The way that Tim Russert's trademark tactic was used against him in the Scooter Libby trial is pretty amusing:
Mr. Wells, using the technique that Mr. Russert is known for as moderator of "Meet the Press," then put up on video screens throughout the courtroom Mr. Russert's words in an affidavit he filed later. In an effort to avoid complying with a subpoena to testify about the same subject before a grand jury, Mr. Russert swore that he could not discuss the conversation because to do so would violate his deeply held journalistic principles.
"Did you disclose in the affidavit to the court that you had already disclosed the contents of your conversation with Mr. Libby" to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Wells asked.
"As I've said, sir ... ," Mr. Russert began.
"It's a yes or no question," Mr. Wells interrupted.
"I'd like to answer it to the best of my ability," Mr. Russert replied.
"This is a very simple question. Either it's in the affidavit or it's not," Mr. Wells said. "Did you disclose to the court that you had already communicated to the F.B.I. the fact that you had communicated with Mr. Libby?"
"No," Mr. Russert said.
Busted! For more on Russert's tactics, see Jack Shafer's 2003 article in Slate, which makes clear that the host's post-trial complaints are little self-serving:
"Sitting in that witness box is very uncomfortable because on `Meet the Press' or the `Today' show, you have a chance to finish your thought and complete your sentence. That's not the case in a court of law. The defense lawyer will say, `Yes or no, yes or no' and you're trying very hard to listen intently to the question to make sure you answer as precisely as possible," he added. "Otherwise it can be played back the next day. ... It's not pleasant, I have to say."
Really? You have a chance to finish your thought or complete your sentence on "Meet the Press"? Maybe if you're Dick Cheney, but Russert interrupts people and presses for yes or no answers all the time. It is true that you can sometimes elaborate on that answer on his show, but not always.
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