Village Meritocracy

by digby

At least he didn’t get any kind of affirmative action. That would be unfair:

The late Tim Russert’s son will take up a family tradition for NBC News, helping to cover the Democratic and Republican conventions.

Luke Russert’s assignment as a convention correspondent focusing on “youth issues” is his first for NBC, the network said Thursday.

Russert, 22, a recent Boston College graduate, has been on the radio since 2006 as co-host with pundit James Carville of “60/20 Sports” on XM Satellite Radio.

“Never before in an election cycle has so much attention turned to the youth vote, and Luke will bring a unique perspective to covering it,” NBC News President Steve Capus said in a statement.

Russert told MSNBC.com that he realizes some might say it was only his name that got him the job. But he’s ready for the challenge and plans to work hard, he said.

“I’m not trying to be my father. He’s irreplaceable. I’m simply trying to do something that I think there’s a real niche for, that there’s a calling for, that has to do with youth, not just in the election but in politics from now on,” Russert said.

In a statement, he said he was “humbled and grateful” for the opportunity.