The December 19 edition of NBC's Meet the Press “political roundtable” featured nationally syndicated conservative columnist and CNN host Robert D. Novak on an imbalanced panel for the fourth time in 2004. Novak appeared alongside Wall Street Journal political editor John Harwood. As Media Matters for America has documented, Meet the Press has frequently featured media panels in which conservative guests outnumbered progressives or conservative pundits were pitted against journalists who are not politically aligned.

Novak has a history of distorting the truth to serve his own agenda. As Media Matters has noted, Novak has vigorously promoted books from Regnery Publishing, Inc., without disclosing multilayered conflicts of interest, including the fact that his son is the director of marketing for the company. While Novak's history of using his commentary as a platform for Republican propaganda extends back to the Nixon era, Russert described Novak as only “Robert Novak of the Chicago Sun-Times,” and didn't once mention Novak's history of partisanship. Among the views espoused by Novak on the program was that the choice of former Vermont Governor Howard Dean for chairman of the Democratic National Committee “would be a terrible message for the Democratic Party... [because] he indicated to hell with you for all the people who voted for [President George W.] Bush.”

Media Matters previously noted when Meet the Press provided Novak a platform to launch discredited attacks against former President Bill Clinton. Media Matters has extensively documented Novak's partisan distortions and false attacks:

Novak's 2004 presidential campaign distortions:

• Novak claimed election result was an endorsement of Bush's Iraq policy -- exit polls suggest otherwise
• Conservatives continue to distort NBC report to fabricate a Bush defense on missing explosives
• Novak falsely claimed Kerry labeled Iraq “the problem” in war on terrorism in 2001
• Novak misrepresented Navy IG's finding that Kerry's medals were “properly approved”
• Limbaugh, Novak heralded “rosier” -- and less reliable -- jobs numbers
• Novak spread “most liberal” Kerry-Edwards distortion
• Novak distorted Kerry's defense record, denied that Cheney cut defense
• Novak wrong on police support for assault weapons ban
• CNN's Novak resurrects 12-year-old myth that anti-abortion Democrat was forbidden to speak at 1992 convention

Novak's attacks against Democrats and progressives:

• Novak called Texas Dems “scumbags”
• Novak on Gore's “rants,” “mean” Hillary Clinton, and “flesh-eating” DNC delegates
• CNN's Novak smeared Sen. Clinton as “Madame Defarge”; Begala demanded apology
• Russert gave Novak platform for discredited anti-Clinton stories

Novak promoted the discredited anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Vets and POWs for Truth (formerly Swift Boat Veterans for Truth):

• Conservatives complained that Swift Boat Vets were ignored; now they tout impact
• MSNBC's Matthews, Shuster noted lies in Swift Boat Vets' latest ad
• Novak contradicted his own column to lead conservatives in boosting Schachte -- despite mounting evidence discrediting anti-Kerry vet
• Evidence contradicts claims by Novak's highly touted witness
• Novak denied Swift Boat Vets' GOP ties; Matthews claimed group's unsubstantiated charge “could hurt” Kerry