response to criticism of Russert's less than stellar and more than recycled questioning of Barack Obama on NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday, May 4.
Appearing to fall in complete lock step with any other questioner that has gotten close to Barack Obama since the recent Jeremiah Wright flare-up, Russert asked the same questions that so many others have asked beforehand in the first 15 minutes or so of the "exclusive" interview that viewers were turning their TVs off in droves.
Russert, famous (at least in his own mind) for asking tough questions didn't dig up one new answer or one new piece of information from Barack Obama, leading one NBC honcho to exclaim, "What is going on here? Can't we get an original question out of our star political interviewer? "
Russert later explained his sub-par performance by placing the blame squarely on Obama.
According to Russert. "I firmly believe Obama performed some sort of black magic voodoo and knocked me off my stride. I had several very original questions prepared to ask Obama, but all I felt myself focusing on issues that had already been covered time and time again. It was as if someone switched my notes. I think Obama wants to keep us asking these same questions over and over again, although I can't imagine why, unless he wants to take down the media by somehow making us appear as incompetent as we really are. "
When prodded about the characterization of Obama as performing "black magic voodoo" as possibly being a racist slur, Russert countered, "See, that's what I'm talking about. I would never say anything like that. Obama has this powerful mesmerizing influence that works on you and forces you not to break new ground and ask questions that make the interviewer appear weak and uninformed."
Russert was questioned further and prodded on the fact that his questioning later in the interview seemed to be more on point and responded, "I think Obama's influence over me started to flag, once we started talking about real issues. Either that or my producers were feeding me questions directly through my headset. I don't know. I'm still somewhat in a fog. Watching the tape, I noticed my eyes weren't as bugged out as they usually are when I'm asking pointed questions. "
What kind of idiotic racist answer is that? Was Tim Russert joking or is he completely nuts? The interview was another lame insignificant,third grade questioning process that has become all too standard with network news. Please, where's the stretch here? If I were Obama I would have called him on it. But as usual, Barack Obama, with his wonderfully composed self confidence, came out on top again, and Russert self- destructed,......again.
It was Obama's fault? Weak at best.
Posted by: Joe Menish | May 05, 2008 at 11:54 AM