Matthews to Michael Steele: Aren't White Republicans Still Afraid of Black People?
MSNBC's Chris Matthews honored Martin Luther King Jr. Day by accusing white Republicans of being afraid of black people. During a Monday night Hardball special called "Obama's America," Matthews insultingly asked former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele if, at GOP conventions, black-Americans at those events were told not to "bunch up" because "you'll scare these people" and added: "Did you fear that if you got together with some other African-Americans these white guys might get scared of you?"
Steele, who was the only Republican on the panel, seemed shocked by the question as he responded to Matthews: "No! What are you talking about?" and then proceeded to cite the successful candidacies of Tim Scott, Allen West and others in the GOP field that would suggest white Republicans weren't exactly afraid of, as Matthews put it, "black folk hanging together."
The following is the full exchange from the panel that featured Steele along with the Washington Post's Eugene Robinson and Democratic Congresswoman Donna Edwards, as it was aired on the January 17 edition of Hardball:
(video and audio after the break)
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Michael, I watch politics. I'm not an expert on sociology or anything but I'm an expert on watching politics. Like Gene, this is what we do. I go to Republican conventions, I go to Democratic and as a white guy one thing I notice about the difference, one thing I notice about black people at different conventions. You go to a Democratic convention with Donna [Edwards] and black folk are hanging together and having a good time. They're smiling, they're enjoying themselves. They feel very much at home. You go to a Republican event you get a feeling that you are all told, "Individually now, don't bunch up. Don't, don't, don't get together. Don't get together, don't crowd, you'll scare these people." Is that true in the Republican Party? Is that still true in your party? Did you fear that if you got together with some other African-Americans these white guys might get scared of you?
MICHAEL STEELE: No! What are you talking about?!
MATTHEWS: I'm asking-
STEELE: Look I'm just saying - we could've used a few more brothers in the house, there's no doubt about that. No seriously, but-
MATTHEWS: Isn't there still a difference, ethnically, in the two parties on race?
STEELE: Is there a what?
MATTHEWS: A difference ethnically between how at home you feel?
STEELE: I don't know, I don't know about, I don't know if it's a question of how at home you feel? I think what I tried to do, what I can speak to is my two years as chairman, what I tried to do was broaden the landscape on which we could play. Go into neighborhoods where we needed to be and haven't been in a generations.
MATTHEWS: Right.
STEELE: And I think it made a difference. Tim Scott, Allen West-
MATTHEWS: Good victory down there, African-American in South Carolina.
STEELE: Absolutely and Nikki Haley and South Carolina's governor Susanna Martinez. So broadening the party's base is going to be important.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here
- Geoffrey Dickens's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
I wish Michael Steele had
Submitted by ProudAmerican58 on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 6:46pm.
I wish Michael Steele had just told Chris Matthews to STHU with his racist and offensive language. I wish ANYBODY would tell him that...then recommend a good psychiatrist.
On MLK Day Racists in full display
Submitted by richb313 on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 6:47pm.
MLK dreamed of a day when people would be judged by thier charector and not thier skin color so it is more than ironic that all we hear about today is skin color. One would hope that at least a little introspection would temper these stupid and racists remarks from the usual cast of race baiters but alas it is not to be so.
Could there at least one day a year when race is not what is discussed first when you disagree with someone or something.
Matthews is becoming that
Submitted by bkeyser on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 6:56pm.
Matthews is becoming that crazy uncle with no inner monologue.
Yep...
Submitted by theprofessor on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:25pm.
He's losing it!
Wasn't the ol' Leghumper JUST
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 6:56pm.
Wasn't the ol' Leghumper JUST talking about 'white people having problems with Obama's color'???? Jeeeeez...............he HAS to keep bringing it up!!!!
Sean Hannity could ask
Submitted by Ashrak on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:01pm.
Sean Hannity could ask Kirsten powers if black people congregating at Democrat functions scares her.....
and watch the lefties go nuts on him about it (as they wouldn;t even catch the Mathews parody.
What a sap!
Submitted by Rhymes With Right on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:05pm.
There are few things more pathetic than a white guy trying to play the race card against a black man. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't call Steele an Uncle Tom -- that is clearly what he was implying.
Speaking as an American
Submitted by NoMoreChange on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:14pm.
