NBC's Luke Russert: Is Romney Campaign 'One of the Most Secretive in History?'
Continuing to beat the drum of Mitt Romney's campaign not being transparent on Wednesday's The Daily Rundown on MSNBC, fill-in host Luke Russert melodramatically asked: "Is this one of the most secretive presidential campaigns in history?" On Tuesday, regular host Chuck Todd predicted that Romney could be "the least transparent president in a generation." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
In response to Russert, NBC News political editor Mark Murray lamented the inability of the media to throw Romney off message: "I would actually say that they've demonstrated incredible message discipline. They have talked about the things that they want to talk about. When you bring up other matters, whether it's Donald Trump, whether it's Syria, whether it's this transparency in campaign...[the campaign says] those issues aren't – don't matter. What voters really care about is the economy."
Murray argued that such discipline would make it difficult for Romney as president: "...when you sit in that Oval Office you don't always get to control the things you have to talk about....it presents challenges once you get into that Oval Office."
Russert then falsely jabbed at Romney: "And it presents challenges on the way, he's eventually going to have to sit down for an interview that's not Fox, at some point."
Mitt and Ann Romney appeared on CBS This Morning on May 1.
The couple sat down with ABC's Diane Sawyer on the April 16 World News.
Mitt Romney appeared on NBC's Today on February 1 after winning the Florida primary.
Here is a transcript of Russert's June 13 exchange with Murray:
9:04AM ET
(...)
LUKE RUSSERT: Interesting article in the AP yesterday talking about Mitt Romney and secrecy. And – but it also talks about how disciplined he is. It goes, "Romney refuses to identify his biggest donors who bundle money for his campaign. He often declines to say who he's meeting with or what he's doing for hours at a time. He puts limits on media access to his fundraisers. And resists releasing all of his tax returns, making just a single year public after facing pressure to do so."
And it's funny, yesterday I was reporting that Mitt Romney was going to meet with Speaker Boehner, having a rally this Sunday. Capitol Hill reporters knew before Romney campaign reporters. Is this one of the most secretive presidential campaigns in history?
MARK MURRAY [NBC SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR]: Luke, I would actually say that they've demonstrated incredible message discipline. They have talked about the things that they want to talk about. When you bring up other matters, whether it's Donald Trump, whether it's Syria, whether it's this transparency in campaign, but I want to say, those issues aren't – don't matter. What voters really care about is the economy.
But as we write in First Read this morning, one of the things about being president, when you sit in that Oval Office you don't always get to control the things you have to talk about. There are events that are outside your control, foreign policy issues that you end up having to dealing with. And so the Romney campaign right now, they're running out the clock, which is a really smart – in sports, in football, basketball, it's a very smart strategy to deploy and it actually could end up helping Mitt Romney being able to win this election. "Hey, we're only going to talk about the economy." But it presents challenges once you get into that Oval Office.
RUSSERT: And it presents challenges on the way, he's eventually going to have to sit down for an interview that's not Fox, at some point.
MURRAY: Well, right, and he's also going on this bus tour starting on Friday, in which the traveling press corps will have tons of questions for him. Yesterday, it was interesting, he was asked one of the questions about whether he thought that Democrats were taking his words out of – about firefighters and police officers that he said on Friday – out of context and he basically said, "I don't want to answer that question." And so far that's actually been a response we've seen from him more so than saying, opening up to questions where we might actually get more of a sense of where he stands on issues outside of the economy.
(...)
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Comments
Sorry Luke Russert - Obama admin is worse than Nixon's
Submitted by Gary Hall on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:02pm.
Well, then I guess I'll repost my comment from Tuesday as well.
Sorry
Chuck ToddLuke Russert - Obama admin is worse [more secretive] than Nixon's.Shortly after this exchange between the ex-veteran WH reporter, Helen Thomas she laid out exactly how "non-transparent" and secretive this Obama WH has been:
Helen Thomas lays in to Robert Gibbs
July 1, 2009 that Obama's grip on the media is even greater than that of Richard Nixon.
Nixon didn’t try to do that. They couldn’t control [the media]. They didn’t try that. What the hell do they think we are, puppets? They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them. ... I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well--for the town halls, for the press conferences. It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.
And, who could possibly argue that it's gotten better?
Would some one please tie Chuck Todd to a chair and refresh his memory.
(;~/ gary
PS - And, let forget that Democrat powerhouse, Lanny Davis stated very clearly the other day, that he viewed the Obama campaign as "vicious." Ouch!
Oh, I'm sorry, did the national MSM all decide to hide that from the American people - like everything else they're hiding recently?
