Newsvine Q & A: Chuck Todd on U.S. Politics

While I would like to see Mr Todd's answer to this question, I would also like to point out that the people the people "we often hear" this claim from are usually right-wing politicians or pundits.  It has been said so often that it is pretty much accepted as fact by certain segments of society.

Personally, I take issue with the idea that "FoxNews is right and all the other networks are left".  Of course they would be seen as left-oriented, in relation to FoxNews.  As we have seen by the example of MSNBC, which actually is an example of a left-wing media outlet: CBS, NBC, and ABC are not actually all that leftward leaning.  In fact, I would say that one of the reasons MSNBC is so popular in it's current format is mainly due to a demand for leftward leaning media that arose after FoxNews started having a large Right-wing influence on the country.

Large media giants, especially since they were taken over by corporate conglomerates, look out for their own interests, if anything, not the interests of any particular political ideology.

Thanks for your imput Josh from Brooklyn.

And your question was in fact a good one.  My comment was just one man's opinion. :)

We are in for a time of dreadful news and we should take it straight. From my point of view Jonathon Capehart, Joan Walsh, Mark Morford, Ryan Lizza, Ford Jr, Buchanan (oddly), Lynn Sweet and Jon Stewart (Colbert) All offer information and after a couple good shuffles give me a general idea of the news. I of course read constantly and it further expounds on and clarifies what I get from MSM. FOX news I only watch occasionally and get offended by their idiocy

Will one of the MSM develop a news that gets to the meat of the issues rather than coverage of crashes or celebrities over and over. Round tables are great to Sunday is a no-miss though I watch it at 11 pst

Can Barack Obama finally find a solution in the Middle East?

Does he have any credibility there?

You knew my question wasn't going to be EASY, right?

The answer is quite clear...common courtesy! Watching both NBC and Fox in the

past 10 minutes NBC was covering "What the Obamas might have in their pantry"

while Fox was covering the former presidents departure from Andrews Air Force

Base.  Is this is unbiased coverage or a message from the biased main stream

media that they still haven't recovered from the so called stolen election of 2000.

The only difference between MSNBC and NBC is the loundness of the message.

I'm rooting for Obama as my President and wish Bush all the best. More of this

attitude is needed.

"Grumpy"

NBC, CBS, and ABC are definitely left-minded. At least Fox News give the view of both the left and the right. You do not see that on the other news channels. A huge example is the presidential campaign. No one other than Fox News dared to ask Obama about his ties to terrorists like William Ayers and his wife. No one challenged him on his lack of experience as a leader. Governor Palin was given ridiculous questions when she was interviewed by you-know-which news channels. Look at that anchor who announced that he is ready to do whatever Obama wants him to do, as he drooled all over the camera. He actually plans to run for office now, so that he can be physically closer to Obama. Ugh. Why aren't the news channels complaining about Obama's pick for Treasury Secretary, a guy who neglected to pay his taxes and who employeed illegal immigrant. Look who Obama appointed as Secretary of State, someone whose husband, former president no less, was paid 10s of milions of dollars from foreign sources. No conflict of interest? Why no complaints. Because they think our first half black/half white president can do no wrong.

The Republicans are running a scam and the ‘Media’ is playing right into their hands. Read some of the transcripts from the committee hearings and you’ll notice that the Republicans proposed amendments that contained ‘poison pills.’ Because the Democrats wouldn’t swallow, the Minority proceeded to launch a public relations offensive purporting to have been shut out of the process.

Those ‘ideas’ the Republicans want would, since they haven’t worked in the past, doom economic stimulus efforts to failure and give them a shot at re-capturing Congress in 2010.

It’s like watching the run up to the Iraq War again. But this time, no one will accuse journalists of being unpatriotic for doing their job and thoroughly presenting both sides. This time, the ensuing disasters and tragedies can be attributed to journalistic laziness.

Better read that bill again.

Sorry , new to this exchange of idea's being passed back and forth, and feal hardly qualified to interrupt,, but,,WHO BELONGS TO THIS {OBAMA-NATION }?

With all due respect to Mr Todd, who is quite good in his chosen field, why would he be qualified to answer these questions? 

Like this one:  "Based on your experience, will President-elect Obama be able to rally the American people on the scale that President Franklin Roosevelt did?" 

What experience would that be exactly?

I don't mean to be rude, nor do I mean to dismiss Mr Todd's considerable experience.  But it would take a team of qualified professional analysts to even make a guess at the answers to these questions, or a really good psychic.

I just bring this up, because it seems these days people are just blindly accepting what the media talking heads have to say about matters, when in fact most of the time those talking heads have no clue what they are talking about.

Chuck , I watch you all the time you say he has 70 percent but 45 percent DID NOT vote for Obama, You need to find out what those people think and have SOME balance repoprting on the other America, also Bush is not he only one to blame for the mess we are in we as a nation have let our moral guard down and are now suffering for it.

Jim, Is it hard to believe that half of the people that didn't vote for Pres Obama still have a high opinion of him and what he's done so far?

reply to BD in WI. that is my question, the people we need to hear from the Mc Cain supporters of 3 months ago, I respect the office of the President and will give President Obama the break he needs, I am just a little leary of the gushy reporting that reporters are doing about his office. Lets here from the people who did not vote for him and see some good reporting on the Democrats that have contributed to this mess. Thanks Chuck for your reply.

