Was Brokaw responsible for Olbermann and Matthews "demotions" as anchors for debates and such?

[madfloridian]

This article makes it sound that way.

NBC Plans Future of ‘Meet the Press’

In the meantime Mr. Brokaw has been given an unexpected encore. Since taking over for his close friend Mr. Russert following his death, Mr. Brokaw has lent on-camera stability to “Meet the Press,” which continues to be the most watched of the network Sunday public-affairs programs. He has also appeared in guest spots on “Today” and on MSNBC that might have otherwise gone to Mr. Russert.

But less widely known is that Mr. Brokaw has also played a pivotal role out of public view, both within NBC and in its dealings with the campaign of John McCain in particular.

In an interview here after Sunday’s broadcast, Mr. Brokaw said that over the summer he had “advocated” within the executive suite of NBC News to modify the anchor duties of the MSNBC hosts Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews on election night and on nights when there were presidential debates. Their expressions of strong political opinions from the MSNBC anchor desk has run counter to the more traditional role Mr. Brokaw played on “NBC Nightly News” for more than two decades. NBC said earlier this month that the two hosts would mostly relinquish their anchor duties to Mr. Gregory, while being present as analysts.

“Keith is an articulate guy who writes well and doesn’t make his arguments in a ‘So’s your old mother’ kind of way,” Mr. Brokaw said. “The mistake was to think he could fill both roles. The other mistake was to think he wouldn’t be tempted to use the anchor position to engage in commentary. That’s who he is.”

Mr. Brokaw said he had also conducted some shuttle diplomacy in recent weeks between NBC and the McCain campaign. His mission, he said, was to assure the candidate’s aides that — despite some negative on-air commentary by Mr. Olbermann in particular — Mr. McCain could still get a fair shake from NBC News. Mr. Brokaw said he had been told by a senior McCain aide, whom he did not name, that the campaign had been reluctant to accept an NBC representative as one of the moderators of the three presidential debates — until his name was invoked.

Looking out for your old buddy, Tom?

Media Matters and Move On are both conducting campaigns to keep Brokaw honest.

From the Media Matters link.

MoveOn thinks Brokaw should apologize.

That's a good first step. He might also want to figure out a way to reassure the public that he'll do a better -- and more fair -- job when he moderates the October 7 presidential debate.

He probably won't spend much time doing that, though -- his days are apparently pretty full acting as NBC's liaison to the McCain campaign. In that role, Brokaw works to assure the McCain camp that "Mr. McCain could still get a fair shake from NBC News."

After Brokaw's performance on Sunday, NBC should be scrambling to assure the Obama campaign of the same thing.

Amen to that.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. He was one of the whiners about Olbermann and Matthews.

He has become a RW whore.

[samdogmom]

2. Tom's legacy is sealed! He was just a tool! End of story.

Dan Rather and Peter Jennings will live on long after they're gone. They'll be revered and studied by aspiring journalism students. However, when it comes to Tom...not so much! He's become a turkey!

On Edit: Tom's greatest accomplishment is getting the (very boring) WWII memorial statue built in Washington, D.C. As a journalist--HE SUCKS!

[SemperEadem]

52. Peter Jennings is already gone

and he is sorely missed.

[TomInTib]

3. Brokaw can be an arrogant ass.

My old buddy, the Late, Great Tom Snyder, used to love to tell tales of Brokaw's attitude.

Do you know they nicknamed the Lockheed L-1011 (TriStar) solely because Brokaw refused to say L-1011 on-air? He couldn't pronounce the "L"s clearly because of a speech impediment (has has a few of those).

[tridim]

4. Problem is neither Matthews nor Olbermann were actually fired.

Both of them were there to comment on the Debate, regardless of official title. In KO's case he was there more than he was for the Convention coverage.

[samdogmom]

8. Ummm--while this is being painted as a "win"...believe me, it's not!

Have you ever studied organizational charts???? No one like to be an underling...everyone wants to be the top dog.

[madfloridian]

9. I know they were not fired....they were "demoted."

Brokaw seems proud of his role in that.

[madfloridian]

14. I changed the word "fired" to "demoted"....bottom line...they were screwed

and apparently by Brokaw.

Brokaw has been sainted far too long.

[tridim]

15. More air time = not screwed.

I totally reject the premise of this post.