The Dems and the MSM echo are definitely running scared
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:08pm.
I even heard the Morning Joe crowd discuss what Obama's one-term legacy would be.
It's easy for the Romney campaign to stay focused on the economy because that issue is the most important to American voters. Obama's campaign knows this, and so has deliberately attempted to divert attention away from the economy by feeding the MSM with scores of silly issues to chase.
Perhaps its the fact that nothing the Dems have thrown at Romney have really stuck, that has them nervous. Outside of Obama 2012, you have the clueless and irritating DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, sounding like a 7th grader everytime she appears on television. Ex-Clinton peope are now talking about "impossible headwinds" for Obama.
They're scared.
➚Luke has a crush on Obama
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:09pm.
Use the forks, Luke! Stick them in yourself! You're done!
I wonder, at what age he discovered his inner yearnings.
true
Submitted by Name on Thu, 06/14/2012 - 6:27am.
That's funny,because it's true.
I would have to say no.
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:13pm.
"Is this one of the most secretive presidential campaigns in history?"
Based upon the way the press has been covering Romney, from what he did in high school to what he did as a private business man, from his religion to his family life, from what he says to what he does, every day since he announced his candidacy, I would have to conclude that the answer to that question is a definitive NO! I would have to conclude that Romney is the one of the most vetted candidates in recent history, second only to Sarah Palin.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Most Secretive Campaign??
Submitted by Samaritan01 on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:11pm.
That's Right!! Romney has been hiding the fact that he is a member of a radical Socialist party. Damn his secretive ways.....
Speaking of 'Transparent...'
Submitted by ChrisNH on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:11pm.
What about those ObamaCare deliberations and debates? They were supposed to be there for everyone to see, on C-SPAN. The big-eared cigarette smoker said that it would all be 'transparent.' He used that exact word. But of course, not only weren't they on C-SPAN, they were done behind closed doors. Someone ought to remind Chuck 'Eff' Todd because he's having a grand old time whining about someone ELSE'S lack of 'transparency.'
Obama's Campaign One of the Dumbest
Submitted by jqc1985 on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:12pm.
These leftist cronies have to be some of the biggest idiots. Obama's campaign is one of the dumbest. Obama can't even run on his record but the leftist media just keeps trying to hide the fact that Obama is a failure.
Luke Russert can't even fill his daddy's baby shoes
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:14pm.
And his daddy was a liberal.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Fell further from the tree
Submitted by ferv888 on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:15pm.
Come on Luke, your Dad would have your butt big time over the stupidity of that question. Where the hell is your sense of Obama and its transparency????? On the day that the online leak occurs about the trade negotiations with Pacific Partners. Oh by the way Luke, he threw liberal butt holes like you down the drain, he sided with corporations, well off shore ones anyway. How do you like that transparency Luke, you could not see through wet TP. On the day that the filters on the credit card donations online remain off, so that someone, oh say the Ko, wait, Soros can donate as many times as he wants, that is the transparency I look at, what a dweeb.
FERV888
If You're Interested In How The Media Is Liberally Biased
Submitted by amateurlyinsightful on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:20pm.
Here's a link the my paper I wrote for my Speech Communications class: http://amateurlyinsightful.blogspot.com/2012/05/outline-for-my-speech-co...
It discusses using a couple sources such as Noam Chomsky why the Media is overly liberal
Media? Liberally biased?
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:33pm.
NOW you tell us!!
I dont think he gets it
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 5:35pm.
I don't think he understands the irony of his post.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Probably because he's not
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 6:37pm.
professionallyinsightful.
Jer
Hah!
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 9:30pm.
Good one!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Is Luke?
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 06/14/2012 - 7:36am.
Cause it aint helping em either
Don't give them squat, Mitt
Submitted by Northeast Elizabeth on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:26pm.
Let the MSM make his "secrecy" the focus of the campaign. NOBODY CARES. Romney can just blow them off with "it's none of your business" when asked for tax returns and tell them he'll trade for Obama's college and law school applications and transcripts.
Let us compare Mr. Romneys
Submitted by John21 on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:28pm.
Let us compare
Mr. Romneys background probably right down to his favorate toy as a 5 year old has been all over the propaganda media 24/7 for months. We know all about him being a bully and how he acted as a teenager. Where in rode his dog on vacation. How much money his family has. His religious donations and activities. I would say a fairly through vetting
Mr. Obama will not allow anyone to look at his college years, his transscripts, his activities as a youth, his thesis, his professional life as a "Community Organizer". No mention of his religious affiliation is permitted. The propaganda media is fine with that. No vetting is necessary of course.