Chuck,

In an earlier post you said President Obama's expansion of government does not compare to FDR's. At the present time maybe so, but if he pushes through on the Fed Med (national health care) plus his other plans (nationalized banking), wouldn't this far surpass FDR's government expansion?

Why do you think rural Americans are far more likely to be conservative and larger cities are more liberal?

I have been through more than a handful of Presidential elections, do you think the media is responsible for the deepening divide and animosity between liberals and conservatives?

reply to Mac, yes the media thrives on controversy, so they will keep this divide thing going for as long as they can. I for one think that President Obama needs to do a lot more than National Health Care,,,,we don't need National Health Care,, we need JOBS and then go all out for Nationalized Banking---where did that come from,,I don't want either one of these Programs and I really don't think I remember reading or hearing about them being His #1 agenda once elected, and I read everything,,Maybe missed it on the NIGHTLY NEWS,

queenie,

It looks like the way the new administration is "bailing out" our banks is by giving them money if they will follow their rules....banks ruled by our government. National health care is something that President Obama made part of his campaign platform. At the present time too much money is being put into bailouts and the stimulus packages to do anything about health care. I have read were Obama is increasing money for Headstart and medical coverage for children who's parents can't afford it. These programs were started years ago and are good programs that have always been under funded, hopefully that is what he meant in his campaign.

CHUCK TODD, back in the Day, we would call that the fox protecting the Henhouse, no disrespect intended

When will the media turn the light on itself..and investigate how many networks/reporters/show hosts were told by "the administration" what they were allowed to report on/how/when?

That's probably out of bounds for Chuck, but a topic that's fair game and a favorite for me. The corporate objective is to have an inquiring public, that looks to the likes of Limbaugh et al, to shed light on the issues and impart all the learnedness "we da peeps" need to know.  Baa.

All the reporters have fairly narrow subject areas for which they can offer public opinions and then editors above that.  You have to keep looking up to where the fewest dot the most.

Employment contracts generally make you promise to stick in a fairly narrow area of expertise for commentary, feed a few lawyers with review time first.  On the record and off the cuff is a quick trip to a pink slip.  

It gets a trickier when your income is tied to keeping your nose out of piles of stuff.  A corporate paycheck holds to a very tight line and when you step out you need to be prepared to keep walking.  When do you walk?  

What's your price?  It is something each of us battles, based on what we believe we know, what and when we learn to see differently, our price and terms change.  

Not everyone can be a nearing, firing away with overlooked toxic news.  But an acknowledgment of omissions from the boys in the boardroom is long overdue.  

Would the smart money bet on them coming clean, or selling us a gmo pig that can fly?  

Pamela,

I appreciate your input. I've read some of your articles. I've added you to my friends list.

 However, it's THE MAINSTREAM media that I would like to see address THEMSELVES...Chuck included. But so many of them are guilty of complicity that they won't look in the mirror. Lets see if Chuck cares at all.

Dunno what Mr Todd would say here, but I would suspect not, as the song itself, if you listen to it, is not racist.  It's actually making fun of radical black folks who accuse Barack of "not being black enough".  The name of the song, taken on it's own, is of course quite racist, but once you understand the context, it's not.

I imagine that's why Barack didn't find it offensive when he first heard it.

Whether it's "racist" or not, it's in poor taste, at least in my opinion. For a party that got obliterated with the black (and Hispanic) vote and desperately needs an identity change, this is something the GOP doesn't need right now. Obama is smart in keeping a distance from it and his comments brief.

The funny thing to me: The same far-righties who are saying the song is 'no big deal' would be going ballistic if a black artist/rapper released a song entitled "Bush, the Greedy Whitey."

I applaud the Republicans who denounced the song.

It is ironic I think that "Puff the Magic Dragon" referrs to smoking reefer and when I first heard  RUSH LIMBAUGH'S version last summer or spring, I thought how "POP THE MAGIC PILL" would play out as a theme song.  Maybe Saltsman sings under the influence of the pill popper. 

One other thing ... I recognize that Warren equated homsexuality with pedophilia and polygamy -- a position that I find personally reprehensible.  I too think Gay Marriage is a civil rights issue much like the fight against segregation in the 60s. 

However, I believe Obama's invitation to Warren exemplifies his promise to reach out and talk to those with different viewpoints ... whether it be reaching across the partisan Senate, across the ocean to talk to foreign dictators, or across the pew to the Christian right. 

Good question. And, if the Republicans obstruct Obama's stimulus plans, will they pay a political price?

NBC just reported that Richardson is withdrawing his name as the Commerce Secretary nominee.  Now who is the frontrunner?

Obviously more has happened since I posted this, so if the appointment of Burris is ultimately considered legal, will Quinn still have the authority to override the appointment if he wants to?

Let's see, recently the Supreme Court ruled that laws making those things hanging from your car mirriors illegal are unconsitutional.  I got a ticket and paid a heathy fine a decade or more ago but my attorney says I can't get the ticket rescinded or my money back. 

Chuck, I know my Blago questions are obviously outdated, but I'd welcome any comments you have on the freshly fingerprinted governor.

(www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-21jan21,0,6969926.story)

This is a really interesting development, I've noted this too.  I think that having been in the Senate Obama is certainly familiar with it's members and how they think and amassed his crew based on where they fit in his scheme of things,