Goodbye Tim Russert

Years ago I first became interested in politics by watching David Brinkley every Sunday morning on ABC.

I was saddened when he retired thinking that Sunday mornings wouldn’t be the same. Yet I soon found on another channel, another monitor and even though Tim Russert on Meet the Press couldn’t replace David Brinkley, as he was one of a kind, over the years I grew to admire and enjoy Tim Russert for his own originality.

So to hear of his death today was shocking as he was so young and it was so unexpected. Political junkies such as me will sorely miss his insight, wit and vast political knowledge which he shared with us every Sunday morning. He will be particularly missed this fall when we will all fondly recall Russert’s white board through which he showed more political wisdom than everyone else with their multi colored computerized high tech charts. And unlike most journalists Tim Russert truly seemed impartial, except, of course, when it came to his beloved Buffalo Bills.

In addition to neither leaning too far to the left or right, another reason that Tim Russert was so good at what he did was because he never allowed himself to become the story. Be it on Meet the Press or in-depth interviews or even moderating a presidential debate, Russert was old school, believing that the spotlight should be on the news or newsmaker but never on him. Today it seems as if most journalists make the story be about them. They are no longer content to stay behind the microphone and are instead coming around to the other side where they become the story.

This is why the coverage of his demise bothers me. It seems that whenever I turned on the TV every cable news channel had continuous coverage of the death of Tim Russert. I didn’t know the man other than what we all have seen on TV but I have a feeling he would have not only been embarrassed but he would have hated it. After being one of the few remaining journalists who never made the story about himself it is almost a disgrace that they are now turning him into the news after his death.

Yes Tim Russert’s death is sad, yes it is shocking, yes he will be missed but he would have wanted a brief mention and then on with the real news. And as for Sunday mornings, just as he couldn’t replace David Brinkley on ABC but instead brought his own uniqueness to NBC’s Meet the Press then neither can Tim Russert now be replaced. Instead, down the road someone else will come along. And yet Tim Russert’s memory will live on as long as there are elections and white boards and Florida, Florida, Florida.