Tag Archives: Chris Matthews

December 26, 2012 · 6:37 PM

Sam Donaldson to tea party: ‘It’s not your country anymore – it’s our country’

Sam Donaldson

Clearly no one of any prominence in the political media or in congress has spoken out against the Tea Party before.  This is why former ABC News anchor man, Sam Donaldson is in the news…

The Raw Story

During an appearance on Chris Matthews‘ syndicated weekend talk show, ABC News contributor and analyst Sam Donaldson criticized the tea party and argued that the movement and the Republican party were becoming increasingly in danger of irrelevancy.

“It’s the Tea Party and thinking of the Tea Party and people like that that are driving the Republicans out of contention as a national party,” he said.

Donaldson said that he had a particular aversion to the campaign slogan “We want to take back our country.”

“Guys, it’s not your country anymore – it’s our country and you’re part of it, but that thinking is going to defeat Republicans nationally if they don’t get rid of it,” he said.

Watch the video, via Newsbusters, below.

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August 27, 2012 · 7:48 PM

Chris Matthews Confronts RNC Chairman: ‘Obama Being A Foreigner Is The Thing Your Party Has Been Pushing’

A few people emailed me to ask had I seen the Matthews and Priebus altercation.  I actually saw the video for the first time about an hour ago.

Here’s a progressive blog’s take on the story:

Think Progress

Chris Matthews tore into RNC Chairman Reince Priebus during an appearance on Morning Joe on Monday, accusing the Romney campaign of “playing that little ethnic card” in its false attacks against welfare reform and jokes about birtherism. “You can play your games and giggle about it….[but] Obama being a foreigner is the thing your party has been pushing. [Campaign co-chair John] Sununu pushed it, everyone is pushing it in your party,” Matthews declared.

The MSNBC host criticized Mitt Romney’s birther joke, his consistent claims that Obama imported his domestic policies, and argued that the campaign has sought to foreignize the president.  Priebus defended the party by claiming that Obama’s health and economic policies are European, but Matthews quickly dismissed the claim:

PRIEBUS: But I think Obama’s policies have created a sense that for whatever reason, he’s looking to guidance [from Europe] as far as health care is concerned, as far as our spending is concerned …

MATTHEWS: What? Where do you get this from? This is insane! You mean the Keynesian fiscal policy — you mean the fact that every president we’ve had has tried to offset the economic cycle with stimulus going the other direction is somehow European? … What’s this got to do with Europe and this foreignization of the guy? You’re doing it now! Saying he’s influenced by foreign influences? You’re playing that card again. What’s this European thing of yours? What are you up to with this constant that he’s not really domestic?

PRIEBUS: You don’t think the take-over of our health care system called Obamacare is a problem for most Americans?

MATTHEWS: Let me tell you some history, sir. Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt pushed for that, Truman pushed for that, were they all under the influence of Europe? Where do you get this from?

PRIEBUS: I’m not going to get into a shouting match with Chris, so you guys can just move on.

MATTHEWS: Because you’re losing, that’s why.

PRIEBUS: No, I’m not losing.

The Romney campaign promoted the “foreigner” angle in July, when Sununu claimed that Obama “has no idea how the American system functions…because he spent his early years in Hawaii smoking something, spent the next set of years in Indonesia.” He later claimed, “I wish this president would learn how to be an American,” before apologizing for the remarks.

During a rally in Pennsylvania, however, Romney doubled down, calling Obama’s policies “extraordinarily foreign.”

 

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June 28, 2012 · 10:28 AM

Breaking: Supreme Court Upholds Individual Mandate

CNN first reported that the SCOTUS “killed individual mandate.”  Happily, they declared that report was an error.  I turned to MSNBC to find out in fact it was an error.  So my emotions ran the gamut within three minutes.  The bottom line was that The Court did not make a political decision as they had with Bush v. Gore or Citizens United but as Chris Matthews pointed out, it was indeed a moral decision.