There is NOTHING more frightening to me than Chris Matthews being given his own show. Now THAT scares me; I don't care what color you are!
I would never watch his show
Submitted by Walker01049 on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:20pm.
but I get a dose of him frequently on this site. We know the left just can't believe a black person would be a Republican. Same with Hispanics and women. That's why they attack those who are. Look what they say about strong conservative women. They are outrageous. Mathews couldn't hold a candle to Palin so he portrays her as being an idiot. I would really like to see those two debate. It would be a blood bath. Oh, sorry for that decisive remark. Hope nobody goes off and kills somebody after reading that.
Prissy, I'm a white conservative who may well wind up working or
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:30pm.
...at the very least volunteering for the presidential campaign of Herman Cain.
What I am afraid of are communists, and I don't much care what color they come wrapped in. Black, white, brown, or purple with screaming-yellow-zonkers polka dots.
And I am about beyond sick of lily-white racist commies such as yourself implying that I am a racist for opposing what the Comrade Chairman is rapidly doing to my America - a country within which freedom-hating supporters of statism such as yourself should not even be allowed to visit, much less live in.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
I'm regularly told i hate Hispanics
Submitted by Rhymes With Right on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:45pm.
merely because i support border enforcement. never mind that i teach at a high school where over 90% f my students are Hispanic, and would last about 30 seconds if i really had the sort of bias of which i am accused -- I don;t agree with some liberal's politics, therefore i must be racist!
I also support border enforcement
Submitted by ProudAmerican58 on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:56pm.
and I AM hispanic and a conservative. What does that make me?
You're a self hater
Submitted by GregE on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:27pm.
The Left would probably want you committed to make sure your not about to snap.
First time in over 50 years
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 11:23pm.
I was called a racist because I questioned what is going on.
Utterly disgusted
Submitted by Tomorama on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:19pm.
RIGHT ON DAVE, I agree, Cain is a GOOD MAN.
Of course I mean "RIGHT ON" in the lilly white way as I am white and chance of "being cool or hip" is long gone right Prissy?
As someone who applauds Rubio, Cain, Steele, Condi, Martinez and especially West, this pisses me off to no end.
What an insult to ALL Conservatives, my buddies and their wives came over to watch the game yesterday and two HAPPENED to be Black, shit, according to Prissy, I should have segregated them so they didn't appear like a "gang" or something.
Media matters (D)-bags I hope you read this site, another example of pussy liberal racist cowards who spew this hate and NOT US SMART PEOPLE.
By the way Prissy, the two black couples, shhhhhh, they are Conservatives.
I think that big headed POS sitting there with you Eugene "Robbin'someone" calls them uh, uh, uh, uh sellouts or would they simply be Uncle Toms?
What a disgusting vile quetion by a disgusting vile human being.
Double standard....
Submitted by tampamom25 on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:30pm.
If a conservative said these things they'd be called racist.... Every time I read something Matthews said, I know why I wouldn't watch his program if it was the only thing on television.
projection
Submitted by forest on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:28pm.
100% projection on Matthews' part. It's been obvious for years and it's always cringe-inducing. Matthews is afraid of black men.
All he can think about is race when he's around a black guy, so he assumes others are the same way. It's embarrassing. Seriously, I can't even watch the clip.
Not ALL black men
Submitted by Clutch1956 on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 1:34pm.
There is at least one (or should I say One) black man that Sissy Prissy Chrissy Leg-tingles Matthews gets all "happy in the pants" about to the point where he wants to bear His children (move over, Michelle, Chrissy is sleepin' over!)
Personally, I think most white liberals that suffer from White Liberal Guilt are just self-haters that wish that they had been born with a darker skin pigment. ("Why oh why did i have to be born a white male?!? I could have been black!!!)
Matthews is a RACIST
Submitted by MCLANTIERE on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:32pm.
Matthews can't stop bringing up COLOR. He is consumed with creating HATRED.
Chris Matthews and his racist view of the world
Submitted by Lakewood Ed on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:36pm.
Blacks clump together at a Democrat convention and are spread out at Republican convention?
Which picture is a reflection of what we want society to be like?
Why spread out at the GOP convention?
Submitted by Rhymes With Right on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:41pm.