I'm not standing up for Browkaw by any means, IMO he doesn't even matter. Both Matthews and KO had more relative screen time during the debates than they did during the RNC.

[madfloridian]

17. That's not the point of the post.

The point of the post is that Brokaw appears to be proud of playing God and standing up for McCain. He does not appear to have scruples about it.

[rcsl1998]

42. He Had 'More' Air-Time Because His Show Countdown Came On 20 Minutes After The Debate

He did not get 'commentary' time during the time MC Rove's dance partner was anchoring the post-debate coverage!

[WI_DEM]

5. And now were stuck with David Gregory as MSNBC anchor of major events

I liked Tweety and KO together.

[madfloridian]

22. I don't watch Gregory or Brokaw. Not worth the irritation.

.

[1corona4u]

6. I just wrote to all of theNBC/MSNBC email addresses....

a bunch bounced back, but a couple of the stuck;

Tom Brokaw needs to decide whether he is going to be an objective anchorman, or a advisor to McCain. It's outrageous that he can come out and say things that are not true, and openly support McCain, while trying to damage Obama's campaign. Tom is well past done, and needs to be retired. I along with probably millions of people will no longer watch MTP, because of his obvious bias towards the right. I thought real journalist put the facts out there, the way they are, without spin, and let the people decide what to believe. Somewhere along that line, many in the media have crossed it. Tom is one of them. If Tom wants to host his own show that supports the republicans, so be it. But he should NOT be allowed to host MTP, and the debates. I'm pretty sure Tim Russert would not approve of the way Tom has been acting on MTP.

Tom has been quoted as saying he had also conducted some shuttle diplomacy in recent weeks between NBC and the McCain campaign. This is outrageous!!! Why on earth are MSNBC and NBC pampering McCain?? McCain has constantly LIED to everyone and networks have tried to cover for him. McCain is dangerous to this country, and we will all be OUTRAGED if you and the rest of the networks continue to cover up for his messes.

John McCain deserves to be reported on/about, but the truth needs to be reported, not what Tom wishes it was.

I have already trimmed my viewing of both NBC, and MSNBC, and will boycott further, and push more people away from your networks, if this continues. WE, the people have made YOUR business what it IS. NOT some political candidate. WE the people are who YOUR advertisers target. Not John McCain.

I swear, NBC, and MSNBC get more like Fox everyday.

Pissed off in Florida.

[gemlake]

7. What about Pat Buchanan?

Is Brokaw worried about them? No, of course not. I'm so sick of the Republicans bitching about the media, when anyone can see that the corporate media leans over backwards for them.

[AwakeAtLast]

10. "Mr. McCain could still get a fair shake from NBC News"

Hey, who's gonna assure that for Obama and Faux News? :shrug:

Seems only fair.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. kick

[Raine1967]

12. Brokaw Should recuse himself from the debate moderating

For the simple fact that he has decided to be an NBC liason to the McCain campaign.

[lamp_shade]

13. What? Chris and Keith didn't WANT the anchor desk for any of these

events. They both preferred to be panelists. They weren't fired.

[madfloridian]

16. Oh, come on. Of course they did.

They were "fired" "demoted" as anchors for political events.

Of oourse they were ticked off.

[liberal1973]

18. Tom Brokaw is a ass

The guy was terrible in the 80s. Tom Brokaw's horrible moderating on Meet the Press was a joke. The guy is terrible and NBC knows it.

[madfloridian]

19. He fooled us then, but not any more

Either we were very naive then, or he has really changed.

[Berry Cool]

20. Brokaw is playing politics and exhibiting his own bias. It's disgusting.

Don't believe a word you hear when Olbermann says it's actually better that he's no longer an anchor because he now feels freer to express an opinion, and he can sit around on a big night and eat ice cream when not on the air. That's like if YOU got demoted from YOUR job to a lesser one (even with no loss in pay), and you told everyone "Well, it's not so bad, because I have more time to surf the Web during the workday, and also nobody cares quite as much how soon I come back from lunch anymore."

[madfloridian]

21. You hit the nail on the head.

Of course it upset them to be taken off as anchors.

I am becoming more and more disenchanted with so many of our media I used to respect.

[farmboxer]

23. Brokaw hate Obama to the extreme

he will do anything to keep Obama from winning the election.

