This is outrageous!!!
Chris Matthews allows Clinton supporter Stephanie Tubbs Jones (CBC member) to talk uninterrupted....
Then attacks Kirk Watson, Texas State Senator and Obama Supporter. Matthews was beyond rude....and really showed his colors tonight. He never even allowed Mr. Watson to say what he wanted to say. He led off with Mr. Watson by attacking him.
Matthews implied that Obama had no record at all to stand on and that he was this completely inept and inexperienced candidate who appeared out of thin air. At the same time, he sent the message (via Congressman Jones) that Clinton had this huge list of accomplishments in healthcare, childcare, helping working people, etc... WHICH IS A COMPLETE LIE Mr. Matthews!!!
Chris Matthews allows Clinton supporter Stephanie Tubbs Jones (CBC member) to talk uninterrupted....
Then attacks Kirk Watson, Texas State Senator and Obama Supporter. Matthews was beyond rude....and really showed his colors tonight. He never even allowed Mr. Watson to say what he wanted to say. He led off with Mr. Watson by attacking him.
Matthews implied that Obama had no record at all to stand on and that he was this completely inept and inexperienced candidate who appeared out of thin air. At the same time, he sent the message (via Congressman Jones) that Clinton had this huge list of accomplishments in healthcare, childcare, helping working people, etc... WHICH IS A COMPLETE LIE Mr. Matthews!!!
This was clearly part of the effort to swiftboat Obama.
Matthews is permanently on the Mirror On America radar.
Am I the only one tired of Chris Matthews and his bull....?
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23 comments:
You are not alone, and thank you for pointing this out, AI. It's so obvious - the slant.
Absolutely. Looks like Chris forgot his insulin tonight.
I saw this too. Matthews was way out of line and truly vicious; his behavior was deplorable. I'm still infuriated for the same reason you are - it sent the completely wrong message! Thankfully, Olbermann alleviated it somewhat by asking Matthews if he could do the same and of course he couldn't.
I’m not sure WHAT I just witnessed during Chris Mathews interview with Sheila Tubbs Jones (for Clinton) and Kirk Watson (for Obama). What got into Chris Mathews – He was rude, ignorant, and frankly belligerent. The only thing he was missing was his Hillary campaign button. His interview approach (perhaps appropriate for Hardball) was grossly inappropriate and in sports would be considered a flagrant foul. I appreciated Keith Olberman putting a similar question to Mr. Matthews following his little tirade w/ a reminder that the forum was NOT his personal show (which I will apparently have to begin viewing w/ perhaps a different lens). Thanks for the comments!
If anyone wants to support Hillary... I am not going to allow B.S. hyperbole here....
Show me the legislation that she led to accomplish all of these great policies?
I have already heard the lies today that she has been working for all of these years since Bills first term...trying to get Universal Healthcare...
That's a damn lie!
And list the major landmark childcare legislation that she has authored, which changed America?
Senate Bill what exactly????
I don't want to hear about some bullsh@t that she voted for...that someone else wrote and worked to pass... I want to hear about legislation where she was the primary author and where she pushed the legislation through successfully.
Her healthcare push was short lived...and ended in disaster.
After that, she was purchased by the drug and healthcare industry. There was not a peep from her about healthcare since then. That was almost 15 years ago.
List the major landmark labor laws that she authored and got passed in the U.S. Senate?
Senate Bill what?????????
I want dates... Senate Roll Call info...
Anything less is a waste of my time.
Like many of you, I was very angry at Chris Matthews. He was beyond rude, he was down outright condescending and combative. Did any one notice him leap upwards toward the State senator?
But then I thought he said something very interesting. As KO came to the defense of BO, CM replied: (paraphrase) This is the problem, and this guy needs to know his record if he is coming out supporting him.
So I'll play the devil's advocate here and say, CM just taught BO's supporters something: You have to be ready to defend him and know BOs record because if a cheesy, old, bumbling silly journalist like CM is going to come after BO, how much more is the Republican Party?
So may be, just maybe, Matthews has done the Obama campaign a favor.
