Matthews explained to his viewers that Obama “referred to it as bluster because if you read the really smart columnists,” and those would be “people like David Ignatius and Tom Friedman” who are “in the middle politically,” Obama was just “calling it what it is, bluster. It's just words, just sword-rattling, and he called it today. I thought that was profound.”
At about 3:42 PM EDT, just after Biden finished speaking, Matthews oozed over Obama's address with “dignity and indignation,” comparing him to actors Denzel Washington and Spencer Tracy. Really:
When I was watching Barack, I said there's the fire I've been waiting for. Maybe it was the camera angle, but I was looking up, if you look at some of the stronger performances, and they're almost always strong by the actor Denzel Washington, when he's really sticking it to the bad guys at the end of the movies, when he's really making his sort of Spencer Tracy moment, there's something about the face, there's something about that statement of strength and even anger where you really make your point with dignity and indignation, and I thought he was doing it today for the first time as a candidate: Barack Obama taking the fight to the bluster of the opponent.
UPDATED with video and MP3 audio (2:15, 800 Kb)
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(ABC and CBS went live at about 3:03 PM EDT/2:03 PM local CDT. CBS returned to tennis and then golf after seven minutes, but ABC, with Charles Gibson in on a Saturday, stayed on for more than a half-hour to show the entirety of Obama and Biden, though Gibson talked some over them, before joining a Little League championship game already in progress. NBC stayed with it's taped Olympic coverage.)
From MSNBC's post-event coverage of the Saturday, August 23 Obama-Biden event in Springfield, Illinois:
CHRIS MATTHEWS, IN WASHINGTON, DC: What I liked about the performance by Barack Obama was this: He finally took on John McCain on the issue of our time, which is Russia, of course, and it's invasion of Georgia. And he used the word bluster twice. Now, there are a lot of neo-conservatives out there that just love the old black and white Manichaean cold war feeling again. They'd like to get rid of color television, in fact. Let's go back to the '50s [laugher from Olbermann] and let's fight with the Russians again. They're only comfortable in that setting.
And he referred to it as bluster because if you read the really smart columnists -- and you and I read them -- people like David Ignatius and Tom Friedman, they're really bright people out there, in the middle politically. They point out that it doesn't take much brains to put the finger in the eye of Vladimir Putin if that's what you want to do for political gain. Here's a guy, Barack Obama who's not supposed to have a strong suit, in the area of foreign policy, calling it what it is, bluster. It's just words, just sword-rattling, and he called it today. I thought that was profound.
And then to have Barack sort of complete the punch by saying, you need to be more than a good soldier today. You need to be a wise leader. Now that is really scraping the bark off. That's going to his strong suit in the case of John McCain, his war heroism as a POW and saying, good work, thank you for our patriotism, but where's your vision? Are you going to get us past this fight with Russia or are you just going to enjoy it? Are you going to get past this problem with Iraq or just continue it forever. Are you just going to enjoy this struggle instead of winning it and ending it.And I think that was the way he this talked today. I though it was a very well put together duet and I think, there was a moment there when I was watching, I don't know if you're comfortable sharing this thought, but I'll just say it for myself. When I was watching Barack, I said there's the fire I've been waiting for [Olberman can be heard: “umhumm.”]. Maybe it was the camera angle, but I was looking up, if you look at some of the stronger performances, and they're almost always strong of the actor Denzel Washington, when he's really sticking it to the bad guys at the end of the movies, when he's really making his sort of Spencer Tracy moment, there's something about the face, there's something about that statement of strength and even anger where you really make your point with dignity and indignation, and I thought he was doing it today for the first time as a candidate: Barack Obama taking the fight to the bluster of the opponent.
....
KEITH OLBERMANN, IN NEW YORK CITY: In his speech, Joe Biden specifically tied John McCain to swift boating. He made, as Chris just pointed out, the swift boating terms in our country, he put that term and John McCain together and he said flatly that we need to restore America's soul. This kind of terminology, does it effectively lift this campaign out of Democrat versus Republican and make it into something of a well, I hate to use the comparison, but we're doing it obviously in front of Lincoln's state house, does it bring it up to this kind of Lincolnian greater than the sum of the parts public good mission almost?