[hisownpetard]

24. More comments on this subject:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7255630&mesg_id=7255630

[Auggie]

25. A "Fair Shake?" Since when is reporting the truth not a fair shake?

[ginnyinWI]

26. Whle I'm no fan of Brokaw--and think he should be kicked off MTP--

because of his own bias--I don't want MSNBC to become a leftwing version of FOX news. I want the truth--not the truth skewed to the left. I don't mind Tweety and Keith as commentators rather than anchors--okay I don't mind Keith I should say. Tweety can just go away along with Brokaw. Gregory will be an acceptable--although exceedingly dull--anchor.

Personally I'm going to watch the debate on CBS. Then I'll turn on Keith's special edition of Countdown after their coverage ends. We do have the ability to watch other networks, and I do.

[desktop]

28. Good analysis

MSNBC needs to remain a news operation. Using Olberman and Mathews as commentators is fine. FOXnews is propaganda, MSNBC should not go there. Using partisan commentators is fine, it's when those commentators lie, or exaggerate without factual backup, and are not called on it by the newsmen, that you have crossed the line into propaganda such as on FOXnews.

[notaboutus]

32. Huh? David Gregory is a republican too.

Well who is there to call out the "newsmen" when they lie? Keith is opinionated but he always has FACTS to back up what he says. David Gregory's show is like an hour of Joe in the evening. He is a republican too. The ONLY one who acts like a journalist like him or not is Brian Williams. He is just the facts just the facts. This is just my opinion.

[beezlebum]

45. no no no...

desktop wrote:
"Using partisan commentators is fine, it's when those commentators lie, or exaggerate without factual backup, and are not called on it by the newsmen, that you have crossed the line into propaganda such as on FOXnews."

First of all, MSNBC can't "remain" a news organization if hasn't been one in some time.

Secondly, propaganda does not have to be obvious as per FOXnews. FOXnews is merely there to make the other networks look good to dems and bad to republicans. MSNBC crossed that line...well, I don't recall a time when it wasn't such an outlet...

There is a popular myth- you know, that whole "liberal media" crap, where, supposedly, the media is biased against republicans and conservatives and favors dems/liberals, aka "leftists?" Oh, everyone except FOXnews, of course.

But it's just that- MYTH. ALL the networks and mainstream sources are propaganda. The bias and agenda pushing and distraction a la crap is subtle, but it's very much there. It doesn't always have to be openly hawkish to make suggestions and perpetuate lies.

What about folks like KO getting their own shows?? KO was given a platform for a couple of reasons, but none of them involved being a news organization. It was more about trying to "maintain" some sort of pretend integrity.

I mean, WOW. One good commentator, who's not on anyone's side, per se, but who is more or less a sensient, passionate being with a profound grip on the English language. The rest of them come across as dipshit minions who are willing to do anything to keep hearing themselves talk, "Look, ma, I'm on teevee!! duh..." They come a dime a dozen, but I know more intelligent human beings, half of them under the age of 10, some of them even republican. Keith may be somewhat of a rarity, but surely it's not so difficult to find someone with just a smidgen more intellectual capability to deliver crucial information...

It's ALL bullshit, a joke. We don't HAVE news organizations. We have distraction experts.

[notaboutus]

51. BRAVO!

Couldn't have said it better myself.:applause:

[Zambero]

27. Will McCain also get a "fair shake" from Fox News?

Otherwise, all Obama-bashing all the time?

Anyway, Thanks a bunch Tom. Just keep those folks at MSNBC in line (unless their last name happens to be Scarborough or Buchanan) while Fox News carries on with business as usual. Now, that's "fair and balanced"!

[Overseas]

29. K&R -- Brokaw should step aside. Too biased to moderate.

I wrote to MTP about that.

If he feels he must visit the McCain campaign to assure them that they would get a "fair shake" from NBC even though MSNBC had a few reporters who were actually critical of him, then he is openly admitting his bias.

If any critical commentary is considered "unfair" then you are biased and should step aside, Tom !

[Time for change]

30. I believe Brokaw may be becoming just as much of a Republican media whore as Russert

On the July 27th edition of Meet the Press, Brokaw adopted the highly debatable proposition that George Bush’s troop “surge” in Iraq has been an unqualified success, and he used right wing talking point to try to make Obama look ridiculous:

You engaged in some verbal kung fu with reporters and others this week about the surge. You opposed the surge… Many analysts believe that the reason that violence has decreased is because the American troops were deployed in a more effective manner... And it allowed President Maliki to stabilize his government somewhat. But you would not apologize, and you said you did not regret your opposition this surge…That prompted this radio ad from your opponent John McCain, which is running today. So let's listen to that and then respond.