Think Progress

The Supreme Court has upheld the individual mandate in Obamacare, paving the way for full implementation of the law in the states and ensuring that millions of uninsured Americans haves access to affordable coverage. The court upheld the provision as a tax. The Medicaid expansion is limited, but not invalidated, the court found. In short: “the entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal government’s power to terminate states’ Medicaid funds is narrowly read.” Roberts joined Sotomayor, Breyer, Ginsburg, and Kagan.

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December 23, 2011 · 6:44 PM

Fox Pundit Suggests Obama Looks Like ‘Skinny, Ghetto Crackhead’

 

This is so sad.  To hate a person so much that one would stoop to the level of those people on Fox News is just sad…

The Huffington Post

A Fox News guest said that some people might want to describe President Obama  as a “skinny, ghetto crackhead” Thursday night.

The Conservative Media Research Center’s Brent Bozell appeared on Fox News and was interviewed by guest host Mark Steyn. Steyn replayed a March 2011 clip from Chris Matthews’ MSNBC show, when Matthews described Newt Gingrich as looking “like a car bomber” who “loves torturing.”

Steyn and Bozell both responded to the clip. Steyn said that he wasn’t much of a “Newt fan,” but thought the GOP candidate looked more like a “cuddly…Winnie the Pooh.”

Bozell said, “How long do you think Sean Hannity’s show would last if four times in one sentence, he made a comment about, say, the President of the United States, and said that he looked like a skinny, ghetto crackhead? Which, by the way, you might want to say that Barack Obama does.” Bozell then criticized Matthews’ ratings, and said only about “45 people were watching him.”

This probably isn’t the best example of the Fox News “course correction” that CEO Roger Ailes has described.

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December 15, 2011 · 8:09 AM

Gay soldier booed at GOP debate shares his reaction

So much for those little magnetic yellow ribbons that say “Support our troops“.  One could always rely on seeing a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker near those yellow magnets as well.

At the same time Bush was telling us to “go shopping“.

We needn’t make any sacrifices, a yellow magnet would do just fine.

Someone on the “go shopping” link put it clearly and succinctly:

The period immediately following 9/11 provided a moment for Pres. Bush to exercise great leadership, especially to ask Americans to make a sacrifice, and that Bush didn’t seize that opportunity. I also share the view that refraining from calling on Americans to make helpful contributions to the war effort, while ordering other people into harm’s way, is unseemly and symbolic of the growing class disparities in the US. But I caution people against evaluating policies on the basis of symbols.

The Raw Story

An openly gay soldier who was booed by a Republican audience spoke to MSNBC host Chris Matthews on Wednesday about his reaction to the incident.

Army Captain Stephen Hill asked at the Fox News Republican presidential debate in September if the candidates intended to “circumvent the progress that has been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?” His question was met with loud boos.

“I’ve been in the army about 20 years,” he told Matthews. “And I submitted the question because I have had a lot of times in the military where I’d go to the firework, and would be sitting there and they would say, ‘We want to shout out to the troops,’ and it made me feel like I should be really happy at that moment, and then I would all of a sudden realize I am fighting for everybody’s rights except my own. So when I heard some of the Republican candidates had said they would repeal the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ I felt inclined to ask them, ‘is that true? is that what you would do?’”

“I was pretty surprised when the boos happened. It was shocking to me, my gut kind of dropped out. I thought that I had done something wrong. But I think what’s worse is probably that Mr. Santorum’s response got so many cheers.”

Santorum responded to the question by saying that gays shouldn’t have the “special privilege” of being able to serve openly.

Watch video, courtesy of MSNBC, here…

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July 14, 2011 · 1:27 AM

Chris Matthews Clowns Steve King, Forces Iowa Congressman To Admit He Doesn’t ‘Trust The Words Of Any Source’

Think Progress

Reps. Steve King (R-IA), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and Louie Gohmert (R-TX) introduced a bill today that they claim would help manage a government default if the debt limit is not raised by Aug. 2. The legislation is motivated by the right-wing triumvirate’s view that the default would not have severe repercussions on our economy. “I think we have plenty of money to service our debt,” King said today.