Because they are welcome on an equal basis lie everyone else. If they were clumped tgether, we'd be hearing that they were scared and self-segregating.
Great point, Steady01
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:52pm.
Is "hanging together" the only way black Democrats feel they can have fun?
Typically, Mathews views the world through a progressive lens, in which people are separated and groupd by like characteristics.
This most often manifests itself in the rhetorical statement "He voted against his owned self-interests" when a black voter votes Republican --- without any knowledged of the individual's self-interests actually are, it is presumed that they are the same as someone with the same color skin.
It also arises in comments like Mathews'.
Exactly, Steady01
Submitted by ant on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:56pm.
I don't think he thought about what he was saying, just any chance to demonize Republicans is jumped on, even if it makes the lib look stupid.
Obviously to everyone but Matthews, different races mingling together is greater evidence of true acceptance and equality than groups of indivdual races only fraternizing amongst themselves. Is he stupid?
I can't believe people like him actually have the nerve to suggest that the Party that fought to end slavery and later fought (against Democrats) to give blacks equal rights has a problem with black people. Liberals live in Bizarro world, they are intolerable. Sorry, is that hate speech?
Matthews never thinks about what he says. ACA
Submitted by acaiguana on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 8:28am.
The man is incapable of thought, period. I have known a lot of guys like Matthews. Mostly they sit in Sports Bars and dazzle everyone with their mindless recitation of statistical fringe fact and out of context and imagined motives.
But enough about drunks.
I think Matthews isn't losing it as one cannot lose what one has already lost.
That which exists does not exist except for that which exists prior to not existing. Summation of a BA in Philosophy.
A doctorate in Philosophy would simply say, 'What exists?'
This is all about perception rather than reality.
So much for another chocolate bar breakfast.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Matthews is on a racist roll,
Submitted by celator on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:43pm.
Matthews is on a racist roll, it seems. First, it's "don't older white people still have a problem with Obama." Then it's "Aren't white Republicans are still afraid of black people."
Next up: "Aren't left handed white people afraid of Obama?" "Aren't white ping pong players fearful of black people?" Aren't white people who comb their hair down the middle afraid of black people?" Aren't white people who sing in the shower afraid of black people?" "Aren't white people who plant orchids for a hobby afraid of Obama?" "Aren't white people who can operate a lathe afraid of black people?" "Aren't white people who are amateur astronomers afraid of of Obama?" "Aren't white people who sing Kareoke afraid of black people?"
MSNBC must be very proud of this race baiter.
It sounds lik a classic case...
Submitted by PlatZ on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:02pm.
There is a term called projection. Matthews is attempting to project upon people he opposes, what he sees in himself.
Sounds like a "HATE Crime" to
Submitted by Zippy on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:44pm.
Sounds like a "HATE Crime" to me. Insighting a riot or something.
Wow.
How can this guy still have a job?????
No apology can erase this stuff.
And some adjectives just can't describe this......
Just over 2 years ago, we
Submitted by PlatZ on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:50pm.
Just over 2 years ago, we heard little else except how the election of President Barack Obama was the perfect example of the culmination of Dr. King's dream. At the same time, every critic of Obama was, and had for nearly a year, being called a racist. Now, two years later, we are still hearing how anyone that has anything ill to say about the President, his policies, or his plans is nothing but a racist.
At the same time, the classic 'Dream' of Dr. King, who we honor this day with a government holiday, is of a world where people are judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Still, now, in the political landscape that we have enjoye for nearly three years, to comment on the content of one's character, if that one be a black liberal, is to be called a racist. At the same time, comments can be made about black conservatives that have no basis upon anything other than race, are not called racist.
So rather than a world where judgements are made upon the content of one's character, for one entire side of the political spectrum, we have judgements based solely upon the color of one's skin combined with the political affiliation of the judged. Rather than Dr. King's drean, we still have nearly the opposite, still. In many ways, it sems we are very close to attaining Dr. King's dream. In our political spectrum, however, we are as far from Dr. King's dream as we were when he talked about it. Until many in politics and the media change, we will remain as distant from it as we ever were.
Chris... bring on Alan West and ask that question
Submitted by gopcongress on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 7:51pm.
Let's see how civil his answer would be to you. I would actually join to two or three dozen other MSNBC viewers just to see that exchange.
