VoxOp

TIM RUSSERT

"Russert was no radical. He wanted the zing of confrontation but was always careful to withdraw at a certain point, the better not to cross the line between tough and hostile in the viewer's eyes. There were limits to his approach, and blogs both liberal and conservative sometimes purveyed the notion that he was nothing more than a cozy role-player in the Beltway drama. That notion was deeply unfair. His preparation insured that a politician could not drift long in a mental comfort zone."
DAVID REMNICK, Newyorker.com

"Russert's signature innovation was to ditch the staid, respectful interviewing method implicit in a title like 'Meet The Press' (as if the program were a social brunch) in favor of a more aggressive, at times bullying, in-your-face style. With the shift in approach came a change in style - away from the classic television personality's search for patrician authority in favor of a newfound quest for working-class authenticity. . . . The fruits of Russertism are not always sweet. I've written critically of how Russert's blood-sport approach tends to obscure rather than illuminate the policy issues at stake in elections . . .

"Still, anyone working professionally in the political journalism game needs to respect Russert's achievements. He transformed the industry because, on some level, he made political coverage on television work, and created models that have kept political TV relevant in the 21st century. "
MATTHEW YGLESIAS, Thecurrent.theatlantic.com

"Tim Russert was a true [mainstream media] guy. The kind traditional journalists identify with. His work was based on research, not rhetoric. If he had biases, he kept 'em caged. He asked tough questions of everyone. He sought light, not just heat on his program. He was the engine that drove 'Meet the Press' but he acted like everyman. There amid the glossiness of many TV types, Russert often looked like he'd just bounded up a flight of stairs to the studio, having paid more attention to doing his homework than his hair."
JILL GEISLER, Poynter.org

"Tim had me Election Night 2000 with his 'Florida, Florida, Florida' scribbles. The way he whipped out that dry erase board, breaking it down to the people. He clearly understood in his infinite wisdom that I (along with I'm sure thousands of others) did not understand what was going on that dreadful night - he guided us to knowledge and understanding of what was happening (even if we were hating the reality of it!). . . . His dry erase board visual was simple, brilliant, and truthful. Just like Tim."
STACIE KRAJCHIR, Huffingtonpost.com

OBAMA'S SPEECH ON FATHERHOOD

"Barack Obama gave a great, Father's Day-themed speech [Sunday]. Parts of it were politically easy, such as his entreaties about parental responsibility; you could easily imagine some of the words coming from the pen of conservative culture warriors.

"But what was impressive is how Obama linked personal responsibility . . . directly and unapologetically to government responsibility."
TOM SCHALLER, Prospect.org

"Obama's Father's Day speech includes some remarkable language about absentee dads that only he could deliver. More than that, though, it's something of a Sister Souljah - yet one delivered from a member of the black community. Parts are reminiscent of Bill Cosby's tough-love message, though Obama's lament is naturally cast in a more hopeful urge to set higher expectations."
JONATHAN MARTIN, Politico.com