Russert: I'll go on Imus' show ... if NBC doesn't say no

Last April, as Don Imus's career seemed to be going down in flames, his high-powered friends suddenly fell mute. But Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, from Imus's home port of WFAN Radio, had his back. Russo went on the air and named names that should go into the "Imus Hall of Shame" because they had profited immensely from hours of free air time to plug their books on "Imus in the Morning," yet refused to defend him in his time of need.

Number one on his list: "Meet the Press" moderator Tim Russert.

This month "Meet the Press" is marking 60 years on television. I spoke with Russert on Wednesday about that, and in the process I asked him about the return of the I-man to Citadel Broadcasting Dec. 3 (with a simulcast on RFD-TV). Would Russert go on the show if asked?

Listen to Russert's reply (MP3)

There was a follow-up question that should've been asked here, and I didn't ask it. I guess that's why Tim Russert makes the big bucks and I don't. (In my defense, Russert called about three hours before I was expecting him to.)

Comments

[Channel Surfer]

Extremely disappointed with Russert in not challenging Gwen Ifill "Tower" and her incredibly inaccurate portrayal of the Imus White House Parody. The White House Parody was critical of the Reagan White House's treatment of Ifill. Tim just let that fact fall, never brought it up!

But I guess that's just Tim. Dad is Big Russ and Tim is Big Puss!

A hip hop response to politicians, hypocrisy and the mainstream media,
tube.com/watch?v=b-snG4KCwtg

[ImusFan]

I lost my respect for Tim after that last show on Imus in April too. He made a lame remark about 'if Imus is sorry blah blah blah' and I'm thinking give me a break! You are supposed to be his friend and you know the man is not a racist and doesn't deserve this piling on but what did Timbo do - had a show where they bashed him for the whole hour!

I hope Imus gives Tim the cold shoulder and doesn't shove one of his stupid book down our throats again!

[Bobbie]

I am not interested in anything Tim Russert has to say now. I wanted to hear him in April. I hope that Imus moves on to other, more deserving, guests.

[Mel]

I wanted to hear Tim back in April too but he said nothing to defend Imus and had a show on after he was fired to further pick the man apart like a Thanksgiving turkey (with Ifl of all people!). I never missed his show before April but haven't watched since and don't have any plans to in the future.

[Marsha]

Russert was part of the white-collar mob that lynched Imus. Unless this is what's discussed should he appear on Imus's show, I'll shut off the sound and wait for Russert to finish and then resume listening to the Iman.

[Bruce]

It really doesn't matter if Tim Russert bows to NBC or tells them to go screw themselves. Imus will not allow him on. And if by chance I am wrong and he allows him on and "The Beasts" at NBC allow Russert to speak, Imus will out the slime ball that Russert is.

There will be a few people who did not vocally support Imus that he will allow on and have a dialog with. But the list is short and is based on what they didn't say, not what they did say.

NBC is very insignificant. With their newscaster Brian William losing out to WABC and a host of prime time shows not doing as well as others on different networks, who really cares about NBC.

MSNBC is in the toilet right now. They don't have one program that even comes close to winning in the cable business ratings game. And other then KO (Olbermann) they don't have a program that comes in second either.

So to say Russert is a wimp or wuss is an Understatement. I think his father would be ashamed of him.

[Rich]

"If I'm asked"
That's a BIG "if" Russert...you POS.

You guys sit around all day bragging about HOW LONG you've been doing this...your show. And completely forget why your show even exists. It's not your fellow employees...it's not Al Sharpton. IT's US. Former viewers. G'bye Russert..you & KO can enjoy never being asked on the Imus show...and we will enjoy not hearing from you.

[djtr]

i add my disappointment with Russert. where were you when it counted? unless imus told you to dummy up.. you have no excuse. even if he did.. you shouldn't have if you do consider yourself a friend. a few true friends spoke up.. pat buchannon, craig crawford, kinky friedman. the list is embarassingly short. i hope imus guest list is as short when he comes back.. and that everyone who stabbed imus is shaking in their boots right now.

[Tom]

This was a great question. Put these people on the spot. They may have been able to weasel their way out of this in april, but now they must face the fact that they lied about Imus in order to save their own asses from the Sharpton lynch mob.
The Gwen Ifill "incident" is the most outrageous as the previous poster points out. Since few people seem to have actually heard the incident and I am one of them in my faded memory, it was done in third person satire with the intend to point fun at people who would dumb enough to call someone like Ifill a cleaning lady. It was actually showing the stupidity of these people. But as the press has shown, they can just throw things out there as matter of fact and get away with it. Complete BS! Russert completely let this happen and evnt propogated it by allowing the discussion of the "fake" incident to go on his show. Anything short of an apology to Imus, I will not forgive him.