It is Mr. Romney having a secret history according to the Obama Public Relations network of NBC and we should all fear because we don't know his favorate color or flower.
Knowing so very little about their client Mr. Obama is not necessary for the voter to know because you have nothing to fear, they promise. Yeah, they have been lying to you for 3 years but they promise they will stop after the election. Maybe even share a few secrets like what size shoe the "Chicago Jesus" wears or even what his favorate class was in high school. Isn't that fair
NBC's Mika
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:30pm.
NBC's Mika Brezs....er....Luke Russert.....oh, forget it.
Murry instructs Romney on governance
Submitted by CO2Maker on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 4:50pm.
Oh, yeah. A 1996 graduate of UT Austin—so he's 37 or 38—giving Romney advice on how to govern and what not to do. That's just what Mitt needs.
And what about transparency and "message discipline" in the Obama-lama-ding-dong administration? Well, there's the hush-hush Fast & Furious—an admitted sterling success—plus the Seal Team 6 follies, the Yemen double-agent leak, and other. Now that's how to govern with the MSM-SUM at your back (as in "we got you back, Barack").
Motherbelt
Submitted by amateurlyinsightful on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 5:13pm.
There's nothing wrong with continuing to research something even though you know the answer, it's actually advisable
You mean like NewsBusters?
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 5:29pm.
You mean like what Newsbusters and their parent, Media Resource Center, is doing?
You're not trolling for a job here, are you?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Cobra*
Submitted by cajun2 on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 5:41pm.
So far this morning, I have counted 5 trolls that membership is under 48 hrs. And I am sure that is NOT an accurate count. yuk
Well...
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 5:46pm.
Well, school is out for the summer.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Gosh, amateur, I can't wait
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 8:02pm.
Gosh, amateur, I can't wait for more of your pronouncements. I mean we just have bloggers here, no one's actually published a term paper on media bias!!
It hasn't even been published!
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 9:46pm.
It hasn't even been published. He's linking to a draft, an outline! I made those too, in my public speaking class. Trust me, they're never published. In these types of classes, you're not judged on what you say, but how you say it. He could have done a "paper" on Barny Fife and it wouldn't have mattered much. The subject is immaterial. It's the presentation that counts. I did my final presentation on the inherent folly of restricting military members from smoking in military vehicles. It was entitled: You can't smoke in the deuce and a half, it's bad for your health!
Personally, when it comes to choosing between dying from lung cancer in 30 years, or dying from gunshots in 30 seconds, I'll take the lung cancer, thank you.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Live and learn.......
Submitted by Herbster on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 5:40pm.
I was not aware that Little Luke even knew words like "Secretive." He strikes me as being the male counterpart to Mika the Moron.
Monkey see, Monkey do
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 5:44pm.
He's just repeating what he heard from Todd Warns yesterday.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Luke
Submitted by grammajane on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 5:49pm.
The more you try pushing your radical lib agenda, the less audience you will have. What does obama do 24/7 besides campaign? That might be a good question you could ask on your next trip to to the white house. Romney has no reason to answer any question coming from the likes of msdnc
Luke "I'M A BIG BOY NOW!" Russert
Submitted by Texndoc on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 6:09pm.
Got to host his own propaganda hour, did himmuns?
Mitt would have greater challenges with Fox than Not-Fox
Submitted by gopcongress on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 6:21pm.
Mitt would have greater challenges with Fox News than with other networks because he's proven (so far) to stay on message from the RIGHT. But if he goes on Fox, he will get questions from a more conservative standpoint, and I believe his defense of his policies may be harder to communicate from a comparative standpoint.
But the sheeple on the left no nothing of this sort. They view anything to the right of John Edwards to be racist KKK republican ingrates not worth discussion.
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
Seriously?
Submitted by JANDJ on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 9:29pm.
Really, Luke Russert? Does anyone really care what this person thinks about anything?
This punk is a moron.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 10:10pm.
The most secretive in history IT says?! I would say man that's sure a case of the kettle calling the pot black, if I could say it which you can't these day or someone will immediately fixate on the spectrum and redirect the dialog calling you the "R" word.
Give the kid some slack
Submitted by American.Patriot on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 10:18pm.
His dad may have been a journalist in his early career but he (dad) turned into a typical shrill for the libturds.
Unfortunately, the kid thinks he can step into his dad's shoes (although he may be pushed by other libturds that think he has the skill and ability), only to be another dip-sh!t
These people are the heirs of Pol Pot
Submitted by donabernathy on Thu, 06/14/2012 - 6:01am.
roflmao