This afternoon on Hardball, host Chris Matthews wondered how King could come to such an aberrant determination that a default is not a threat. “You have some superior knowledge — what basis do you have for your judgement?” Matthews asked. “I do have superior knowledge, thanks for recognizing it,” King jokingly responded.

Over the next few minutes — at the very same moment Moody’s was reporting that it may downgrade the U.S. AAA bond rating — Matthews pressed King on where he gets his knowledge. Hilarity ensued:

MATTHEWS: Who are the people you’re dealing with? [...]

KING: The American citizens. [...]

MATTHEWS: So you’re polling in your district to find out whether the United States goes into default or not at the end of this month. … They know what’s going to happen…

KING: I have an independent judgment as well.

MATTHEWS: Ok tell me where it comes from.

KING: It comes from a long experience of dealing politically, and in business, and raising a family, and being an American citizen…

MATTHEWS: What does raising a family teach you about international finance? [...]

KING: That’s not my only source of information — is raising my children. [...]

MATTHEWS: Do you trust the Wall Street Journal, do you trust the New York Times?

KING: I read the Wall Street Journal. I sometimes read the New York Times. I don’t really trust it. I don’t trust the words of any source.

Matthews continued pressing King on whether he trusts the Chamber of Commerce and other conservative organizations who warn of a crisis if the debt limit isn’t raised. King said he challenges all those sources.

Matthews then asked if King could cite one — just one — international or domestic expert who he trusts on these issues and agrees with his view. King, of course, could not name one. Watch it:

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May 26, 2011 · 1:11 AM

Obama’s Gone, But The Big Dog’s Here

I  let out a chuckle when I read this story by HuffPo’s Howard Fineman…

Huffington Post

Former President Bill Clinton spoke this afternoon at a moving memorial service for industrialist and Newsweekco-owner Sidney Harman, who died last month at the age of 92.

Clinton spoke only briefly on the stage at the (appropriately named) Harman Center for the Performing Arts. But participating in the event — and seeing an audience full of old friends in politics — evidently got Bubba’s old campaign juices flowing.

Leaving the center, the president first bumped into Chris Matthews on F Street, the old (and now revived) downtown D.C. business corridor. A 10 minute schoozefest ensued.

Then Clinton spied the long line of valet parking attendants, and decided to shake hands with each, ask their names, etc.

Now geeked up on handshaking, Clinton informed his Secret Service agents — much to their chagrin — that he “wanted to take a walk.” It was a nice sunny and not too humid day in the District.

Clinton promptly set off west on F, headed in the general direction of… the White House. By this time, it was about 5 p.m. Offices were letting out, and day-shoppers finishing their voyages.

According to one source who talked to the Secret Service, Clinton shook more than 1,000 hands on the way to the vicinity of the White House plaza on Pennsylvania Ave.

President Barack Obama of course is in Europe. Clinton resisted the temptation to go to the Northwest Gate and say, “do you know who I am?”

Then Clinton was hustled into his car, and he was off…

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May 22, 2011 · 9:33 AM

Fox News Chief Roger Ailes Thinks Sarah Palin Is ‘Stupid’: New York Magazine

Recently,  Roger Ailes got angry with Chris Matthews for calling Palin “pathetic” but I suppose that was Ailes’ public persona.  In private, it’s a different story…

The Huffington Post

Fox News still dominates the cable news ratings, but chairman Roger Ailes wants something more: to help elect the next president.

That’s the takeaway from Gabriel Sherman’s New York magazine cover story hitting newsstands Monday. Sherman, who’s currently writing a book on Fox News for Random House, looks at how Ailes — who built up a stable of possible presidential contenders after the 2008 election, including Sarah Palin — isn’t so pleased with their chances at beating President Barack Obama in 2012.

Ailes doesn’t speak on the record in the article, but several Republicans close to the Fox News chief describe his concerns going into an election year.

