More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.
During an NBC News special report on President Obama nominating Pentagon official Ashton Carter be the next secretary of defense, Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd advanced White House talking points that the President really wanted someone who would challenge the administration on foreign policy: "...they claim they want him to be more confrontational with the White House national security team....I have aides tell me they want Ashton Carter to be a bull in a china shop if necessary and be that person."
Earlier on Today, White House correspondent Kristen Welker similarly declared: "White House officials say Carter was tapped because he's not afraid to challenge the President, recently disagreeing with Mr. Obama's decision to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq instead of leaving a strong residual force."