Considering the negative publicity Chris Matthews has generated recently in the Clinton camp, I believe he is currently attempting to counteract public opinion that he in an Obama supporter. It's sad when the media injects themselves into the news instead of doing what they are paid to do that is to simply report. As in the past, Chris Matthews was completely out of line in his ambush of Senator Kirk Watson. What's really sad about this whole fiaso is his actions have overshadowed the real story, which was Senator Obama's victory in Wisconsin. Shame on you Chris Matthews! You have the scent of an undercover John McCain supporter.
I'm an Obama supporter, but I'm not sure I agree that Matthews was out of line. The biggest criticism his opponents use against Obama is that he is all talk and no substance. This was a chance for someone on national TV to refute that attack by talking about Obama's efforts for ethics reform, securing nuclear material, and his ability to work across the aisle, and instead he blew it badly. Had the guy done even a minimal amount of preparation he could have helped put to rest something that will dog Obama for months; instead he perpetuated this attack and provided a video that will be everywhere over the coming weeks. Matthews was rude, but someone on national TV in support of a candidate should have hit a home run with that question instead of doing damage to the person he's supporting.
Watson could have done better... but he clearly didn't believe that he was going on the program to be ambushed either. He was never allowed to complete a sentence without being rudely interrupted and attacked.
Matthews should have offered him the same courtesy that was given to Tubbs Jones.
And the implication that Hillary had all of those triumphs and accomplishments was simply untrue. It was hyperbole. Tubbs Jones didn't mention specific legislation.... she talked in generalities.
Hopefully this will be a lesson to the Obama strategy team. They have to reign in their communications...and their message.
When they send someone out to speak... they need to make sure that the person is prepared (knowledgeable) and can defend Obama's record if necessary.
i was so mad when i was watching this!!! i had to google it to see if anyone else was upset about it. I personally can not name facts from polititions, call me dumb, but i know what my heart is telling me. I dont know word for word peoples accomplishments, but yes, i can research it to back up what i believe. The facts are there, but to ask some one repeatedly to recite them, that was so out of line. Yes he probably should have known before going on tv, but MOST people wouldnt have been able to answer that for either clinton or obama, but yes both do have plenty of accomplishments.
BARACK OBAMA 2008!!! WOOOO
i wrote them to let them know how out of line that was... i felt like he snapped for no reason...
im still upset. So disrespectful.
letters@msnbc.com
Click here to see Obama's legislative experience.
I saw the interview on MSNBC last night. I thought that the Obama supporter was caught. This isn't the first time that the question has been asked ... so Obama campaign needs to educate their surrogates on an answer for the question...
re: Matthews. He is probably over-compensating for criticism he gets on sucking up to Obama in past Hardball shows...
I'm with Villager on this one. After Matthews damn near put on the water works exhibition after one of Obama's concession speech, he had to do something to earn back the cred he thinks he may've lost.
The best part was Keith Olbermann's response to Matthew's rude and and obnoxious behavior by asking him a question about senate bills that he could not answer. When CM made his pompous remark in defense of his treatment of the Texas Senator, "This is 'Hardball', KO corrected him by saying it was NOT Hardball, but rather a follow-up to the elections. HA!
I thought the "interview" was deplorable! Thank God for Olbermann. Too bad Watson didn't point out one of Senator Clinton's legislative "accomplishments": authorizing the war in Iraq!
God forbid Chris Matthews actually REPORT THE NEWS FOR A CHANGE INSTEAD OF JUST PICKING FIGHTS... Best part? Right after this exchange, Keith Olbermann challenged Matthews to name one piece of legislation recently passed by the US Senate. Answer? Silence. A self-important bully, Matthews bragged this morning that this incident is going to be a big story - Yeah, a phony non-story that you made into a story just to feed your own fragile ego. What a pathetic excuse for a journalist!
Kirk Watson should have been better prepared! But this was not journalism. This was full on Anti-Obama attack mode by Matthews - determined to prove to the Clintons that he can be tough - after drooling over Obama for the past few weeks.
