Chris Matthews got Barack Obama one-on-one on Wednesday night as part of "Hardball's College Tour," but didn't admit to getting a "thrill" up his leg from the Illinois senator's appearance. However, Matthews did ask Obama questions mostly from the left, like if he was "tough enough to take the heat," from "right wing radio," and warned him the "Republicans will bring [Jeremiah Wright] back."
On the lighter side, Obama didn't directly address Matthews about his leg tingles but did seem to make an allusion to it in the following exchange:
MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about, at any time in this campaign, did you have a chuckle that you just couldn't get rid of? Something weird that happened, that was so crazy that you just went to bed laughing about?
OBAMA: Oh I think that, that happens about once a day. You know? But then I stopped watching cable news.
MATTHEWS: Oh!
[APPLAUSE]
MATTHEWS: I got another set of cards in the back room.
(Obama chuckles)
The following questions from Matthews to Obama occurred on the April 2 edition of "Hardball":
CHRIS MATTHEWS: And now we play "Hardball." That was the warm-up. How do we know that you're tough enough to take the heat from the right, from the radio address, from the right wing radio, from the right wing columnists if you begin to pull our troops out of Iraq and they start screaming, "Who lost Iraq?" How do we know you're as tough as Dick Cheney to ignore public opinion and do what you believe in? Because he's certainly tough enough to do it.
...
MATTHEWS: Most people believe that the intelligence was corrupted in this administration. It was manipulated by civilians with political and ideological intent. How do you clean out the intelligence agencies and let them know you want the real intelligence, you don't want a twisted case made for whatever policy somebody is selling at the bureaucratic level?
...
MATTHEWS: That said when you hear divisive language, whether it's from your preacher or from anyone else why didn't you walk out of that church? Why, when you heard that, what you called "controversial language," why did you go back and give him $27,000 in contributions to his church? Why didn't you just say, "He's on a different side this fight than I am?"
BARACK OBAMA: No but because I think that the, you know, what's happened is we took a loop out of, and compressed the most offensive things that a pastor said over the course of 30 years and just ran it over and over and over again. Now there's that other 30 years. I never heard him say those things that were in those clips and–
MATTHEWS: Yeah, but you did say you heard him say controversial things–
OBAMA: Of course, well, but I hear you say controversial things, Chris.
MATTHEWS: But you didn't give me $27,000 either.
OBAMA: Well, no but, but the point is the, this is a church that's active in AIDS. It's active on all kinds of things.
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
OBAMA: And so the, you know, this is a wonderful church. But as I said, you know, look at the amount of time that's been spent on this today, Chris, at a time when we haven't talked about a whole host of issues that are really gonna make a difference.
MATTHEWS: Yeah I know but it'll come back. You know the Republicans will bring it back.
OBAMA: Well of course, of course it'll come back. And of course the Republicans will, will bring it back but the question is what's actually gonna make the difference in the lives of people right now who are on the verge of losing their homes? What's gonna make a difference in their lives?
...
MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about, at any time in this campaign, did you have a chuckle that you just couldn't get rid of? Something weird that happened, that was so crazy that you just went to bed laughing about?
OBAMA: Oh I think that, that happens about once a day. You know? But then I stopped watching cable news.
MATTHEWS: Oh!
[APPLAUSE]
MATTHEWS: I got another set of cards in the back room.
(Obama chuckles)
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
If you ain't tuff enuff then
April 2, 2008 - 19:15 ET by ahusserIf you ain't tuff enuff then you shouldn't be the prez.
Notice how they (the msm)
April 2, 2008 - 19:18 ET by JerryNotice how they (the msm) always frame the scrutiny of Barrack as a right wing attack, even though the attack is driven by Hillary supporters.
And I'm sure he's going to ask McCain if he's tough enough to withstand the attacks from the left wing media.
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).
"Notice how they (the msm)
April 2, 2008 - 19:40 ET by Chris Norman"Notice how they (the msm) always frame the scrutiny of Barrack as a right wing attack, even though the attack is driven by Hillary supporters."
Heaven forbid that any scrutiny of Obama come from the MSM, itself...
Ain't that tough enough?
April 2, 2008 - 19:32 ET by nkviking75Y'spose Barry will prove his toughness by appearing on Limbaugh or Hannity or Ingraham's show? I'm not holding my breath.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Well, he did put Maureen
April 2, 2008 - 19:43 ET by JerryWell, he did put Maureen Dowd on "notice" not too long ago. He's a regular street brawler, that Obama.
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).
Right Jerry
April 2, 2008 - 19:49 ET by Cool ArrowThat was the big "Boo Hoo, I was a victim of kids laughing at my ears"
♣ a seal
If he can't deal with a
April 2, 2008 - 20:05 ET by ahusserIf he can't deal with a radio talk show host, how is he supposed to deal with any wacko leader in Iran or Syria or maybe North Korea not to mention any other real politick leader like Putin. Seems to be a typical candy ass liberal.