DAVID GREGORY: Well, I think they hope that's the case. I think other will view it as partisanship from the left to the right and doing what they have to do it tactically to beat the Republicans...
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Inquiring minds . .
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:00 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsI wonder if Biden will resign his Senate seat as he is up for reelection this year.
D
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DFTT... Of course
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:07 ET by bigtimerDFTT...
Of course not...that isn't done anymore...
Like I posted longer about this very thing somewhere else....there really ought to be a law for this, it used to be done out of a sense of decorum or protocol...instead we get to pay for these people doing two different things while raising money and flying all over the country...blah blah blah...
It has changed since the Clintons have been in office...all protocol went out the window.
I think Dole was the last person to follow such...and he was the majority or minority leader in the Senate if memory serves me right.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Yeah, I know Kerry didn't
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:16 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsYeah, I know Kerry didn't and of course Obama either. I am just wondering if Biden will run both campaigns, or ignore his state. Seems unfair to his state and he should do the right thing and ask someone else to run.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Buh bye
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 21:45 ET by needle"Seems unfair to his state..."
On the other hand it is fair to say that all the affected states – and the US to boot – are better served when those senators are absent form the Senate than when they are present.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
“Protocol” or propriety?
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:16 ET by needle"...all protocol went out the window."
“Protocol” or propriety?
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
If Obama-Biden win ...
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 20:09 ET by D. S. Hube... I'm betting Biden's son will be up for his DE Senate seat. Beau Biden is Delaware's attorney general and is scheduled to do a tour of duty in Iraq in a few weeks (he's Army National Guard). Still, that won't stop him from seeking daddy's seat, I bet. I've lived in Delaware all my life and politics here is surreal. Beau defeated a vastly superior GOP candidate (Ferris Wharton) for the AG spot in '06; the contrast between the two was almost comical -- Beau running ads bragging how he had tried "tens (tens!!)of cases" as an attorney ...
It was a close election, but the only reason Beau ultimately won was because of his name. Come to think of it, the contrast in experience between him and Wharton reminds me of Obama vs. McCain ...!
D.S., Oh no, reminds me
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 21:50 ET by bigtimerD.S.,
Oh no, reminds me of Sarbanes son in the House now.
I know you are right.
Reminds me of the Kennedy family...they know where to go to keep the family name going...zilch for experience/qualifications...but hey, what does that matter.
It's never ending...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Beyond the twilight zone?
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:03 ET by needle"On Ignatius and Friedman being “in the middle politically,” I'll give him Ignatius, but only someone well to the left could see Friedman as anything other than liberal."
So how far to the left must one be for Ignatius and Friedman to seem to be comparable? Beyond the twilight zone?
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
needle
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:18 ET by Logic over emotionInfinity + 1?
Let me step aside
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:11 ET by KC MulvilleI freely admit that there's a man who can answer this crap much better than I ever could:
--- Ronald Reagan, 1992 Republican Convention
Matthews/Olbermann
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:16 ET by dboMutt: Don't you just love Obama? Isn't he just totally cool?
Jeff: He is my hero. He is awesome and wicked. Your turn Mutt.
These guys are just a total embarrassment to journalism.
Oh thats right yea, thats
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:18 ET by BlazerOh thats right yea, thats MSNBC's version of Election coverage you know the one program you may want to be a little objective and un-biased and not interject a lot of opinion, but yet this network chooses its two biggest partisan pundits to run their coverage.
MSNBC should just get Chris and Olbie some Cheerleader outfits and pom-poms.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Election coverage? Someone
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:32 ET by motherbeltElection coverage? Someone needs to tell these guys....they think they're doing color coverage on Oscar night!
Matthews' idea of Presidential material is someone who can play a role as well as Denzel Washington.
Well, then, maybe Denzel Washington should run for President!
Good freakin' grief!!
Yep Bluster was their
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:23 ET by bigtimerYep Bluster was their newest talking point word today after this was over...it cracked me up when Matthews went on about him seeing the fire he's been waiting for from Obama, the Spencer Tracy moment blah blah blah...it also did when Ubermann said that Biden was a Lion of a Speaker...
These guys are really in an unreal world..their own little bubble...that is going to bust on them so fast it isn't funny.
