New NBC Political Director Todd a Media Research Center Fan: 'My Politics Neutral as it Comes'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

When word emerged yesterday that NBC had named Chuck Todd, currently the Editor-in-Chief of National Journal's "The Hotline," as its new political director, my curiosity as to his personal politics was naturally aroused. I found a MediaBistro article that included this intriguing sentence:

"Before coming to the world of political reporting and analysis, Todd earned practical political experience on initiative campaigns in Florida and various national campaigns based in Washington, D.C."

That in turn naturally raised the question: on just whose national campaigns and which Florida initiatives did Todd work? Deciding to go right to the source, I sent an email to Todd that resulted in an interesting exchange.

Todd responded by indicating that in 1991 he had worked on the presidential campaign of Tom Harkin, the liberal Democratic senator from Iowa, later mentioning that as a youth in 1984 he had also worked casually with his grandfather on Ronald Reagan's campaign. The Florida initiatives were ones concerning a bottle bill and off-shore drilling, Todd having worked on the "green" side of both issues. At the same time, the new political director made these points:

• "I am a fan of the Media Research Center and of Mr. Bozell [MRC founder and president] and am aware of your mission."
• "I only ask that you and your readers before drawing conclusions, judge me on my work over my 15-year career covering politics. I'm an analyst; I don't have an agenda other than making politics interesting and sharing my passion for the subject in a way that will draw more folks into the arena."
• "My politics really is as neutral as it comes; I've gotten so engrossed in the game of campaigns that I don't pigeon-hole anyone. For those familiar with The Hotline, they can vouch for that. I view my job as an analyst. Who's up and who's down and why are they up and why are they down."

As I responded to Todd: "from my perspective it would be nice if, once in a while, someone in your position would have to explain that they don't have an agenda despite having worked for Republican politicians or conservatively-oriented initiatives. Instead, we're asked to accept that neither Chris Matthews nor Tim Russert -- and now you --- have an agenda despite having all worked for liberal Democrats."

By the same token, Chuck Todd's willingness to engage with NewsBusters, his admiration for MRC and Brent Bozell, his long tenure out of partisan politics and in reporting at Hotline, and his avowal of neutral-as-can-be politics, are encouraging. Todd will have a much higher profile than his predecessor as NBC political director, Liz Wilner. In addition to his behind-the-scenes duties, Todd will serve as NBC News' on-air political analyst for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams," "Today," "Meet the Press with Tim Russert" and MSNBC, including "Hardball with Chris Matthews."

We'll be watching!

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

New-NBC-political-director ping to Today show list.

[Lusis]

By "neutral," does he mean, "to the left of Joe Lieberman but to the right of Ted Kennedy?"

[somemoreequalthanothers]

I am a fan of the Media Research Center and of Mr. Bozell

Sure he is.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

At least he was willing to say so on the record.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

When it comes to network guys, I'll judge them by their deeds.

[ishabibble]

NO WE WON'T!

[Lee'sGhost]

Too bad for him. If he lives up to his self assessment he will be gone in six months for not hauling the lib water.

Best of luck, dude.

[Plutarch]

...in 1991 he had worked on the presidential campaign of Tom Harkin, the liberal Democratic senator from Iowa..

Jeez, he didn't just work on the campaign of any old Democrat, but that of the most extreme leftist available at the time.

[6SJ7]

I am a fan of the Media Research Center and of Mr. Bozell

Same as saying, "Some of my best friends are Republican".

[Lets Roll NOW]

The guy worked for TOM HARKIN! You have to be a socialist to get in the door at the Harkin campaign.

Brian Williams tried this schtick when he took over at NBC News, he went on Rush and tried to sound middle of the road. How did that turn out?

[MEG33]

I'll be looking forward to your reports on his "neutrality".

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"We'll be watching!"

Watch PMSNBC, NOPE!

[popdonnelly]

Is this a joke? The guy tries to paint himself as politically neutral? Seems like he's following the NBC News tradition of not reporting honestly.

[CFC__VRWC]

I'll wait and see how it goes with him, but this reminds me of ABC's Mark Haleperin and his supposed "awakening" a few months back to the fact that the media is ridiculously biased to the left, and his assertion that they really needed to do something about that. Well, ABC is, if anything, more leftist biased now than they were then, and (what a coincidence!) Halperin had just written a book when he made those remarks.

You don't suppose he was just telling us dumb conservatives what we wanted to hear so we'd buy his book, do you?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I've watched him many times on various shows, and while I didn't focus particularly on his comments, by the same token he never struck me as a partisan lib.

[Plutarch]

Wikipedia on Harkin's 1991 campaign:

Harkin ran for President in 1992 as a populist with labor union support who railed against George H.W. Bush for being out of touch with working class Americans. Harkin was an early favorite in a small field of five candidates, but many felt that Harkin's liberalism was too shrill and old fashioned and that he would be a certain loser in the General Election. Harkin won the Iowa caucus and those in Idaho and Minnesota (with help from Senator Paul Wellstone), but he ran poorly in New Hampshire and other primaries and ultimately lost the Democratic Party nomination to Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas.

Harkin's stale leftism turned off the liberal Democrat electorate in 1991, but was ambrosia to Chuck Todd.

[Mike Bates]

I wonder, Mark, if his wife - who worked for Jim Webb in VA - has any influence on his views.

[reagan_fanatic]

Everytime I see that picture, I can't get over the look of love in Tom Harkin's eyes.

That's the kind of look a guy gets on his honeymoon.

[Txsleuth]

I have seen this guy on Hairball a lot....he seems to be a Matthews "yes" guest, IMHO.