Ever notice that whenever Barry........
April 2, 2008 - 21:51 ET by connmanis asked a question about his Church or the little that's asked about Rezsko, he always comes back with the issues we should be addressing. Then he never addresses them. Same old same old.
This town needs an enema! - The Joker
vicious on both sides of the isle
April 2, 2008 - 22:32 ET by shawn228Obama will have his problems with Hannity, Coulter, Limbaugh just like McCain will have problems with Matthews and Olbermann.
There will be smear jobs on both sides of the isle, seems people here say Coulter might be a little eccentric, but hey thats Ann. Maher and Olbermann are just considered hate speech.
I knew this was going to be
April 3, 2008 - 00:21 ET by bigtimerI knew this was going to be on today...I also knew I would be gone most of day...I got home in time to see the first repeat of this...I was sitting at the edge of my seat waiting, just knowing with thrilled anticipation that Matthews would ask some hard-hitting questions to Obama, anticipating the daunting follow-ups for the questions only Chris would forcefully demand he answer without letting any evasive answers come from him...from the hard-hitting questions that Matthews was to ask in the first place.
None happened.
Typical.
Not disappointed.
Hope others followed my ramblings.
This country is sad at times....and this is a so-called news leader/talking head that supposedly matters....posing as a journalist...
..and this could possibly be the next President of the USA...supplying the so called answers.
I wretch.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Bingo!
April 3, 2008 - 01:23 ET by Cureboy675Sometimes I feel out-of-place at this site. Mainly because I'm actually a self-admitted liberal (ducks while people throw things at me). But I love the premise of this site. The fact that our media is blatantly bias.
Granted, if the media is biased towards liberals, it works out great for my political beliefs. But the fact is, I'm old school when it comes to Journalism. I was always taught that you should be able to read a newspaper, watch a newscast and you should never ever be able to figure out which political leanings the person bringing you the news has. And that has all but disappeared in today's world.
So I want to give you a shout-out and an "amen and hallelujah" for what you said about Chris Matthews. He (like Keith Olbermann) is just a talking head and he may host his own TV show. But he can't ever call himself a journalist and expect the world to keep a straight face!
And that's why I can respect an Ann Coulter more than I can a Keith Olbermann. As much as I disagree with her, at least she's honest. Ann is all, "Here's what I have to say. You probably won't like it. But, too bad. This is how I feel. These are my opinions". Olbermann presents his opinions but tries to disguise it as facts. Bad form!
(Climbing down from my soap box)
Cureboy, whether you be a
April 3, 2008 - 01:29 ET by BlazerCureboy, whether you be a liberal or a conservative having the majority of the media in the pocket of one political party, sooner or later could have nefarious consequences on everyones liberty.
"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."
You are absolutely right.
April 3, 2008 - 01:39 ET by Cureboy675You are absolutely right. I couldn't agree with you more!
As hung up as people are on separation of Church and State. They don't see a problem mingling Media and State. And, lets face it, television has a far greater reach than any church. Kind of a lame comparison, but hopefully you get my meaning.
Cureboy... I got your
April 3, 2008 - 01:45 ET by bigtimerCureboy...
I got your meaning...and I thank you.
we may be from different sides of the aisle...but you do see the light and understood my drift....I appreciate that, as much as I appreciate what you just posted here...I like your comparison here.
Btw..that was just a well-informed interview with Obama wasn't it..we on both sides of the aisle learned so danged much.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
bigtimer
April 3, 2008 - 02:08 ET by MrShyBtw..that was just a well-informed interview with Obama wasn't it..we on both sides of the aisle learned so danged much.
Do I detect a note of...... sar......... caazzzzz........ ? :p
And Obamarama claims to be a pretty good basketball player?? Let's go, BHO, your ball... 11 game... everything straight up except air balls and steal.... take-back at the foul line...
:)
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
Evenin'
April 3, 2008 - 02:08 ET by bigtimerEvenin' MrS....
LOL...
....Sar...cazzzz....
...Moi?
Btw...got you message...later.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Just curious, what newspaper
April 3, 2008 - 09:43 ET by Hunter12Just curious, what newspaper do you read and what's your news program of choice? I do agree with you abou Ann Coulter, sometimes when I read her stuff, I just cringe. I do believe that what she says is what she believes. I wonder how many of the people who tout causes that are basically going to the bottom of my pocket have their money squirelled away out of reach. Do you think Pat Robertson and Al Sharpton got a few shares in GIM stock to join the Algore AGW team?
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
You know
April 3, 2008 - 09:27 ET by kg"OBAMA: And so the, you know, this is a wonderful church. But as I said, you know..."
You know, Obama is starting to sound like Hillary, you know. Add this to his stuttering when no teleprompter is available and and we have the makings of a Democrat-ic communicator...you know.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"