Salesman on train: How far you going, friend?Among the many gaps in my knowledge is a broad unfamiliarity with Broadway musicals. So when Chris Matthews said that Bill Clinton would make a perfect Harold Hill in The Music Man, I scampered Googleward and discovered that the Hardball host had just called the former President of the United States . . . a con man. Appearing on today's Morning Joe, what set Matthews off was footage of Clinton slickly making the case to an Indiana crowd yesterday that Hillary is the only Dem who can win in November.
Harold Hill: Wherever the people are as green as the money, friend. -- The Music Man, 1962
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Let's not get into Cloud Nine here and start thinking the way Bill Clinton wants your mind to think.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: But, but, but, but --
MATTHEWS: That was delusionary that speech, yesterday.It was a bit later that Chris made his Music Man analogy.
MATTHEWS: Let's remake the Music Man, I think I've got a great guy to play him, Harold Hill. Let's, I'm serious, I'm dead serious. Meredith Willson's been waiting for this guy to come along for years. He'd be perfect as the Music Man.Story Continues Below Ad ↓
Later, Matthews dropped a reference to one of Bill's most famous fudgings of the truth.MATTHEWS: The problem Mika is that the Clinton campaign has been very successful in convincing some people that the way to be even-handed in our coverage is to call this race even. That's not objective journalism: this race is not even. One candidate is ahead, the other is clearly behind. One has to do something dramatic to change it. Perhaps it's to change the definition of 'is'.BRZEZINSKI: Well, uh, OK, OK, hehe, uh, I get what you're saying. But let me, let me show you something here that may, I don't know, may sway you here a little bit, because the polls--
MATTHEWS: Quoting Bill Clinton is not a route to finding objective truth.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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W-A-Y over the top
March 25, 2008 - 09:13 ET by Gat New YorkI saw that segment before leaving this morning.
I was shocked to witness how in the tank Matthews is for Obama. This man has left any sense of objective journalism way behind and frankly needs to be reigned in by MSNBC.
If you did not know any better it would appear that Matthews is actually on the Obama payroll and a campaign advisor.
I would like to see a comparison of his words about Clinton today with his words about Clinton any time before this campaign.
ROFL
March 25, 2008 - 09:29 ET by dronetekYeah, like Chris has room to talk about "the objective truth". Give me a break, thats the pot calling the kettle black.
Music Man Indeed
March 25, 2008 - 11:20 ET by gleefullyisayBoth of the dem contenders for POTUS are music men in their own way, don't forget Harold Hill's theme song was TROUBLE and that's what he told the people they had in River City, and he was the answer to solving the TROUBLE in River City with a mythical game plan., a band, led by him, a man who can't read music or play an intrument. the people didn't know that and gave him complete access to their children because he made them feel good and told them the reason they needed him was because "WE GOT TROUBLE" Yes Matthews got it right he just doesn't know how right he got it.
meeka
March 25, 2008 - 09:29 ET by hunter6315Did he call her Meeka instead of Mika??
Two Harold Hills
March 25, 2008 - 09:32 ET by CaringwhiteguyThere are two Harold Hills in the Democrat race for the Presidency. One is Bill Clinton, surrogate for the lady-in-waiting. He's been putting one (and many more) over on the "poor shrubs" of River City for decades.
The other Professor Hill is Barack Obama. He's been just as successful putting one over on the liberal "elites" in MSM and his party . . . . or maybe it's just that Obama's audience has put one over on itself.
"...or maybe it's just that
March 25, 2008 - 11:25 ET by Chris Norman"...or maybe it's just that Obama's audience has put one over on itself"
The mark of a truly talented con man.
Chris Matthews.
March 25, 2008 - 09:33 ET by Missouri ConservativeChris Matthews = Obama's communications director.
"women and minorities hardest hit"
Elmer Gantry
March 25, 2008 - 09:42 ET by iveseenitallSo let's see. Bill Clinton is The Music Man and, as I have often said, Barack Obama is Elmer Gantry. So who is Hillary--a siren?--nah! The con is on. Lambs to slaughter.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
For me this time, Elmer was clearly
March 25, 2008 - 09:54 ET by sarcasmoHuckabee. The closest comparison in the Obama camp is Rev. Wright, IMO.
