During MSNBC's live coverage of Pennsylvania's Democratic presidential primary, co-anchor Chris Matthews brought up the possibility that the North Carolina Republican Party would run an "overtly racist" campaign against Barack Obama, as the MSNBC host harkened back to the days of Jesse Helms and Harvey Gantt. Matthews: "North Carolina will be interesting, and I think that if the Republican Party goes back to the old trick it did with the days of Jesse Helms and Harvey Gantt and running a campaign which is overtly racist, I think that will be a mistake if they do that. I'll wait and see if they do that." (Transcript follows)
After referring to Obama's relationship with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, co-anchor Keith Olbermann brought up the possibility that John McCain could also be attacked for connections with controversial people: "There is a lot that could be thrown at the Republicans by the Democrats and the past associations of Senator McCain, or even some of the current ones."
Fearing the worst, Matthews continued: "I hope we don't see this kind of thing because this campaign involves a woman, an African-American, and a white American. And the choices among those three should be based on character and ability and the best interests of this country, and we can still get that kind of a campaign done by the end of this year. We can do this. We can do this."
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the April 22 MSNBC coverage of the Pennsylvania Democratic primary from 11:21 P.M.:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: This campaign continues because the Democrats have not yet decided on their nominee. Hillary Clinton has slowed it down again. She's pushed the mute button or whatever button you want to call it. How about the pause button? The pause button, because superdelegates are unlikely to move right now in either direction. I don't buy this notion that somehow they're going to rush to Hillary Clinton. I think they're going to continue to wait and see what happens the next two weeks. We'll be back here again, I assume, in two weeks.
North Carolina will be interesting, and I think that if the Republican Party goes back to the old trick it did with the days of Jesse Helms and Harvey Gantt and running a campaign which is overtly racist, I think that will be a mistake if they do that. I'll wait and see if they do that.
KEITH OLBERMANN: Well, you heard Tim's hint about this, about calling on Democrats to disassociate themselves from Senator Obama due to controversial figures in his past, which one would think has, in addition to backlash against racism in the America of 2008, it also might have some more politically practical backlash. There is a lot that could be thrown at the Republicans by the Democrats and the past associations of Senator McCain, or even some of the current ones.
MATTHEWS: Well, I was fortunate to go to grad school down there. I love that state. I think it's a better state than that. I hope we don't see this kind of thing because this campaign involves a woman, an African-American, and a white American. And the choices among those three should be based on character and ability and the best interests of this country, and we can still get that kind of a campaign done by the end of this year. We can do this. We can do this.
OLBERMANN: Yes, we can.
MATTHEWS: Yes, we can.
Editor at Large
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OLBERMANN: Yes, we
April 23, 2008 - 05:02 ET by Jack BauerThis is the secret Obamaniac code... the way they test each other out to make sure they are talking to fellow true believers.
There then follows an elaborate "mating" ritual wereby the Obamaniacs consumate their love for their messiah. It involves leg tingling activity, and lots of spittle.
And privately....
April 23, 2008 - 05:44 ET by old croyou must repeat the phase "acirema nmad dog" three times while turning counterclockwise reletive to the position the sun was last seen in the sky.
Matthews: "Death to
April 23, 2008 - 07:23 ET by JerryMatthews: "Death to Conservatives!"
Olbermann: "Death to Amerika!"
Both: "Barrack Akbar!"
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
So what exactly did
April 23, 2008 - 05:15 ET by nicksmith112So what exactly did Geraldine Ferraro say that was wrong??
Race was brought up every 2 minutes during the cable news coverage....especially (white) guilt ridden MSNBC.
I'm a refugee from the Democratic Party.
Ferraro said something anathema to Dems
April 23, 2008 - 06:31 ET by WingletDriver"So what exactly did Geraldine Ferraro say that was wrong??"
The truth.
Searching PMSNBC for diversity among commentators.....
April 23, 2008 - 10:16 ET by spiderdanFinding none, note the following: the only guilt displayed is by those currently on the payroll at that cesspool of inanity.
