Tim Russert: Cheney's Mouthpiece or Journalist?

Well now. There you have it. Although this is not 'news' to those of us who have been frustrated with the media during the tenure of the current administration - perhaps it will be news to Mr Russert. Mr Russert has some choices to make. Will he remain the administrations bitch in order to maintain favor with those in high places or will he do what the public expects him to do?


From Dana Milbank:

Memo to Tim Russert: Dick Cheney thinks he controls you.

This delicious morsel about the "Meet the Press" host and the vice president was part of the extensive dish Cathie Martin served up yesterday when the former Cheney communications director took the stand in the perjury trial of former Cheney chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Flashed on the courtroom computer screens were her notes from 2004 about how Cheney could respond to allegations that the Bush administration had played fast and loose with evidence of Iraq's nuclear ambitions. Option 1: "MTP-VP," she wrote, then listed the pros and cons of a vice presidential appearance on the Sunday show. Under "pro," she wrote: "control message."

"I suggested we put the vice president on 'Meet the Press,' which was a tactic we often used," Martin testified. "It's our best format."