Russert: The voice of the people

Inter Lake editorial

"You don't know what you've got till it's gone," the popular Joni Mitchell song says. And that may be the way a lot of people are feeling about the loss of Tim Russert last week.

The NBC newsman was always well-respected. As the host of "Meet the Press" for the past 17 years, he charmed hundreds of guests and millions of viewers with his off-handed humor, voluminous knowledge and insistence on getting a straight answer from politicians who would rather just waffle.

At a time when television news was becoming more and more a glamorous alternative to real news, Russert was the face and voice of the plain American - a down-home guy who seemed to have his head screwed on right.

Nonetheless, it probably came as a shock to a lot of people just how hurt they were to know that Russert was gone, the victim of a heart disorder that was more serious than anyone realized. The outpouring of grief that followed the news would have seemed excessive and phony if it had been for any other journalist, but for Russert it just seemed natural.

Although he had the occasional misstep, as everyone does, Russert was much more sure-footed than most of his colleagues about doing the public's work when he was meeting with our national and world leaders. If he had any kind of partisan agenda, it didn't show. Instead, he just seemed to want to make sure that politicians knew what they were talking about, and that they knew what the country was thinking about.

He also had a more human side than most television journalists, or at least a more authentic one. When some celebrity journalists share their private side, it's about as comfortable as watching Sen. Obama talk about how much he admires Sen. Clinton. But everyone knew about Russert's enthusiasm for the Buffalo Bills, the Washington Nationals and a good political horserace because he got as excited as a little boy whenever he talked about them.

Russert also was a family man despite his dedication to his job. His book about his father, "Big Russ," and his frequent references to his son, Luke, were not accidental. He had a deep appreciation for family, for his blue-collar all-American upbringing and for the values that made this country great.

Yes, Russert may be remembered best for his white board and his incantation of the magic words of the 2000 presidential election, "Florida Florida Florida," but he will be best loved for joining us in our homes for so many years and treating us with respect, kindness and dignity.

NBC will do its job and find a new host for "Meet the Press," but they will never be able to replace Russert.