JMR
A corruption-story the TV media will-not cover.
Good morning, Mark! Thanks
March 25, 2008 - 09:43 ET by marpelGood morning, Mark! Thanks again for the observation. Of course, I saw that Music Man reference, and if it had not been on TV recently, I would not have known what Chris was talking about either. I believe is was "caringwhiteguy" who made the observation that there are 2 Harold Hills in the campaign, and he is absolutely right. The Obama Harold Hill is, I think, more dangerous because there is no history.
Other than this, did anyone see how that Ditz, Mika, continued with the "man crush" accusation of Chris regarding Obama? He soured up all over again....he's in complete denial, but apparently, Mika doesn't care if she ticks off the MSNBC golden boy....keep up the good work, Mark!!
The Music Man
March 25, 2008 - 09:49 ET by KC MulvilleBy contrast, I've seen "The Music Man" dozens of times, and I know exactly what Matthews means. The Music Man was a staple on the late night movie circuit, long before cable networks began running certain movies all day, all the time. I think I can recite every line verbatim.
I agree with the comment above. Clinton was a Music Man, but Obama is much worse. Obama doesn't even bother with the pretense of the band uniforms. He "appeals" to the country for unity, which we all want, but he offers no compromise himself. Any chance he would compromise on abortion, or even judges? None - he's going in the other direction. Any compromise on Iraq? Even when the military advises him against it? Taxes? Money to teachers unions and trial lawyers? Healthcare? (He ain't budging an inch.) All of the compromise is to come from us, zero from him. He wants your cash, but there ain't gonna be no band.
Seriously ...
March 25, 2008 - 10:08 ET by drillanwrIt has come to the point where MSNBC NEEDS to do something about Matthews.
He should be warned that if this continues he is to take a "leave" and feel free to campaign for Obama on his own time, not on their airwaves ...
I keep going back to Paggy Noonan during the 2004 election, and how she stepped aside from her column writing job to campaign for Pres. Bush's second election. Like Matthews, Noonan is not a "reporter", per say, but someone who voices their opinion and views.
Matthews has long past crossed the line and become a running political ad/attack ad for Obama.
I don't want Hillary in the White House again, but please! If she happens to pull this dem race out of the crapper and have to face McCain in the general election are we to expect Matthews and the rest of the Obama cheerleaders in the MSM, most especially MSNBC, to suddenly just become Clinton supporters ... because they would NEVER do this blood and sweat work for McCain (R).
When you men get home and face an anti-war protestor, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend because she knows she’s dating a pussy… ~ Attributed to General Tommy Franks
The problem is, Drill, the
March 25, 2008 - 10:14 ET by marpelThe problem is, Drill, the rest of MSNBC is in the tank for Obama too. Chris is just their spokesman. MSNBC is a non-stop campaign ad for Obama.
Exactly!
March 25, 2008 - 10:51 ET by drillanwrI don't know who is running MSNBC, but if they hope to even look like a reasonably news-worthy cable news channel by the general election they had better define and reel-in these over the top opinion-mongers.
Matthews has seniority ... He's supposed to be leading by example. This is a bucket of BS the network has plunged itself into. They MIGHT have a reason to keep it up if their ratings dictated such, but those are in the septic tank, and have been for quite awhile now. They talk only to hear themselves ... I cannot see how advertisers aren't bailing out of that network as they did the NYTimes. Not so much as an act of disagreement of the bias and agenda being spewed forth everyday by MSNBC, but because it's a big waste of money to buy expensive TV ad time on a network that pulls in 10-12 liberals in NYCity on any given day ...
Olbermann would be next. The idiot is an on air mental/emotional meltdown waiting to happen ... and newsbusters had better have the video of that because I ain't watching the channel in wait.
When you men get home and face an anti-war protestor, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend because she knows she’s dating a pussy… ~ Attributed to General Tommy Franks
I can't wait to see Chris
March 25, 2008 - 11:04 ET by marpelI can't wait to see Chris and Keith's face if/when McCain gets the Presidency. And that goes for Mika, Dan Abrams and that creep, David Schuster too....
keeping their jobs
March 25, 2008 - 11:16 ET by AgnosticI think the only way Keith and Chris keep their jobs past 2009 is if a Republican wins. Keith has nothing to offer past BDS and neither 'host' has the numbers to leave them on air. Right now MSNBC needs attack dogs and ratings be damned. If the Democrats control Congress and the White House there is no reason to have low rated attack dogs taking up valuable ad time.