Geesh!
This is Tim Russert!
It's not like this is someone who should be listened to on any subject.
He's a TV personality.

[Bill Kennedy]

It's good to know all you racists are going to get your good ole boy back. But you should acknowledge that Al Sharpton is a result of media-- not support from black people. He can't even fill his own auditorium with 200 people. But since the media (and peckerwoods like y'all) are happier to get their black perspectives from a permed clown; so be it.
You can put your pointy hats back on now. I'm gone.

We all look at things differently. It's called perspective. Point of View. Different aspects mean different things to different people. Like the blind guys describing the elephant.

When I think back on Russert's part in this fiasco I can't help but think of the way Wyatt looked up to Russert. The chess games and all and it reminds me...

I was this kid, see? About nine years old. My father was a teacher. He had been at the school he was teaching at for a while and that Magical word, TENURE, was about to come into play. Then we got the word, the old man had ticked off the superintendent at some point and tenure would not be offered. Time to start sending out the resumes

I remember waiting with my parents at home while the School Board met. I remember wondering how could do they do that to "My Dad". I remember being hurt that they didn't think he was good enough (if he wasn't, how could I be). I remember literally being afraid that we wouldn't know where our next meal would come from. I was only in fourth grade and my sense of security had been rocked.

It was after 9:00, I was already in bed listening to Jean Sheperd when the commotion began.

First it was the sounds of horns honking. seemed like hundreds of them. Then the front door opening and closing over and over.

No way in hell I was staying in bed, so I snuck out in my PJs.

The front room was jammed. More on the lawn. But the amazing thing was the road. From the highway about a half mile away,past our house, up the hill and out of sight were bumper to bumper headlights. And every one of them beeping their horn.

The board meeting had been jammed. Students Staff and Parents. The line at the mic never ending. And not one voice there, was against granting tenure. In fact it was the opposite, Parent after parent said if tenure was not granted there child would be walking out the next morning. The board had no choice. Tenure was granted.

And I can't think of that night without thinking of a man I'll call "The Fern."

The Fern started out as just another of the old man's co-workers. A "friend of my parents." He used to come over for dinner every Wednesday because him and my father were taking a course together.

And that's how he became my friend. He always brought me books. If I was into Knights on Horseback he brought me "The tales of King Arthur" If I was into baseball he brought me a book about old time baseball players, pre Ruth and Cobb. And then we'd discuss them.

He introduced me to classical music by letting me watch him do his show at our High School's Radio Station (real FM Broadcast)

He was at that meeting. And despite not having tenure himself he was the first to speak. He spoke out against denial and may have even offered a veiled threat on behalf of the rest of the staff. I know he promised he would not take action against any student honoring the walk-out.

Thirty-three years later I wonder what would have happened if "The Fern" had taken the easy way out and not not spoken up.

This one's for Wyatt.

(Forget)Russert

[PTBartman]

^ that's me I thought I was logged in, whoops.

[bill from neptune]

Russert is a coward

I will never watch his shows again

Imus should keep him off his show

period

Welcome Back I-Man, you should have never gone in the first place.

[larry]

I just put my pointy hat back on

lump it

[LondonBluue]

Glad to see so many supporting the IMan and dumping on Russert. I have been so outraged since I saw the guys at Newsweek, specifically, Jon Meacham, (the devout and holy Christian, remember?) Evan Thomas, Howard Fineman, et al., -- (I seethe at the thought. It might as well have been me they turned on.) -- Tim Russert and David Gregory -- (Tim and David Gregory? Turn on the I-Man? Didn't think it possible.) -- turn tail and eviscerate Don Imus. Shocked to my core at their shallowness and heartlessness. It *seemed* they were such good buddies with the I-Man. Thank God for Chuck, Bernie, and all of his loyal and steadfast fans who have missed him immeasurably. I only hope and pray Time Warner gets RFD channel so we in KC can watch him again. He can stream on my laptop any day and my day will be a better day because he was on with his trademark wit and fabulous interviewing skills. Yay, I-Man! I had faith and you didn't let me down. Thank you for not retiring. Just don't ever stop what you're doing. I stopped what I was doing: Watching MSNBC -- ( I only watched it for the I-Man anyway. Ridiculous channel.) Stopped reading Meacham. I can't stomach a word he writes now, and I used to be a huge, HUGE, fan. I don't watch NBC News, either. They shot themselves in the foot. It's not just me. And Harold Ford? Hope he never wins an election. He better not even try to get on the I-Man's show. Don't do it, Don. I know you are forgiving and tolerant, but these guys showed their true colors. You have to remember actions speak louder than words.

