Tim Russert's Legacy
Posted by Kirk Varner, News Director
on June 14th, 2008 at 05:56:44 pm , 8817 views
Some 24 hours after the first word of the sudden passing of NBC News journalist Tim Russert, it is still hard to believe that he is gone. The tributes that have poured out for Russert, the long time leader of NBC News in Washington and host of "Meet The Press", are so profound and eloquent that it doesn't make much sense to try and add more here about the man and what he meant to both journalism and politics in America. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues who are struggling to cope with such a sudden and profound loss.
I never met Mr. Russert, but consider myself to be a great fan of his work--as pretty much anyone even slightly interested in politics would have to be. One thing I do know is part of what made him so good at his job--in that he never forgot where he came from. Having spent a few years of my life in his home town of Buffalo, New York, where politics is a close second as a full contact sport to a Buffalo Bills game, part of what made Russert such a great interviewer is that he always asked the questions that the folks back in Buffalo wanted to know the answers to. And like those good people, Tim Russert didn't settle for the standard obfuscation or parroting of the party line that is the usual fare of Washington, DC.
In his last broadcast on Friday, an interview over Washington radio station WTOP, Russert said about the 2008 Presidential race: "there has never been a more interesting, more important presidential election in my lifetime." The fact that we will have to go through it without the contributions of Tim Russert is a loss to everyone who cares even a little about the process of picking the next leader of our nation.
It's my opinion that the very least that every journalist who will cover this election can do, is try to make sure that we get the answers to the important questions that the people of Buffalo-and all the rest of our country-want the answers to. That would be one way that the legacy of Tim Russert can--and should be honored.
19 comments
Comment from: jeff [Visitor] 
i don't know Kirk... from the sounds of things( watching the morning news) when anybody received an invitation from Tim Russet... it was like receiving an Papal Bull to stand before the grand inquisitor, Tomás de Torquemada...(loved watching the politicos sweat)and if i recall correctly, i remember many interview-ie's drinking lot's of spring water during the interview...
06/15/08 @ 10:34
Comment from: Jill K. [Visitor]
¡Por Dios! Jeff, Torquemada?? I think not.Kirk, I'm very sad about Tim Russert's passing. He was such a fixture that I think a lot of people just took for granted. He was always there, quietly understated, never giving a hint at his own political leanings.
From all of the memoralizing of Tim, it's clear that he was just a great man, a great father and friend. But his loss is a loss for American politics and journalism that is just huge. Sure, as Jeff said, Tim made his interviewees sweat (and gulp water!). But he was always respectful, and he only ever used a person's own words and actions against him or herself.
And he didn't interrupt. He let people explain their way out of it, or hang themselves with their own spin.
My thoughts are with his family and his NBC family, and his countless friends.
06/15/08 @ 11:13
Explain to me why Mr. Russert's passing has received signifigantly more coverage than those who posthumously were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor? Yes, his passing is a sad event but no more newsworthy than any casualty we have taken in the past seven years. Say your eulogy and move on because the excess is getting tiresome.
06/15/08 @ 11:15
Comment from: DaveR [Visitor]
Tim Russert was one of the rare few in journalism that was fair and objective. He was a registered Democrat that did not wear his party affiliation "on his sleeve."He truly represented the "greatest generation" even though he was not one of them, but had the ethics of journalism and character that would be approved by that generation.
He loved politics and provided the analysis that I could believe in. Most prominent politicians respected his interviews and depth of reasoning--except the Clinton's who chose to denigrate him recently.
Honest journalism was his Hallmark and I will miss it. According to his boss, he did not have an agent and did not work for the money, but worked for the love of journalism--- a rarity in today's corrupt media.
He was a true American----------------
06/15/08 @ 11:29
Comment from: DaveR [Visitor]
Khyros-- your point about the MOH recipients is a good one. The answer is the media is corrupt------
06/15/08 @ 11:35
Comment from: Jill K. [Visitor]
Khyros,That is a good point. But this is a case of the people in the media having lost one of their family. It seems to me that it is mostly NBC that is doing the continuous memorializing, which is more uerstandable. But yeah, you really do raise a valid point and valid criticism. Somehow I can't help but think that Tim Russert himself would say enough already, go get the real news.
06/15/08 @ 11:43
Comment from: Kirk Varner, News Director [Member]
@Khyros:Indeed, one might suspect that Tim Russert himself would have blanched a little at the coverage that his untimely passing has received. When you lose someone you care about, you want to share your memories of that person as part of the grieving process. Apparently there are a lot of people who liked Russert and wanted to share their memories of him over this weekend.
Rest assured, the news cycle will inevitably move on to it's next instant obsession before too long.
But you have a good point. Anyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice deserves as much honor and memorial as we all can give them. Every single day.