Brokaw then played a free ad for the McCain campaign, followed by a video of Obama opposing the surge. Obama explained that there are many possible explanations for reduced violence in Iraq, including some that came into play prior to the surge. He also tried to make the point that the surge is just one small aspect of the Iraq quagmire, and that he had been right and McCain wrong about the much broader and important question of whether to invade Iraq in the first place. But Brokaw just dismissed those points and continued with his pummeling of Obama for opposing the surge by quoting the opinion of an unnamed source from USA Today:

But we have to talk about the reality of what's going on in Iraq right now… Well, let me show you… This is what USA Today had to say about your position on the surge. "Why can't Obama bring himself to acknowledge the surge worked better than he and other skeptics thought that it would?"… "What does that stubbornness say about the kind of president that he would be?"…

[notaboutus]

31. They are FOX Jr

Tom is a republican. Has anyone but me noticed how he interviews Democrats differently from Republicans. Did you know MSNBC has played the McCain campaign and RNC ads more than any other network even FOX? Have you seen David Gregory dancing on stage with Rove? Phil Griffin is Joe and David's close friend. Go to Jossip.com and you can get a lot of details. This may not be a reputable site and they don't like Keith but the information on MSNBC is always verified. Look at who they said months ago would replace Tom on MTP.

[notaboutus]

36. EXACTLY

I was starting to think I was the only one who noticed how totally unprofessional that interview was. He was one a one man mission to help the republicans. MSNBC has given Joe and Mika another hour at 2:00 daily. MSNBC is trying their best to help the republicans. I don't care what anyone says they are becoming a sly FOX. They went so much to the left. They think now they can't or won't be questioned for going right. I don't care about them doing it. I don't run their news corp, I just want people to not be fooled into trusting what they say because now they lie and scheme like FOX.

[bertman]

33. "Mr. McCain could still get a fair shake from NBC News." Given the pro-McCain bias of NBC so far,

I guess that means Brokaw is gonna grab him by the neck and shake him like a terrier on a rat.

Anything else would be more of the same fawning and adoring that's been going on since McAnus started his primary run.

[Leopolds Ghost]

34. Wow. n/t

[anitar1]

35. I watched Tom change through the years. He comes across

as a pompous , ego ridden ass these days. He makes a fool of himself. imo.Another one I cannot watch or listen too. No value there.

[abomb]

37. All Republicans hate the truth

Brokaw is a Republican and a liar :sarcasm:

[Raster]

46. Why the sarcasm tag?

Brokejaw IS a rethuglican AND a liar. Your point?

[H2O Man]

38. Brokaw played a role.

He was a puppet doing what the NBC puppeteers tasked him with.

[WeDidIt]

39. David Gregory will become the heir apparent to MTP

Mark my words.

MTP will be nothing short of a shithouse after this election is over.

A shitty shithouse that should be shut down.

[MasonJar]

40. No surprise there...he carried the Bush waritis to the people. Only

Dan Rather had a conscience. I have zero respect for Brokaw.

[Pryderi]

41. Is Brokaw a lush? He sounds like he's drunk while on camera.

[Phred42]

43. They'll have to change the name: Meet the Fascists

or Meet the Plutocrats (that way they won't have to change the monogram on the towels.

Maybe Soros pumping $3 Bln into GE will have some positive effect - and put BroCow out to pasture.

[crickets]

44. Since when does a news organization need a 'liaison' to a political candidate?

Since when is a news organization supposed to be concerned with how a politician perceives the coverage about him?

Tom has lost the plot. :eyes:

[pattmarty]

47. Brokaw is an ass hole, completely irrelevant today.

[McCamy Taylor]

48. I am going to have to remind America why John McCain is the GOP nominee....

[dakdirty]

49. What the deal?

How come no one is railing about a "conflict of interest" when it comes to Brokaw? Isn't he moderating one of the debates? It's the height of hypocrisy to have all these repugnacans trying to bash Gwen Ifill, when it's more then obvious that Brokaw is totally in the tank for them. I'd like to repeatedly bash Tom Brokaw about the head, and hang him from a flagpole by his little Reagan underoos.

[pyro858]

50. Brokaw is a racist

besides being a rightwing nutjob.