HILLARY VS. OBAMA LEGISLATIVE RECORDS:
During Obama's first (8) eight years of elected service (in Illinois) he sponsored over 820 bills - 233 regarding healthcare reform, 125 on poverty and public assistance, 112 crime fighting bills, 97 economic bills, 60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills, 21 ethics reform bills, 15 gun control, 6 veterans affairs and many others. IN ADDITION, DURING HIS FIRST YEAR IN THE U.S. SENATE, HE AUTHORED 152 BILLS AND CO-SPONSORED ANOTHER 427. THESE INCLUDED:
*The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law)
*The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law)
*The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, (passed by the Senate)
*The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law)
*The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee)
In all, since he entered the US Senate, Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1,096. AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD, FOR SOMEONE WHO SUPPOSEDLY "HAS NO RECORD"
Hillary Clinton, who has served for six (6) straight years in the US Senate. and claims to know how to "GET THINGS DONE" has managed to author and pass into law only twenty (20) pieces of legislation, and only five (5) of those had any real substance:
1. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
2. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
3. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
4. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
5. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.
Hillary's one notable vote: SUPPORTING THE PLAN TO INVADE IRAQ, which she has since disavowed and twisted, but refuses to admit was a mistake. Barack Obama, however, is the only '08 Democratic Presidential Candidate who had the good judgment to oppose the war from day one. This is no contest!
OK. Now I think I'm officially back on everybody's side again. After reading this article coupled with seeing this video, I'm not so sure that Matthews and his crew are completely innocent.
Andre,
I saw it.. this happened on Sunday night I believe... sometime over the weekend...But I never got around to posting that one... because I had too much on my plate. But yes... it is part of a pattern of behavior.
And it's not just Matthews.
It's only going to get worse from here on out.
Obama should be putting together a powerful and effective Truth Squad at this point. If he doesn't... he'll be another John Kerry... left smoldering on the side of the road, wondering what the Hell happened.
The Republican machine has now been plugged in, and it is going through its final preparations before its full scale launch.
We've already seen a few test shots. The full scale onslaught could come within the next month or so....and it will not let up from that point on. If Obama is elected... it will still be going at full throttle for his entire term.
Response to: Angry Independent
Great point! The Obama camp thinks he can run on the "nice guy" ticket. They do not understand the Swiftboating Republican Machine.
Obama needs to act very fast. His campaign has PLENTY OF MONEY. It's time to go on the attack - not nasty or personal - but he has to fight back, fast!
This incident is only a wee little sign of things to come!
I commented, about an hour before the ambush,
that Mr. Hardball didn't look right. A kind of sullen, acrid flatness. I suspect his medication was missing or out of whack. (I don't mean that as some wisecrack, I mean it, literally.) That however, is no excuse for the cruel enjoyment he showed in his horrible display of infantile arrogance. Please, let's let Keith handle the whole coverage.
Mia...Villager
Thanks for that useful info that you provided...
I forgot to thank you. It will be easier to look up even more info with that list.
One more note for all of you Obama fans out there who are tired of hearing that "Obama has no experience" or that "Hillary should win because of her experience"...
Barack has a lot of experience and Hillary's isn't anything to brag about! Remember the 90's? I'm not a hard core anti-Hillary person, but let's face facts:
HILLARY CLINTON AS FIRST LADY / NY SENATOR:
Hillary Clinton often says that she should be President because of her experience, including 8 years as First Lady and 6 as NY Senator. This is her record for that period of time:
As First Lady, Hillary assumed authority over Health Care Reform, a process that cost the taxpayers over $13 million. She told both Bill Bradley and Patrick Moynihan, key votes needed to pass her legislation, that she would 'demonize' anyone who opposed it. But she couldn't even get it to a vote in a Congress controlled by her OWN PARTY at the time! (And in the next election, her party lost control of both the House and Senate, due in part to her nasty and divisive tactics.) Bill and Hillary Clinton failed miserably to rally others around their cause because they simply do not know how to bring Democrats and Republicans together! Lately, Hillary speaks of her "friend" John McCain, trying to compete with Barack on this issue, but those who know her history realize it's just "politics as usual"
Hillary assumed authority over selecting a female Attorney General. Her first two recommendations, Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood, were forced to withdraw their names from consideration. She then chose Janet Reno. Janet Reno has since been described by Bill Clinton as 'my worst mistake.'