The two cretins shown in this piece are examples of why liberals need to be crated into containers, shipped to some foreign land where their kind is not tolerated, and allow them to be indoctrinated as they seem to wish they were here.
Of course, I'd spare them the humiliation by allowing the US Navy to run torpedo drills on that ship. The surviving liberals can admire how biodegradable and nutritious (for starving sea life) this feckless cargo proved to be. I blame George Bush for feeling this way....(insert big grin here).
Who gets to define "racism"?
April 23, 2008 - 06:26 ET by ThisnThatThe MSM, of course, will tell us whether a racist remark was made.
McCain: "I spelled out my positions clearly, wrote them down -- there they are in black and white".
MSM: Black & White: Racist! [15 straight days of headlines & evening news leads]
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
That's our
April 23, 2008 - 06:44 ET by motherbeltThat's our Chrissie....always finding something to worry about!!
(Uh, Chrissie: this is a Democratic primary in NC! Why would the Republicans run a campaign against the Obama???)
But he has to find a way to slip in the "fact" that Republicans are
racist by nature, and just a tick away from telling the voters to hide
their white daughters!
My thought exactly
April 23, 2008 - 12:22 ET by DEVILDOCMOMMotherbelt, I think he just has to bring up THE EVIL REPUBLICANS, as much as is possible to hammer his twisted beliefs home.
This is a Primary
April 23, 2008 - 06:28 ET by WingletDriverWhy would the GOP do anything to the Dems in a Primary other than Operation Chaos? Let them eviscerate themselves like they've been doing for the last two to three months.
Hey Chris, the GOP hasn't gotten involved yet. Nor will they until your racist party is done choosing a crummy nominee.
Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, .....Everywhere
April 23, 2008 - 06:47 ET by NKurucAfter months of watching MSNBC, CNN, Tim Russert, and that ilk spill their ongoing rant about Obama, and yes even Hill one can only reach this conclusion. The major difference between Dems and Republicans is that the Dems are always, without exception, extremely emotional and see things as they "should be". Things as they should be as taught in classrooms.....unfortunatley not in the real world. "We should be" able to give everyone universal health care at minimal cost. "We should be" able to talk and reason with the terrorists. "We should be" able to give everyone a free college education. If this party truly got their way with all issues, the United States would be in a perpetual state of welfare, and eventually weakened to the point of no return. We're a capitalistic society, whose success is based solely on performance, and not "giving away the house". Think of it in this way. You're watching American Idol. The Dems are the idiots in the front row waving their raised arms and swaying to every song. The Republicans are those sitting in the audience evaluating which of the future entertainers has the best potential to be a future star. I realize that this is overly simplistic....but think about it!
a revival, one last time?
April 23, 2008 - 06:58 ET by Mica the MagnificentO-k, Chris. You look out for republican racism and I'll watch to see if democrat senator Robert Byrd throws on the old hood and marches with the boys into North Carolina on primary day.
"I think that will be a mistake if they do that. I'll wait and see if they do that."
Ditto, Chris.
These idiots astound me!
April 23, 2008 - 07:08 ET by NL207These idiots astound me! They are publicly talking up the idea that the GOP will run a race-based campaign in North Carolina. The primary they speak of in NC is a Democratic Primary. The GOP race is decided. The GOP won't be campaigning in NC, at least not seriously at the Presidential level.
The NC Presidential Primary will be a DEMOCRATIC campaign. Shouldn't these commentator turkeys be talking about what kind of Dem campaign is going to occur there?
Well, Chrissie is
April 23, 2008 - 07:45 ET by motherbeltWell, Chrissie is apparently worried that the GOP, in spite of not being involved in the primary, will go into NC and spend their money to run racist ads against Obama, just because they, you know, <whispering> hate blacks.
Thought the same
April 23, 2008 - 11:59 ET by FastEdand then wondered if they knew that John and GW WEREN'T running against Barry and the Beast??
After this prom primary election is over, how long will it take to blame GW, CHaney, Rove, GOP, etc., for selecting the WRONG lib??