“He thinks things are going in a bad direction,” another Republican close to Ailes told [Sherman]. “Roger is worried about the future of the country. He thinks the election of Obama is a disaster. He thinks Palin is an idiot. He thinks she’s stupid. He helped boost her up. People like Sarah Palin haven’t elevated the conservative movement.”

Ailes, a television titan, has schooled past presidential candidates on how to handle the media. Before helping Rupert Murdoch launch Fox News in 1996, Ailes worked as a strategist for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush (who he still talks to regularly).

Continue reading here…

 

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May 5, 2011 · 12:03 AM

President Obama,”The Godfather” Parallel And The bin Laden Take Down

I’ll start out by saying that the movie, The Godfather is one of President Obama’s favorite movies.

In the movie You’ve Got Mail Tom Hanks’ character Joe, types to Kathleen, Meg Ryan’s character:

JOE: The Godfather is the I Ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation? “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” What day of the week is it? “Maunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday.” And the answer to your question is “Go to the mattresses.”

You’re at war. “It’s not personal, it’s business. It’s not personal it’s business.” Recite that to yourself every time you feel you’re losing your nerve. I know you worry about being brave, this is your chance. Fight. Fight to the death.

I’ve always remembered those lines and quite frankly, I agree with Joe!

The other day CNN’s Jack Cafferty asked the question:

Here’s my question to you:  Historically, what does the killing of Osama bin Laden compare to? 

The following answer stood out because I had been noticing some Godfather parallels as well.

It’s the Godfather, Jack. First Saif Gaddaffiand some of his sons in a bomb blast in an upscale suburb, then Bin Ladenin a massive hit at a fortified mansion.. Moammar Gaddaffi is sure to follow, Mubarak may go away for a long time, and in this administration’s cinematic way, Ahmadinejad will probably get it in the bathtub.

I didn’t have that particular scene in mind but one can make the analogy between President Obama’s attendance at the White House Correspondents Dinner  and Michael Corleone’s presence at the baptismal ceremony,  after Obama gave order to take bin Laden out.

I heard MSNBC’s Chris Matthews compare the shots to bin Laden’s eye reminiscent of the “Moe Greene” execution in The Godfather II.  That was pretty far fetched, but so is this entire exercise.  But let’s continue…

Maureen Dowd saw what I saw as well:

No wonder the president’s top generals call him “a Cool Hand Luke.”

After giving the order for members of a Navy Seals team to execute a fantastically daring plan to, let’s be honest, execute Osama bin Laden, Barack Obama put on a tuxedo and gave a comedy speech Saturday night in a Washington ballroom of tippling journalists and Hollywood stars.

If we could have seen everything unfolding in real time, it would have had the same dramatic effect as the intercutting in the president’s favorite movie, “The Godfather,” when Michael Corleone calmly acts as godfather at his nephew’s baptism at church, even as his lieutenants carry out the gory hits he has ordered on rival mobsters.

So, what say you, readers?  Are there any parallels between The President’s actions this past week or so and  any part of The Godfather Trilogy?

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February 16, 2011 · 8:10 PM

Chris Matthews: A “New Group Of Crazy People” Are Taking Over The Republican Party

Ya think…?

Mediaite

Chris Matthews welcomed two frequent guests to Hardball, Salon’s Joan Walsh and Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson to discuss some controversial Republican stories ranging from Governor Haley Barbour refusing to denounce license plates that honor the KKK’s founder to Speaker of the House John Boehner refusing to tell Americans whether or not they should believe President Obama is a Muslim. Somehow Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann snuck into the conversation too, with Matthews finally just concluding that Republicans are a “party of crazy people.”

Walsh found it peculiar that Boehner “makes his living telling Americans what to believe” on issues like the economy, yet demonstrates a cowardice to stand up to the half of his base that still believes Obama is a Muslim. Walsh warned that Republicans are playing with “racist fire.” Matthews admitted he was having fun discussing the “new group of crazy people” taking over the Republican party, but worried that establishment Republicans soon might not recognize their party anymore. Matthews concluded, “I think it’s a crazy coalition . . . all these guys from main street who run a little business [are going to] realize they are in a party of crazy people.”

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