What does this say about NBC/MSNBC?
Representative Charlie Wrangel had a very telling exchange with Luke Russert of MSNBC over the Representative’s ethics problems http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/23/charlie-rangel-luke-russert-spar-over-dumb-question-in-ethics/
Luke Russert asked Mr. Wrangel if he feared losing his job to which the Representative asked “What station are you from?” to which Russert responded “NBC, MSNBC.” After asking more questions, Russert was told “It doesn’t really sound like NBC asking these dumb questions.” He continued that “It just shows what is really happened (sic) to a channel that did have some respect.”
Does Rangel’s comment that it doesn’t really sound like NBC asking these questions reflect the fact that heretofore the channel hasn’t been asking hard questions of him and some of his colleagues…..that it’s been derelict in its journalistic responsibility to the public?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
11 Answers
Ranget (note correct spelling) has already issued a formal apology to Russert.
Does Rangel’s comment that it doesn’t really sound like NBC asking these questions reflect the fact that heretofore the channel hasn’t been asking hard questions of him and some of his colleagues…..that it’s been derelict in its journalistic responsibility to the public?
WOW!!!! Thanks for bringing this up. Luke Russert is a guy to keep an eye on. Yes, I think your question is exactly right and it does reflect that MSNBC has been derelict in its journalistic responsibility to the public. I have thought so for some time and Rangel’s question absolutely confirmed it.
Russert’s question was right on target and was perfectly appropriate given the situation Rangel is in. I’m glad Russert, of MSNBC, asked it.
@gailcalled The fact that Rangel apologized, which is a credit to him, has nothing to do with the question posed by the OP. Rangel’s question highlighted his perception of MSNBC’s soft question reputation.
@pletora: You are correct. I get all my news from our local NPR station, New York Times and Slate.com, and cannot pick up MSNBS on myTV. I ocsasionally check out their RSS feed and find it useless.
Luke Russert is Tim Russert’s son. That means a good gene pool.
@gailcalled I find it ironic you misspelled the correct spelling. :)
@cockswain: I misspelled it the first time and then edited (twice) and cslearly made a typo.
Am I pretentious to find all of the news channels to be incompetent? I don’t come away from watching a segment feeling “aware of current events in the world today.” I instead feel disheartened and/or bored.
@gailcalled Yes, certainly a good gene pool, being the son of Tim Russert.
in politics there is no such thing as believable apologies. Once the comment comes out of the mouth it’s out there and these so called apologies are only a limp wristed effort to put out a fire. They’re called non apology, apologies. If Rangle wanted a clean interview he should have hooked up with Madow or Olbemann they would have certainly tossed him the softballs he was hoping for.
Rangle reacted the way he did because democrats are used to powder puff questions ever since obama was running. He probably thought the guy was from fox. Rangle is a crook and I hope he is treated as such. I liked seeing him squirm.
I’m surprised that Russert’s managers at MSNBC allowed him to ask such a question. I have to wonder if they are taking him to the woodshed now, for embarrassing the criminal.
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