[Aaron]

I think I got blogged in an interesting place today.

If you follow the link in my original post, you'll read my own convoluted thoughts about this. Of course, it was a mob scene and I-man at some point musta known he wasn't going to get out alive. But he was contrite and also felt sorry for himself and that's pretty much what you get out of him in that situation.

That said, if anyone raises a stink about Imus while Michael Freakin Savage is still allowed to do a national radio show, then that's just idiotic. Imus may not be a national treasure, but he's a voice of America. You may not always like it, but a voice has to speak. Whether you choose to listen to it or not, should be your choice, not Al Sharpton's. He's had his say. So have the Rutgers women, who have gone back to listening to Radio Disney and gospel music.

So he comes back to a smaller network, a smaller contract, and a greatly reduced public bootprint. That seems to fit the crime.

And no, I don't think he'll be reaching out to Russert, come to think of it.

[bruce]

glad to see i man back he was a voice for main stream america and those who are in need wounded service men and women cancer victims autism sids and many others. i hope the fair whether "friends" rot oliphant and russo stood up while ford hung up
imus you are still the man keep it up

[bruce]

glad to see i man back he was a voice for main stream america and those who are in need wounded service men and women cancer victims autism sids and many others. i hope the fair whether "friends" rot oliphant and russo stood up while ford hung up
imus you are still the man keep it up

[Bonnie]

I agree with all of your wonderful posts here regarding Russert.
I think his actions towards Imus shocks me more than any of the other cowards, he writes books about him and his father, and Imus promoted them for him, I wonder if he ever thinks what damage he may have done to Imus's 8 year old Son, Wyatt, that looked up to Tim Russert as his idol, then Russert treated Wyatt's father like he did?
Just a terrible thing, I hope Imus NEVER SPEAKS to Russert again, and I hope no damage was down to that 8 year old little boy, Wyatt, and the lack of trust he may have towards adults in the future.
Great Posts/comments everybody
Welcome back I-Man, you've been missed terribly, hope you come back with a vengence, thats all I can say.

[Katy]

Russert is anathema to both the left and the right -- the best punishment for a person who tries to pander to both sides. Liberals refer to him as a "media whore" while conservatives assume he's a liberal because he's on TV. Humbug to him, a plague on both his houses. I will never watch him again.

[Cindy]

Thank God the I-Man is back in business. Now - I only hope he doesn't let that panty wearing sissy, Tim Russert, and his Big RUSS @##$% Back on the air. Imus...your fans are pissed...go get em!!!

We will cheer you on all the way. Our hearts broke when we were screaming and your "friends" (there were some good guys) were not defending you at all. Tim is a good example of the turn coats.

Go I-Man!!!! We missed you....but bring your show on Cablevision so I can see you too!

[Don W.]

Never watched MSNBC after the Iman was pushed off the Air. Switched to Fox and Friends till the Iman returns on Dec 3. Being an older American I know who my "friends" are and I hope the Iman knows who his are. It was the patient fans who emailed for his return and not the "Polical pundits" and Political wanabee's and Book sellers. who came on his show to Suckup to him, and if he does let them back on, I hope he distroys them.

[dick chiasson]

Thank God the iMan is back. Where was Barnacle during all this ? Also, the Priest and the Rabbi? I say start with a whole new list of guests and the hell with the past. Maybe his first guest should be a one legged,blind, black lady, married to an Iraqui who played basketball in high school and lost her leg in the first Desert Storm. Let's get all the minorities covered on the first show

[Lonnie Hughes]

Imus is a bit liberal but talks to all. i really miss not hearing him but that will be remedied 12.03. thank you mr imus. russert, ford, fineman and other back stabbers that stood at the front of the line are a symbol of why we as a country are in trouble. it's all about me is their theory and our congress as well. ford should be ashamed. imus did everything but win his election for him. mr. ford, i guess your memphis upbringing served you well and may be the reason you were not elected, thank goodness. i will never be fooled again mr ford. i hope the i-man has fred to tell them to all go where there is eternal summer.