By the way...before the speaking started Matthews went gushing on and on speaking about the two couples calling them the quartet of experience, the quartet of talent...that is going to bring America together...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Matthews' bluster
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:47 ET by GalvanicI concur. Matthews' credibility continues to unravel with each swoon over Obama. I'm beginning to wonder if he senses some sort of sexual attraction to candidate. Seriously.
Regarding MSNBC and other MSM analyses, it's fascinating to hear the correspondents highlight all the supposedly positive aspects of Biden, such as
- blue color background (NOTE: Biden has been a politician all his life, and a US Senator for some 35 years)
- brilliant, well-spoken campaigner (NOTE: Biden's Presidential bids have all died early in their respective primary seasons)
- suffered a personal tragedy when wife and daughter died (NOTE: And so???)
- comes home to his family every night (NOTE: Isn't that what a husband and father is supposed to do?)
- foreign-policy expert (NOTE: Seeing as VP mostly attend the funerals of foreign heads of state, wouldn't he be more effective as Secretary of State?)
Citings of the negatives are few and far between, but include . . .
- Senator since Nixon Administration (NOTE: What has he himself changed in Washington?)
- Has no executive experience anywhere
- Frequently misspeaks and (in his words) embellishes his record
- represents a traditionally Democratic state in with inconsequential electoral votes (NOTE: so much for wooing a toss-up state like Ohio or Virginia)
If McCain is smart, he'll pick a guy like Michael Steele, former Lt Gov of Maryland. I don't think he's that smart.
Galv... I could not agree
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:57 ET by bigtimerGalv...
I could not agree more.
Plus hearing this ridiculous blather about Biden not being an insider of Washington....give me a break...
I also agree about Steele, have said as such in the past, he would be a great pick...I also like Santorum.
If McCain did pick Steele the msm and politico's aren't going to be able to get away with what they did to him in Maryland, with the likes of Schumer leading the way, plus all the racist crap they threw in....no outrage by the msm then, we all know what would of happened if this were reversed party wise.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
And the answer is . . .
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:01 ET by Galvanicbigtimer: "Plus hearing this ridiculous blather about Biden not being an insider of Washington....give me a break... "
Remember the TV game show Family Feud? Freqeuntly, a contestant-family would include an elderly member who wasn't quite up on anything and perhaps overwhelmed by the studio situation, and would come up with bizarre answers
HOST (Richard Dawson): Okay, Grampa. What do you think our studio audience answered to this phrase: Monkey _________.
GRAMPA: Hmmmm. . . Uh. . . . . Monkey . . .
HOST: Monkey -- blank. What's your answer?
GRAMPA: Richard, I'll say Monkey biscuits.
(The entire family is stunned silent for a moment, but stuck with the answer, they begin clapping, building to a crescendo with shouts of "Good answer! Good answer!" not so much because they believe that, but so as not to let Grampa feel like a total idiot)
HOST (trying to hold in a laugh): Is it Monkey biscuits?
Buzzer. XXX.
HOST: No. I'm surprised, too, Grampa. I like that answer. I enjoy a monkey biscuit now and then, (does his weak WC Fields impersonation) with a little banana gravy, doncha know?
THAT'S THE BIDEN ANNOUCNEMENT, no? The Democratic family wants desperately to win, very aware of the party's tendency to form circular firing squads to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Obama's campaign can't understand why he is virtually tied in the polls with McCain, and needed to regain the initiative and restore the momentum of the mid-primary season. They even played the teasing game to build up the anticipation.
Instead, they offer the party monkey biscuits, and as the MSM -- initially somewhat stunned & disappointed, began to regain composure and shout "Good answer!" but can't hide their lack of enthusiasm. The air is rushing out of the "Hope" balloon, and Democrats have begun drawing lots for that familiar firing squad.
bigtimer: If McCain did pick Steele the msm and politico's aren't going to be able to get away with what they did to him in Maryland, with the likes of Schumer leading the way, plus all the racist crap they threw in....no outrage by the msm then, we all know what would of happened if this were reversed party wise.
Yeah, the racist Dems in Maryland really did a job on Steele, describing him as a Republican lawn jockey. He's actually a tremendous gentleman, very smart on public issues, and I'd love to see him hold higher public office.
