NBC host Chuck Todd may have accidentally revealed on Sunday why he — and other mainstream media personalities — often let their guests off the hook instead of conducting a hard-hitting interview…. “We all sit there because we know the first time we bark is the last time we do the show,” Todd explained. “There’s something where all of the sudden nobody will come on your show.”
The reason I no longer watch Sunday morning political talk shows is that, to paraphrase Todd, it’s an exercise in ego massaging and mental masturbation. We live in an era in which journalists are afraid of asking politicians tough questions because they fear losing access to them. Instead of doing their duty, which involves something along the lines of serving the public interest, they lob softballs at those who wouldn’t fear tough questions if they were doing what they were elected to do in the first place. Evidently, Todd doesn’t consider it his responsibility to call out Republicans for their myriad lies about the Affordable Care Act. Yeah, that would be too much like committing journalism, wouldn’t it?
When did journalism become dependent upon maintaining the goodwill of those they’ve historically been charged with monitoring? Not that the relationship must by nature be adversarial, but when journalists fear being “cut off” by politicians, how can we trust that those journalists will keep politicians honest?
I suspect Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite must be spinning furiously in their grave right about now….
It’s no secret that the most trusted “newsmen” in America are Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert. The problem with that, of course, is that neither are journalists- they’re comedians…yet they can be counted on to ask questions that too many journalists refuse to. Stewart in particular is known for pushing those he interviews when his bullshit detector goes off, something those who call themselves journalists often are unwilling to do.
Todd’s refusal to “bark” at politicians means that those he should be holding accountable are able to control the narrative. If they know they’re not going to be asked tough questions, they know that they direct the conversation in a way which enhances their image and reputation. This is fine if they’re doing what they were elected to do, but in so many cases, they aren’t, and the accountability we should be able to expect is nowhere to be found.
SO WHAT if politicians refuse to come on Meet the Press or other political talk shows? Ultimately, doesn’t that say more about the politicians and their unwillingness to face honest, legitimate questions?
We live in a world in which “news” is more about personalities and ratings than about the truth of what is being done in our name. If we can’t count on journalists to demand accountability from those we elect, then our democracy is in grave peril. Then again, if we’re counting on moral midgets like Chuck Todd to hold politicians feet to the fire, we’re in more trouble than we know.
