AIM Urges NBC's Russert to Step Aside From Network Coverage of CIA Leak Cas

http://newsbyus.com/more.php?id=451_0_1_0_M

WASHINGTON: Citing his role as a likely prosecution witness in a criminal trial involving former vice-presidential chief of staff Lewis Libby, Accuracy in Media said today that Tim Russert of NBC News should voluntarily remove himself from any network coverage of the CIA leak case. “The basic standards of fair and objective journalism require that Russert withdraw from the coverage,” declared AIM editor Cliff Kincaid. “He is a widely respected journalist but he is just too deeply involved in this case to continue to report or comment on it.”

“Russert was part of the investigation and now may be part of the prosecution,” added Kincaid. “How, therefore, can he present himself on the air as a neutral, objective and disinterested party?”

The New York Times notes that Russert, who is cited in the Libby indictment, may be appearing as a prosecution witness in the case. The Times also reports that Russert addressed his role on the air, saying, “Clearly the special counsel has made a judgment, that when taking the comments and statements of Matt Cooper and Judy Miller and myself as opposed to Scooter Libby, he has decided that Mr. Libby was not telling the truth."

“In effect,” said Kincaid. “Russert has labeled Lewis Libby a liar, in advance of an impartial jury judging the facts of the case.”

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Stop Catapulting Propaganda at the American people.

Journalists have a responsibility to seek and publish truth.

NBC tries to be forthcoming about Russert

NBC News says it has tried to be thoroughly forthcoming about Tim Russert's role in the CIA leak case but has not told its most visible Washington correspondent to avoid discussing the ongoing political scandal.

"There is no need for him to recuse himself," acting NBC News president Steve Capus said Monday. "Tim Russert is not on trial."

...Libby said he learned the identity of a covert CIA officer married to a Bush administration critic from Russert..."Mr. Libby had called NBC and me as bureau chief in July not to leak information but to complain about something he had seen on a cable television program," Russert said...

:headbang:
rocknation

is which goon would we get to replace Russert, hence forth known as the well grown potato.

Olberman would be a great choice!

Tweety would not.

We should make that point, in case GE thinks we've forgotten.

though the degree of his involvement with the story was not widely known until Fitzgerald revealed it, everyone knew he was somehow involved. NBC should've gotten him off of it months ago. These people aren't journalists, they are ringers.

right wing whackos carry no weight with me.

His lawyer can claim that a key witness for the prosecution is going on national television saying his client is guilty making it impossible to get a fair trial. Thats not a good thing. Russert should have walked away from this case a long time ago.

Don

Talking or writing about the role they played in the story is one thing. But since they were part of the CREATION of the story, they shouldn't be COVERING it because their objectivity is compromised--that's Journalism 101. Russert, Matthews, Novak, Miller, Cooper--who am I missing? (Gets off shiftless lazy ass and does her own research) According to Wikipedia, it's Walter Pincus of the Washington Post, who didn't print the story because he didn't believe it.

:headbang:
rocknation

Worked for Cheney.

about which I have no opinion), I don't buy Kincaid's characterization of Russert's remark. He didn't really label Libby a liar; he made a very simple observation of fact, that any journalist or other person could make, based on the indictment. He could have easily left himself out of the equation and made the same point: The special prosecutor (Fitz) believes that Libby is not telling the truth.

BFD. We all know that.

be withdrawn, by NBC, from covering the leak case, he would have withdrawn himself. He is simply a biased shill for the bush admin and his job is to continue to try and regurgitate their talking points whenever possible, imo.

I don't know how FAIR feels about it, but I'm guessing this is a rather common-sense position.