Tom Brokaw seems to think it is his job to repeat the McCain campaign talking point that no one can ever legitimately criticize "Keating Five" McCain, one of the most corrupt politicians in the history of the Senate, because he was a POW.

From an 8/29/08 Action Alert from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting:

During NBC's August 26 convention coverage, Brokaw--the current host of Meet the Press--weighed in on Hillary Clinton's speech: “She'll be tough on John McCain, but he is her friend, and you have to be careful about how you go after an American Vietnam War icon, really.”

The next night, Brokaw appeared on MSNBC to discuss Bill Clinton's convention speech:

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Tom, first, what did you make of the acknowledgment of the service of John McCain in very glowing terms?

BROKAW: Well, look, for Bill Clinton, and for anyone in the Democratic Party, for that matter, it's a very tricky case taking on John McCain and trying to rough him up. When John McCain was sitting in a prison in Hanoi, Bill Clinton was writing letters to his ROTC commander and trying to get out of the draft, which he did successfully. It was an issue that he was really able to manage when he was running for president. But at the same time, that's still a very short fuse in America, as you know, Chris.

Brokaw continued:

But I think especially you have to be careful about how you go after John McCain because of that Vietnam experience. Jim Webb has written in his latest book, A Time to Fight, and repeated to me again just yesterday, the Democratic Party still has a long way to go to win the confidence of Vietnam veterans, and they don't want to squander that here in the big hall.

Because Brokaw is a frequent analyst on NBC and MSNBC, and the host of the network's Sunday talkshow, his message is an important--and troubling--one. Nothing in Hillary or Bill Clinton's speeches suggested any criticism of McCain as a Vietnam veteran--in fact, they both praised his service to his country--so Brokaw presumably isn't referring to Swift Boat-style attacks on his military record, but to criticism of McCain in general. Exactly how “careful” does Brokaw believe Democrats must be in challenging their political opponent in a presidential election?

ACTION:
Ask Tom Brokaw to clarify his warning that Democrats have to be "careful about" criticizing Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

CONTACT:
Meet the Press
Webform: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6872152/
Phone: 202-885-4598

This brings up the old issue of media ownership too. NBC is owned by General Electric, which is a military contractor. A war monger like John McCain would be more profitable than any of the other candidates running for president this year.