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Let's see... if Michigan
April 23, 2008 - 07:20 ET by JerryLet's see... if Michigan was playing Michigan State in football, Chrissy & Olbermaroon would be warning us about the potential of Ohio State running dirty plays. BRILLIANT!
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
I HATE TO SAY THIS...
April 23, 2008 - 07:35 ET by danybhoyI see where you are going, & how you got there, but BathTubBoy would'nt bring up OhioSt. when covering Michigan vs Michigan St. The one thing Olbermann could cover was sports, but a little of him goes a very long way.
What I will say, is I tend to think that it is the Dems who are all bent out of shape over the issue of race, not the GOP. It is almost always lefties who see things along racial lines, demand quotas, & push for race to be a factor in university admisions. You see no affirmative action on the right, you might move up on the basis of merit, not because of the color of one's skin.
If Obama wins The White House, it will set race relations back 30 years. Any critical words about an Obama Presidency would draw very loud claims of racism. No matter how lousy a job he would be doing, it would be racist to say it. I think the guy would be little more then a Jimmy Carter impersonator. Carter was a disaster, Obama would be as bad or worse.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
Ther real question is,,,
April 23, 2008 - 07:35 ET by c5thenEven if there is no racism in any of the campaigns (yeah, right.) Will Chrissy, Olberbufoon, and the rest of the MSM still bring it up and paint Obama as a victim of a fictional, "possible", campaign.
I think the answer is .....ABSOLUTELY!
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Let me think
April 23, 2008 - 07:47 ET by 10ksnookerWhich party set up and operated the KKK for decades? Hmmm, I can't recall. The KKK was setup after the civil war, I remember that much. But the why and who remain a little fuzzy. Maybe I could ask Democrat Senator Byrd, the fellow who led the Civil Rights Act of 1964 fillibuster if he knows.
The uncivil war between the Democrat rascists and the feminist is fun to watch, and instructive as well. How will it all end, who will hit the wall. The convention, what's it called, oh yeah .. 'recreate 68' should foster a run on popcorn nationwide -- And supply will be low, Gaia needs feeding don't you know.
This campaign?
April 23, 2008 - 07:52 ET by CobraMan"I hope we don't see this kind of thing because this campaign involves a woman, an African-American, and a white American."
Ok, I gather that Hillary is the woman he refers to, and Obama is the African-American, but who is the "white American" he's talking about, Al Gore? It can't be McCain, as he's not campaigning for the democratic nomination.
They just HOPE!
April 23, 2008 - 07:59 ET by ChasvsThey just hope the GOP doesn't target the Character of their Candidate! There's no need to go racist or sexist with these two! Their LACK of character and outright lies will be enough to target.
of course CM is just strutting his Democratic roots for the Party elders to see since he's now running for the Senate!
The decision is clear this year. Democracy or Socialism. It's that simple. which do you want for the future of your Country?
Except for one little thing....
April 23, 2008 - 08:25 ET by c5thenWe've already seen that any tough questions or concerns that are raised about Obama are deemed "racist" by the campaign and the MSM. To a lesser extent, pointing out Hillary's lies are deemed as "sexist" by their campaign and some of the MSM.
So really, any focus on the negative aspects of either candidate will be put into a bigoted and prejudicial light by the MSM, especially if it is prepatrated by the evil republicans
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
you know what i like??
April 23, 2008 - 09:00 ET by audio357All the media pundits saying get out hillary or your going to ruin the chance for anyone to beat mccain. That they are sick of the fighting etc.. Hey if they want to know who is sick of it.. look in the mirror the media is the one who has been having this presidential campaign running since 06!!!! They started it themselves with hillary hillary hillary after the 06 midterms. Now they turned on her and its obama messiah obama... sickening.. they complain about something they started.. they want dem primary to be over but there are a lot more states to go.. and lets flash back.. who was saying let all the votes count in 2000??? oh yea the media and the dems.. now.. they dont want them to count.. goodness...
honesty is the best policy... unless your running for office.
Do they research anything?