06/15/08 @ 12:33
Comment from: jeff [Visitor]
yeah, good point SGT...Kirk, your probibily correct...
06/15/08 @ 12:57
Whoops... used my online persona from Pnet when replying this morning.Kirk, from what I know of Mr. Russert you are undoubtably right that he would be annoyed by the amount of attention he's getting.
06/15/08 @ 20:24
Comment from: Felicia M [Visitor]
How can all of you be so rude and cruel about Tim Russert.I agree with Kirk 100% when you lose someone you love you want to share your memories of that person thru the grieving process.
So everyone should count their blessings and always remember one never knows from one moment to another what can happen amongst us be thankful for what you have and say a prayer for those who may not.
It is called humanity.
06/16/08 @ 09:38
Comment from: kmria [Visitor]
There is no one, absolutely no one, on any of the networks who even comes close to Russert in terms of his stature, balance, understanding of politics, simple thoroughness and effectiveness at his job.Bob Schieffer, Chris Wallace, Chris Matthews, Anderson Cooper?
The dropoff from Russert is like a freefall off of Mt. Everest.
06/16/08 @ 11:39
Comment from: George [Visitor]
khyros...I'll answer your question. The reason this is receiving more coverage than the Congressional Medal of Honor winners is because the media is making this all about themselves, under the pretext of mourning Tim Russert's umtimely passing. It is obviously very sad, but I am getting tired of all them claiming to be his close friend. Tim was a guy who was friends with everyone. Long story short?...The (so called) mainstream media disgusts me.
06/16/08 @ 12:26
Comment from: Neal [Visitor]
His last book "Big Russ" is a must read and tantamount of his families character and values. It reflects something that is woven in our heritage, but could be lost if we are not careful. He and his family are Democrats and is hard to understand how he could have written such a book that does not reflect the Democrats of today that think everyone is entitled to government handouts.It is going to be interesting to see who NBC chooses to host "Meet The Press." Since MSNBC has gone extreme left and NBC seems to be following, I'll bet that they will select a far left winger.
06/16/08 @ 14:42
Comment from: George [Visitor]
Neal...I believe you are right....Maybe Chris Matthews, or that other Bush hating nut who's name escapes me..... Now I remember.....Keith Olberman, It wouldn't surprise me....My serious guess would be David Gregory, who I would not watch either.
06/16/08 @ 15:28
Comment from: STN/enoMacDonald,Glenna [Visitor]
I was watching meet the press as they were remembering him,and thinking to my self how just before my neighbor killed herself we chated about how everyone say all beautiful things about the decesed,and how they never get to hear these wonderful eulogies,and how nice it would be if we said nice things about one another while we were alive so we could hear how funny and witty and all the wonderful things they say about you after your passed.Scince then i made a decision to say all good things I can,unless attacked.
Because of that conversation.
Call me brown,nose and name dropper but don`t show up at my funeral and call me beautiful,if you can`t say it to my face.
~Peace Glenna~
06/16/08 @ 20:10
Oh Shut the Hell Up.
Comment from: Glenna is Right [Visitor]
When I heard that Tim Russert had died, I felt as if I had lost a hero. Not until he was gone did I learn of his political leanings, which shows everyone but George how impartial the media can be.He was a great professional, yes, but what moved me was his love for his father. I never saw a grown man so unabashedly pronounce his love and admiration for his father. I am so glad Big Russ got to hear that, especially now with this ironic turn of events. From listening to his 17-year-old son, I see that Tim was himself a wonderful father, evidenced by the quality of that fine young man.
In a time when family is supposed to mean so much to the religious right and conservatives, Tim gave us Liberals and Democrats a fine example we can proudly follow. I am sorry he will not be here with us to see Barack take the White House.
06/17/08 @ 15:51
Comment from: Lee Brimhall [Visitor]
His agenda was bringing out the facts.He didn't let the politicians he interviewed get away with slippery statements and inconsistent positions. But it was not "gotcha" journalism. It was not trying to filter or slant information to promote some political or ideological agenda. whatever Tim Russert's political opinions were, that was not what his program was about. He was there to serve the audience by bringing out the facts about the political world, a world where spin is the usually name of the game.
Often critics who complain about media bias argue as if what is needed is to be "fair" to "both sides." But what is far more important is to be honest with the audience-- who are seeking information and understanding about the real world, not about the ideology or the agenda of the journalist.
This is not to denigrate opinion journalists, who have a valuable role to play, just as reporters like Tim Russert do. But, with both opinion journalists and reporters, the question is whether you play it straight with the audience, instead of filtering out inconvenient facts in order to manipulate the audience in favor of some agenda.
In short, the issue is honesty rather than "fairness." The question is whether journalists put their cards on the table. Russert put his cards on the table-- and they were high cards.
06/17/08 @ 17:09
F-you you turd mr. MireckJ 
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