Galv... You said it all
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:21 ET by bigtimerGalv...
You said it all with your Family Feud scenario...you really said it all.
That was genius.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Why would the Obama camp
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:25 ET by nicksmith112Why would the Obama camp make the VP announcement during the slowest news cycle???
Because of the over the top orgasmic reaction from the looney left MSM!
Even Axelrod has figured out the MSNBC one sided rockstar gushing is actually hurting the cause!!!
MSNBC should add a laugh to their Obama coverage!
I'm a refugee from the Democratic Party.
nicksmith-112: "Why would
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 18:05 ET by Galvanicnicksmith-112: "Why would the Obama camp make the VP announcement during the slowest news cycle???"
That's a very good question, especially since they created so much anticipation with teasers in the days building up to the announcement.
Could it be that having already decided on Biden, the Obama campaign didn't want the MSM televising the images and voices of whining Hillary-supporters for all to see just a couple of days prior to the Convention?
Frankly, the Biden pick looks like a bone to the Democratic Beltway elite, who are still nervous about the anti-Washington sentiment that Obama has ignited. Obama needs their support first, so he goes with one of their own.
The challenge will be in wooing back the anti-war crowd who had rallied to him early, and the shrill Why-Not-Hillary crowd who can't accept that her own incompentence and negatives handed the nomination to Obama.
One possibility (and I
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:18 ET by motherbeltOne possibility (and I emphasize it's just my opinion) is that if it was already talked over all week, the excitement might be wearing off, and they want the Sunday shows to be gaga over this, instead of taking a look at THIS
I'm just sayin'....it's a possibility.
Hi mb... Another story
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:35 ET by bigtimerHi mb...
Another story that would and should be huge news...we know what it would be if this was a repub candidate...as it should be.
ACORN has gotten away with voter fraud forever...when is the FEC going to do something about this...let alone the court system.
Obama will just get a slap on the hands...after the election, if that...looks like he beat Hill to ACORN this time.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
"we need to restore
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:32 ET by Eileen Right"we need to restore America's soul" so Olberblown, BHO and Biden support limited government and individual freedom? Yeah, right.
Justn when many of us think
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:57 ET by Andrew H.Justn when many of us think Matthews couldn't be more ridiculous--he is.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Uh-Oh... sounds like
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 18:03 ET by Captain RepusUh-Oh... sounds like Chrissy is getting that 'tingly feeling' back in his groin over Obama. Me thinks that Gerble got loose in his panty hose again.
Olbermoron needs to spray him down with water before he has an oops.
No doubt Denzel Washington took it as an INSULT.
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 18:44 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasNo doubt Denzel Washington took it as an INSULT.
The answer to terrorism IS war. Obama bin Biden? What were they thinking? Next Please!
What ?
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 18:47 ET by jwzuber"Does it bring it up to this kind of Lincolnian greater than the sum of the parts public good mission almost?'
Does this make any sense to anybody? Could you explain it to me?
jwz.... ROFLMAO! You
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 18:54 ET by bigtimerjwz....
ROFLMAO!
You have made a great point...and you've got me, when he started up with the Lincolnian bit I quit listening...
I just let what that man says most times go in one ear out the other...he always thinks he is smarter by half with his leftist BS...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Would that be the same
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 18:58 ET by USA4freedomWould that be the same Spencer Tracy that was in "guess who's coming to dinner??"
Sometimes this stuff is just to funny to believe.
I hope the MSM keeps it up, America of either party likes a fair fight, you cant help but see how the MSM wets their pants every time Obama does anything.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Similarities
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 11:40 ET by Galvanicusa4freedom: Would that be the same Spencer Tracy that was in "guess who's coming to dinner??"
I think so. Afterall, it makes sense. Just as Tracy's devout Catholic faith kept him from divorcing his wife and shacking up with Hepburn, Matthews' devout Catholic faith prevents him from divorcing wife Kathleen and moving in with Obama, even if only to get his leg tingled.
Well of course
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 20:45 ET by doug1950It's like that age old question...What's the difference between an orange? A bicycle because a vest doesn't have any sleeves.
oh thank God jwzuber
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 13:02 ET by RackieI thought I had "gone stupid".