April 23, 2008 - 09:29 ET by Great DebaterIf these 2 blowhards had done just a minute's worth of research, they would've known that the biggest thing on the NCGOP's agenda in 2 weeks would be to get the best possible candidate nominated for the open Governor's seat. I guess they think making it sound like there's a 3-way race next week between Obama, Clinton, and McCain makes for more interesting TV. Well, actually it does, it's just highly inaccurate.
Chris and Keith: NCGOP voters have 2 presidential choices on May 6: McCain or none of the above. Don't bother worrying about whether Obama being 1/2 black will keep us from voting for him until AFTER (AND IF) he's won the Dem. nomination!
BTW: For everyone saying Obama could be "the first black president," remember that his mother (who mostly raised him) is as white as Hillary's or McCain's.
Motley Fools
April 23, 2008 - 10:02 ET by badger.Dumb and Dumber will do and say anything to get their black Superman hero elected. Who are these two insignificant jokers trying to fool? Chris and Keith must think people are too stupid to think on there own, just instigating as they always do.
People like these two idiots and the liberal Democrats are the ones always pulling the race card. Anything said by a Republican even closely resembling a racial epithet or slur would be crucified by the MSM, and that's fact.
I'm no NASA rocket scientist, but neither are these two clowns, trying to deceive what little audience they have with lies. Who are these buffoons trying to kid? If the MSM had any malicious or scandalous dirt on McCain they would have used years ago to rub any Republican supporters nose in. I've heard the Democrats did crossover party lines to get (what they thought to be the weaker candidate) McCain the Republican nomination, for the patsy/puppet in the general election. I guess it backfired.
I can't wait to see Matthews slobbering and Olbermann throwing one of his temper-tantrums after Obama loses in Nov. Keith will be throwing more than papers around, that fat head of his is going to explode from all the pressure.
I hate to quote a Nazi but the one that comes to mind is "tell a lie often enough, long enough and loud enough, and people will believe it to be true." Adolf Hitler 1937
Racism
April 23, 2008 - 10:48 ET by cvgbuckeyeThere has been a school of thought trhat has defined "Racism" as "A person attempting to gain an advantage over another person, based upon the other person's race"
Interpretation:
Rev. Wright
Michele Obama
Chris Mathews
Simple Olbermann
90% of the Main stream Media
These people are among the most racist people on the planet, BAR NONE!
Oldbamaman
April 23, 2008 - 12:27 ET by jaywlSometimes when reading I absentmindedly substitute my own words into a sentence. Olberman's statement "There is a lot that could be thrown at the Republicans by the Democrats " is such a case. I inserted "us" for "Democrats" before I shook my head and actually read it. One could also insert "the media" or "my friends" or... Well, insert your favorite.
Hillary plays the "terrorist" card
April 23, 2008 - 13:02 ET by RackieRead all about it.
...and here is what McCain
April 23, 2008 - 13:53 ET by bigtimer...and here is what McCain is going to do about the GOP in NC and one ad running about Obama regarding Wright....this concerns a race for Gov. but McCain has to be oh so mellow and nice and tell the GOP in NC to cease....
Lovely McCain...just lovely.
Everybody will love you now.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
BT, do you think this may
April 23, 2008 - 13:56 ET by bassndudeBT, do you think this may be a right hand...left hand thing? Plausable deniability?
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Howdy bass.... In simple
April 23, 2008 - 14:01 ET by bigtimerHowdy bass....
In simple words NO....McCain has done this more than once or twice now regarding Obama ect.
I'm just tired of it.
Won't be surprised to hear an apology again from him if the NC GOP goes ahead with their plans.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
BT, no argument there,
April 23, 2008 - 14:13 ET by bassndudeBT, no argument there, about Mac. But I do think, if they run these ads now, that they will lose some of their effect in the general. Just MHO, is all.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
'Overtly Racist'
April 23, 2008 - 17:01 ET by mattmWhat would Matthews consider the right level of racism? Extremely subtle, subtle, a bit noticable, very noticible, overt?