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
This is why I'm ecstatic Steele is gone
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:10pm.
Steele's response should have been "How dare you ask me such a loaded, insulting question."
Instead, the always-flaccid Steele pussyfoots arounds with a big smile on his face. Tee hee. We're still friends, right Chris?
What did he have to lose? Like he needs to be on this crackpot network now.
Very true, SoL
Submitted by ant on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:08pm.
Republicans need to view these interviews like boxing matches, not some friendly card game.
Steele kinda reminded me of
Submitted by GrannyGrump42 on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 8:38am.
Steele kinda reminded me of Al Roeker, your Jovial TV Meteorologist! The proper response should have simply been, "I find it bewildering that you seem to think that Blacks are most comfortable and 'at-home' when they're segregated, as they were at the Democrat Convention. Why do you see integration as somehow sinister?"
Respect
Submitted by alright now on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 9:56am.
Exactly! Maybe blacks are seen as the valuable individuals they are instead of a voting block who should all think alike. Therefore, everybody at the convention feels comfortable with everyone else, because they are respected for being themselves, not as part of a group. It seems so obvious.
SoL, I agree
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:13pm.
Steele just didn't have the stones for the job.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Dave: it looked good back in the beginning,
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:19pm.
but instead we ended up with a big-spending Tickle-Me-Elmo.
SoL,
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:35pm.
Exactly, and one who I never thought had the necessary sense of urgency given our current national predicament.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Unfortunately,
Submitted by CommanderTaya on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:11pm.
Steele couldn't get the job done. The RNC is over $20 mil. in debt and the grassroots base deserted it in favor of individual candidates in the last election. They have not changed their minds. His successor has lots of fence mendin' to do.
CT,
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:32pm.
Yep, all that champagne and caviar can add up pretty fast.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Ahhhhh
Submitted by CommanderTaya on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:27am.
Quite True!
Idiocy
Submitted by octavioj on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:22pm.
So idiotic that it barely deserves comment. However there was a very good editorial at the Boston Herald today that deserves to be posted here: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view/20110117freedom_to_dissent_next/
That was a good read.
Submitted by Ashrak on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:09pm.
That was a good read.
Chris Ain't Too Bright
Submitted by rammingspeed on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:24pm.
It's sickening how naive and just plain stupid Matthews is. And he represents the rest of the leftist in the news media. But I'm glad he and his fellow leftie nitwits have their forum to show the world how pathetic they are.
Democrats apportion delegate seats by race
Submitted by nkviking75 on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:43pm.
If I'm not mistaken, delegates to the Democrat convention are chosen by demographics. In theory, the percentages of whites, blacks, Hispanics, men, women, gay, straight, old, or young delegates are supposed to be in the same proportion to the population breakdown. I wonder how many blacks would become delegates if they didn't force the issue, and how many black delegates really aren't up to the responsibility they're given.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
The Truth
Submitted by JustAl on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:43pm.
Matthews to Michael Steele: Aren't White Republicans Still Afraid of Black People? Because White Democrats sure as hell are!Nice
Submitted by MinneMike on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:19pm.
What way to memorialize MLK. Shameful.
Nice huh?
Submitted by GregE on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:28pm.
Let any conservative say 10% of that and the media, including Matthews himself, will go bonkers.
So, What Matthews is saying is:
Submitted by phryingphish on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:23pm.
How come the republicans have gotten over the color of a persons skin, but the Democrats still segragate their conventions?
Interesting aint it?
Submitted by GregE on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:30pm.
They're ALWAYS pointing to race..............yet claiming they don't see skin color. BS, they not only see it, they search it out as a topic.
James Clyburn
Submitted by GregE on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:02pm.
Assistant Minority Leader. A position that did not exist,, is a waste of my money, and should be dissolved. Clyburn doesn't even realize what they've done is nonsense and merely to pacify him due to his skin color..........or he does realize it and is ok with it.
Must be why MSNBC never has
Submitted by theprofessor on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:25pm.
Must be why MSNBC never has more than on black guy on at a time.....
I Call Your Attention
Submitted by Caringwhiteguy on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:38pm.
to my post here last Friday:
#42 Spin AwaySubmitted by Caringwhiteguy on Fri, 01/14/2011 - 5:18pm.