I get the feeling Mathews
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:48 ET by nwahsI get the feeling Mathews was raised by two elderly aunts and is publicly working out his fears of scary black people.
Denzel Washington???
No wonder his leg shivers :)
What no Sidney Portier comparisons?
Now Matthews is using the
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:56 ET by bigtimerNow Matthews is using the competence factor with McCain about him not knowing how many houses he has, or the age of his mother or father blah blah blah...he says it's just a competency problem with his age...
He may try to remember what just happened a few hours ago with his messiah, his Chosen One introducing his VP pick as the next POTUS...
These people are really desperately trying to force the polling for their guy to raise in points by Monday.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Perhaps we should start a fund drive for Barack's half brother?
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 20:31 ET by nwahsMaybe a conservative group should get together to lift Barack Obama's half brother out of poverty. Its probably too late to fly him to the Democrat Convention. I really want to know how Captain America could completely forget his brother living in squalor while he, the "chosen one" rakes in millions. That is so much more important than forgetting the number of properties one owns, or his wife owns.
If Matthews hadn't gone
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 20:41 ET by Chris NormanIf Matthews hadn't gone totally insane, he would look at his miserable self in the mirror every morning and wonder just how much of a fool he made of himself the night before.
McNotObama '08
I'm glad to see this featured by NB
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 23:12 ET by lumpyI posted a comment about it on an earlier NB story here today. But don't expect the media to pick up on the outrageous bias exhibited by MSNBC's co-anchors during the Obama/Biden rally. The media never reports on their own sins/failures. They protect their own.
And I don't want to hear the media hypocrites call Fox News biased, not after the Olbermann/Matthews fawning coverage of Obama/Biden this afternoon. Tim Russert must be rolling in his grave. Neither of those MSNBC buffoons has a smidgen of journalistic professionalism. Very sad to see how the NBC News brand has been demolished.
Smear This!
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 07:08 ET by ChasvsThere's something I'd like to smear Chris Mathews with and it's not words!
This slimeball liberal idiot is so full of himself he's going to fit right in with a Obama administration ( heaven help us if that ever happens).
hey Barack, we don't need your stinkin CHANGE!
Too much
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 10:12 ET by rpl80I can't bear to ready anything about MSNBC and Chris Matthews. It's just out of control at this point. How do they get away with calling themselves the "place for politics"?
Too much
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 10:12 ET by rpl80I can't bear to ready anything about MSNBC and Chris Matthews. It's just out of control at this point. How do they get away with calling themselves the "place for politics"?
Chris Matthews at his intellectual best.
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 10:19 ET by acaiguanaChris Matthews at his intellectual best.
That's going to his strong suit in the case of John McCain, his war heroism as a POW and saying, good work, thank you for our patriotism, but where's your vision? Are you going to get us past this fight with Russia or are you just going to enjoy it? Are you going to get past this problem with Iraq or just continue it forever. Are you just going to enjoy this struggle instead of winning it and ending it.
So, apparently McCaiin enjoyed his POW time?
Or maybe everyone who supports the US WOT is now a 'neo-conservative'?
Why not just substitute 'Jew'? That is what he really means.
Ah Chrissy. You never saw a war, did you? And if you weren't so busy 'enjoying' the baseball game of American politics, would you drool over Global Warming?
He never changes, only delves deeper into the insanity that is Liberalism.
ACA
...
Chat Moderator
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Mathews and the whole press
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 09:31 ET by welderforeKenneth J Roberts
It is a shame that we have nothing but campaigning on the news for none other than Obama and it is getting old and I for one will not buy any thing associated with the news media I am looking to see what products these non journalist have and I will write each one and refrain from buying any thing that has to do with Olbermnnan , Mathews advertisers . I think that is how you hurt these types of people that have no charcter and would sell out their own mothers for a good story or to get their guy elected. The battle ground polls tell the true story and McCain is at least 15 % ahead of Obama now and he will do nothing but go up with the new sucking up to Obama and Biden on the news . And who said that the left is smarter than we are they stick their foot in their mouth every time they fawn over Obama.Now they have two to kiss and promote .I also feel that I have a right to call these jerks names because they have insulted my thought process on more then one occasion . so they are JERKS !