I’m kind of a political nut. Yeah, I’m into things like AM talk radio, op-ed pages, and keeping a cable news channel running in the background of wherever I am. That’s me.
My dream job is being a pastor, so I can’t complain. But a close second would be that of “professional cable news talking head.” Part of me would love to be one of those guys that occupies a quarter of the screen on “Hardball” and trades jabs with someone in another quarter - say, James Carville or Paul Begala. So sad. But so true.
And amongst cable news junkies, political wannabes, and folks who just plain liked being “in the know” there was really no bigger, more respected name than Tim Russert. Each week as host of “Meet the Press” he interviewed the major players in American politics and did so with great intensity and unusual balance. He made politics simple and palatable to the oft-confused masses like yours truly.
But what I liked the most about the guy was how real he seemed. He was unabashed in his love for Buffalo, NY. He talked a lot about his son, he wrote a book about his dad. He went to church every Sunday. If my own father had somehow worked his way out of the railroad, got a degree, and made a name for himself talking about things like the electoral college and super delegates, I imagine he would be exactly like Tim Russert. I think that’s why I liked him.
My fondness for the guy was reinforced when I read this article. In outlining his final hours it talks about how the guy took a break from prepping “Meet the Press” to go hang out at his sons’ apartment and wait for the cable guy to show up. This is a man with millions to his name. He was the most influential television journalist in the U.S. He was on a first name basis with every living President. He’d hung out with the Pope. And yet he dropped everything to do his kid a favor and wait for the Comcast dude to show up. [pause] I love that.
I really respected the guy for the excellence with which he handled politics. But I respect him even more for the way he handled his priorities.
May the same be said of me.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
What perspective. A man travels the globe for his job, demands on his schedule are created because of others’ schedules, and he has enough gumption to say “my son’s cable guy is coming and that is the priority.” It should be an ispiration and give us insight. That is what God asks us to do as a parent, right? If caught between a rock and a hard place…choose ‘the rock’, if you know what I mean. The Rock will take care of the hard place!