To Chuck Todd: On the one hand, it is interesting to watch your expertise narrating political races. On the other hand, it’s sad to see your dubious judgment in certain cases.
Item: When you substituted for Chris Matthews on "Hardball" yesterday (2010-03-11), you chose to ignore a critical and historic debate in the House about ending the US invasion of Afghanistan. (Except for Patrick Kennedy's comments.)
Item: Instead, you chose to ridicule Patrick Kennedy, in the comic "Sideshow" part of the program. You did not even mention what the debate was about, nor important remarks by the likes of Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul.
[Cont. below.]
Item: It was you who personally blocked Dennis Kucinich from
participating in some Democratic Presidential debates in 2008.
The title "Political Director" for a network journalist has always
bothered me: that is not the function of an impartial newsperson. It
smacks too much of being a "Political Dictator", or even "Political
Corrector" in the sense of overzealous centrism. No other title in the
news hierarchy carries such a name, not even the Anchor.
Correspondents, yes; analyists, yes; commentators, yes.
Let’s change the name to "Chief Political Analyst", if you like, and
be more inclusive. Let’s not abuse the power of "Political Director",
to stifle or ridicule those who oppose American militarism.