Tim Russert

Tim Russert died and a part of “truth and honesty” in public broadcasting died with him. For in this era where “untruthfulness and dishonesty” (often in the form of “spin”) makes-up most of what is called “journalism,” he represented the type of journalist who made a real conscious effort to be thoroughly factual, very informative, honestly probative, and above all – truly objective. (He was the type of journalist that has become extremely rare in the United States of America: A journalist who tries to present the authentic arguments from all perspectives.) Tim allowed his guests to truly express their views, and his guests trusted and respected him for doing so. In fact it was this quality of open-mindedness and impartiality to opposing ideologies that made Tim a major super star of objective journalism (in my judgement!)

Tim left some huge shoes to fill.

I will certainly miss him; he was the journalist I trusted most. I felt that his social concerns were the same as mine. (I am highly literate in current events, American history, world history, government and politics.) Who he interviewed, when he interviewed them, and the specific questions he asked them always centered on the critical issues that were of most concern to me.

I loved his tough, fair-minded approach to questioning his guests. I loved the fact that his questions were always free of “spins.” I loved the fact that he treated his guests with respect and civility -- even when it was obvious that he disagreed with them!

Tim died and the world lost a good man and an excellent journalist. Moreover, it is quite possible that the Fourth Estate has just lost the significant needle on its Moral Compass!

by First Sergeant James A. Porter