MSM spin will be that evil racist Republicans canned their house negro and put him back in the fields.
Read more: http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2011/01/14/open-thread-steele-drops-out-rnc-chair-race#ixzz1BLnoq5wb
Call me crazy buuuut... Am I
Submitted by Clear thinker on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:40am.
Call me crazy buuuut... Am I the only one that thinks Matthews is trying to cover-up some deeply held personal feelings he holds towards Blacks in this country?
Think about it. Conservatives get called out for not talking about racism all the time, when in reality we don't talk about it that much, unless challenged, because we simply go about being NON-Racist instead of talking about it endlessly. My parents were ahead of their time, before Dr. Kings speeches at least. My folks were teaching us kids to not judge a person by their color long before Dr. King became a household name.
Because of our Conservative mindset, I honestly wonder if people like Matthews constantly bring the subject up to somehow shield themselves from any racial accusations. Ok, I will just come right out and say it... My gut tells me that deep down Matthews is hiding something, and I think it has something to do with race!
Celebrate Dr. Kings legacy by signing the "Conservatives Pledge on Racism"... http://iamnotaracist.wordpress.com/
What about Ken Blackwell and Herman Cain?
Submitted by Phryj1 on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 1:52am.
I guess Republicans were so scared of them, they forgot to vote against them in their respective primaries.
Yeah, guys like Chris tend to forget about them when pushing the whole "Republicans don't like Obama because they're racist" BS. Darn those pesky inconvenient facts!
Hey, since Dems voted against Blackwell and Cain in the general elections, wouldn't that mean Democrats are racist? I mean, according to their logic, the ONLY reason anyone would ever possibly vote against a black man is because they are a racist. So, the only reason Dems didn't vote for Blackwell or Cain was racism. Straight up! They're racists, and their own logic proves it!
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
If the GOP could make some
Submitted by deerjerkydave on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 2:13am.
If the GOP could make some inroads into the African American community it would doom the Democrat party. And they can do it without compromising on conservatism.
------------------------
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite. -James MadisonProjection...
Submitted by Army Brat on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 4:50am.
Pure and simple.
The Black people at the
Submitted by GrannyGrump42 on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 8:32am.
The Black people at the Democratic Convention "grouped together" and "seemed to feel very much at home" -- in other words THEY WERE SEGREGATED. Whereas at the Republican Convention, they were INTEGRATED.
Which Blacks seemed to feel more welcome and "at home" -- the Blacks that segregated themselves off into groups, or those who freely mingled?
MATTHEWS: I'm asking-
Submitted by almostacowboy on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 9:23am.
To: Chrissy "Hissy Fit" Matthews
No, you're not "asking", you weaselly little albino racist! You, as you ALWAYS do, make a statement, then, like the coward you are, try to back-pedal your way out of it.
It's beyond your limited intelligence to comprehend that at those Democratic conventions where "black folk hang together" they are doing so sub-concsiously for protection against people like you who want to treat them like they're incapable of self-sufficiency and need your "superior" intellect and outlook to "protect" them (and keep them subservient and dependent).
In light of how blatantly racist this boil on a camel's sphincter is ("I forgot he was black tonight for an hour."), how is it that Matthews has a TV show.......oh, I forgot - It's PMSLSD. Not exactly "real" TV.
So it's a good thing when
Submitted by Hoosierboy on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 10:52am.
So it's a good thing when blacks are clumped together at the Dem convention? Should they have separate restrooms and drinking fountains too?
That man is just stupid
Submitted by StanO360 on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 4:34pm.
There is no other explanation. We have to remember these people are like actors, just because they carry themselves like they're intelligent, that doesn't mean they are.
But it's not just stupid, it's un-American, and I wish Steele would have verbally redressed him as such.
Ironically, the supposedly most racist, most conservative Repulicans like myself were the ones that voted for Alan Keyes in the primaries instead of Bush and Dole. The Christian voters are the least racist of all voters, Obama used this to con some voters to vote for him.
betrayal - quickest way to media's heart
Submitted by Agnostic on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 9:43pm.
Will Michael Steele pull a Scott McClellan and dump on Republicans for a few minutes in the media spot light before being disposed of as an old tool.
Steele's laughter was as good as an affirmation.