Hillary recommended Lani Guanier for head of the Civil Rights Commission. When Guanier's radical views became known, her name had to be withdrawn.
Hillary recommended her former law partners, Web Hubbell, Vince Foster, and William Kennedy for positions in the Justice Department, White House staff, and the Treasury, respectively. Hubbell was later imprisoned, Foster committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign!
Hillary also recommended a close friend of the Clintons, Craig Livingstone, for the position of director of White House security. When Livingstone was investigated for the improper access of up to 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies (“Filegate”) and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, both Hillary and her husband denied knowing him. FBI agent Dennis Sculimbrene confirmed in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 1996, both the drug use and Hillary's involvement in hiring Livingstone. After that, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office, after serving 7 presidents for over thirty years.
In order to open “slots” in the White House for her friends the Thomasons (to whom millions of dollars in travel contracts could be awarded), Hillary had the entire staff of the White House Travel Office fired; they were reported to the FBI for 'gross mismanagement' and their reputations ruined. After a 30-month investigation, only one, Billy Dale, was charged with any crime whatsoever (mixing personal money with White House funds when he cashed checks). The jury acquitted him in less than 2 hours.
Another of Hillary's assumed duties was directing her husband's infidelity and scandal defense. Among her decisions:
1. She urged her husband NOT to settle the Paula Jones lawsuit.
2. She refused to release the Whitewater documents, which led to the appointment of Ken Starr as Special Prosecutor.
3. After $80 million dollars of taxpayer money was spent, Starr's investigation led to Monica Lewinsky, which led to Bill lying about and later admitting to his extramarital affairs.
4. Bill had to settle with Paula Jones after all. And Bill lost his law license for lying to the grand jury.
5. And Bill was impeached by the House.
6. AND HILLARY ALMOST GOT HERSELF INDICTED FOR PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE (WHICH SHE AVOIDED MOSTLY BECAUSE SHE REPEATED, "I DO NOT RECALL," "I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION, AND "I DON'T KNOW" 56 TIMES UNDER OATH).
*Many believe that the aforementioned scandals were, in part, what led to the up rise of the conservative evangelical Republican "Christian Right", which has hijacked our country for the past 8 years, cramming bad policy down our throats under the guise of "conservative Christian values" as a backlash against the embarrassing antics of the Clintons.
Hillary decided to run for the Senate in a state where she had never lived before simply because she thought it would be her best chance at winning.
Her husband pardoned FALN terrorists in order to get Latino support and the New Square Hassidim to get Jewish support. Hillary also had Bill pardon her brother's clients, for a small fee, to get financial support.
Then Hillary left the White House, but later had to return $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork she had STOLEN!!!
In the campaign for the Senate, Hillary (as usual) played the 'woman card' by portraying her opponent (Lazio) as a bully who was picking on her. This is one reason she is so frustrated with her Presidential Campaign right now. She can't cry '’POOR ME’ against Barack Obama. He's black and the farthest thing from a bully. But she and her surrogates CAN try to make us women feel like traitors if we do not vote for her (which all women with a brain deeply resent)!
Hillary's husband further protected her by asking the National Archives to withhold from the public until 2012 many records of their time in the White House, including much of Hillary's correspondence and her calendars. (There are ongoing lawsuits to force the release of those records.)
As the junior Senator from New York, Hillary has passed NO MAJOR LEGISLATION! She has deferred to the senior Senator (Schumer) to tend to the needs of New Yorkers, even on the hot issue of medical problems of workers involved in the cleanup of Ground Zero after 9/11.
Hillary's one notable vote: SUPPORTING THE PLAN TO INVADE IRAQ, which she has since disavowed and twisted, but refuses to admit was a mistake. Barack Obama, however, is the only '08 Democratic Presidential Candidate who had the good judgment to oppose the war from day one!
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