Reply #116: I got a reply from Chuck Todd as well...

[iris5426]

His initial reply:

"no family of networks has given more attention and coverage than the family of NBC. He's getting more than his fair share given his standing in the race right now after the first two contests."

So I wrote back:

"I do agree that NBC has given him more coverage than any of the other networks...and MSNBC is by far my network of choice for news. Where I disagree is in the interpretation of his current standing. You probably don't need me to tell you what the current delegate count is, but I see a swing of 8 delegates when it takes a couple thousand to get the nomination as still being in the race, and not as a distant underdog, which is generally how he is being treated. We all saw how the polls can fail, so basing it on that isn't necessarily a good choice either.

The biggest lack of coverage I have seen so far, and in this I thought MSNBC was guilty as well (though again not nearly as much so as other outlets) was after his second place finish in Iowa. I think that his finishing second in Iowa, where he was so grossly outspent by the other candidates, was a HUGE story, and it really wasn't covered as much more than a footnote. Instead, Hillary beating Obama by just a few percentage points in NH, where she led the polls for months, is a much bigger story. I just don't understand it. It's almost as though everyone in the media wants the race to be decided now, when there have only been 2 votes in small states. Shouldn't we be encouraging the democratic process to continue until everyone, or at least a majority, of the country has had their say? And for the record, I think the amount of coverage given to Hillary misting up a little is ridiculous. It's been treated as though she had an emotional outburst, when that obviously wasn't the case.

That being said, I sent this email to several media outlets and you were the only one to respond, which I truly appreciate, and which restores some of my faith in the media (or at least the NBC networks). As I said, I am a faithful MSNBC viewer, and will continue to be one, I would just like to see the coverage of Edwards be a little more balanced with the other two candidates."

I expected that I was doing this mostly to make myself feel better...and he answered again! I have to say this really impressed me, even though it was short and not necessarily a promise to do something, he still took the time to read my response and respond himself...

He said:

"i hear ya... and understand the frustration; sorry i didn't give you a satisfactory answer"

So though I doubt it will help much, I do feel a little better...thought I ought to post this and help keep this thread active...