[6/13/08 update: Tim Russert passed away today. I was mad at him 3 1/2 months ago when I wrote this entry, and the title of this post is overly harsh. See my tribute to him.]

Tim Russert disgusted me with his Farrakhan crap in last night’s debate. He’s so obsessed with playing “gotcha,” creating controversy, trying to trip candidates up.

First he asks Obama about Louis Farrakhan.

MR. RUSSERT: … On Sunday, the headline in your hometown paper, Chicago Tribune: “Louis Farrakhan Backs Obama for President at Nation of Islam Convention in Chicago.” Do you accept the support of Louis Farrakhan?

SEN. OBAMA: You know, I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic comments. I think that they are unacceptable and reprehensible. I did not solicit this support. He expressed pride in an African-American who seems to be bringing the country together. I obviously can’t censor him, but it is not support that I sought. And we’re not doing anything, I assure you, formally or informally with Minister Farrakhan.

MR. RUSSERT: Do you reject his support?

SEN. OBAMA: Well, Tim, you know, I can’t say to somebody that he can’t say that he thinks I’m a good guy. (Laughter.) You know, I — you know, I — I have been very clear in my denunciations of him and his past statements, and I think that indicates to the American people what my stance is on those comments.

Okay. Asked and answered. Next topic, right?

Wrong. Because even though Obama has answered the question, Russert seems not to care. Because getting Obama’s answer isn’t the point. Tim’s question is apparently the point. He wants to create “a story.”

MR. RUSSERT: The problem some voters may have is, as you know, Reverend Farrakhan called Judaism “gutter religion.”

“Some voters.” Did you talk to any? “May have” a problem. May? Has Russert talked to actual voters who have raised this concern? Or is he just trying to be controversial? I actually yelled “fuck you” at the TV at this point.

But Obama cuts him off.

OBAMA: Tim, I think — I am very familiar with his record, as are the American people. That’s why I have consistently denounced it.

This is not something new. This is something that — I live in Chicago. He lives in Chicago. I’ve been very clear, in terms of me believing that what he has said is reprehensible and inappropriate. And I have consistently distanced myself from him.

Good. We’re done, right?

Sigh:

RUSSERT: The title of one of your books, “Audacity of Hope,” you acknowledge you got from a sermon from Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the head of the Trinity United Church. He said that Louis Farrakhan “epitomizes greatness.”

He said that he went to Libya in 1984 with Louis Farrakhan to visit with Moammar Gadhafi and that, when your political opponents found out about that, quote, “your Jewish support would dry up quicker than a snowball in Hell.”

What do you do to assure Jewish-Americans that, whether it’s Farrakhan’s support or the activities of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, your pastor, you are consistent with issues regarding Israel and not in any way suggesting that Farrakhan epitomizes greatness?

Who said Obama had to “assure Jewish-Americans” of anything? He has nothing to assure us of. And why is it “assure Jewish-Americans” instead of “assure all Americans”? Are Jews the only people who care about anti-Semitism? Are blacks the only people who care about racial discrimination? No, but for Russert, it’s all about pie charts and voter sub-groups.

And what does Israel have to do with any of this? Since when are all Jews of one opinion about Israel? (Or about anything?) Israelis themselves are divided over the direction of their country, as the citizens of any good democracy would be. Why wouldn’t American Jews be divided as well?

What was the point of Tim’s question? Does he have any evidence that Obama is anti-Semitic? No. So shut the fuck up.

I think I see Russert’s deal. For him, it’s all just a game. He doesn’t care about the substance of the candidates’ responses. He cares only about how they respond. He’s not interested in whether candidates can fix the nation’s problems; he only wants to know whether they’re good at playing the game. The game that he himself is a part of.

Josh Marshall says, “As a Jew and perhaps more importantly simply as a sentient being I found it disgusting.”

I agree.

Here’s the video.