Mark
March 25, 2008 - 10:14 ET by Noel SheppardMark,
There's a key part of the Harold Hill/"Music Man" story people always forget: in the end, Hill actually delivers what he promised the town he was flimflamming, and stays to become its bandleader.
In fact, he ends up being transformed by his love for Marian the Librarian, as well as for the inhabitants of River City, Iowa.
This makes Matthews' point even more accurate, and more frightful, for no matter how many lies Bill Clinton told or tells, there's still a HUGE percentage of the population that believes he was a good president.
Now THAT's an interesting moral to the story, dontcha think? ns
Agreed, though when Matthews
March 25, 2008 - 10:20 ET by Mark FinkelsteinAgreed, though when Matthews called Clinton the perfect Harold Hill, I'm confident he had the pre-redeemed Music Man in mind ;-)
Mark
March 25, 2008 - 10:36 ET by Noel SheppardMark,
That's because people like Matthews only see the bad in things. In the end, "Music Man" is a tale of redemption -- not just for Hill, but also this town. He makes everybody there a better person -- including himself.
As such, sadly, to be referred to as Harold Hill is a pejoriative in this country. Unfortunately, he's really not the bad guy everybody thinks. ns
Mark
March 25, 2008 - 10:42 ET by Noel SheppardMark,
Just to follow up on this, musicals during this period loved to take supposedly dastardly figures and turn them into heroes. The same is true of "Guys and Dolls" where at the beginning, Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson are just gambling gangsters. Yet, by the end, they're model citizens helping this doomed Christian mission.
In fact, one of the most powerful redemption scenes in the show is when Nicely Johnson sings a song in that Mission called "Sit Down Your Rocking The Boat," which is a deeply religious number with many Biblical references -- sung by all these gangsters!!! Think about it. ns
Noel, To further extend our
March 25, 2008 - 11:34 ET by Chris NormanNoel,
To further extend our trip down Broadway, we could even add the play "The Rainmaker", remade as the musical "110 in the Shade" - the story of conman promising to end a small town's drought. Of course, this character is closer to Al Gore, don't you think?
I see you know your
March 25, 2008 - 11:38 ET by Mark FinkelsteinI see you know your musicals! You're probably aware that the great Mark Steyn is very much an aficionado of the genre.
Mark
March 25, 2008 - 12:00 ET by Noel SheppardMark,
Didn't know that about Steyn. GMTA, eh?
As for me, I grew up in a musical household, and was what you'd consider a thespian in junior and senior high schools. Name a musical, and was either in it at some point, or sung songs from it.
In fact, other than the Beatles, I probably played "West Side Story" more on our stereo as a kid than anything else. Speaking of which, there's another musical featuring classic redemption, yes? ns
Here are a couple Steyn
March 25, 2008 - 12:13 ET by Mark FinkelsteinHere are a couple Steyn articles on show music:
http://www.slate.com...
http://www.slate.com...
Noel and Mark...During the
March 25, 2008 - 20:36 ET by JerNoel and Mark...During the 1950's my parents began making regular trips to New York to attend Broadway shows--mostly musicals. They would come back with an album of the showtunes, or purchase one after returning, inasmuch as it was during this time that we had acquired our first stereo hi-fi.
My sister played piano, and she and I would sing all the more popular songs from shows such as The Music Man, Showboat, Carousel, The Sound of Music, Camelot, West Side Story, South Pacific, Oklahoma, etc.
I picked up a CD a few years ago with tracks of the Best of Broadway musicals. Still love to pop it in the player every once in awhile.
Jer
Mark & Noel
March 25, 2008 - 19:45 ET by kch50428Do you guys know what Iowa town 'River City' is loosely patterned after? Meredeith Wilson's home town....Mason City.
Very interesting, but
March 25, 2008 - 10:30 ET by FastEdcan you ever, in your wildest dreams, think that either one of these people, would change their views? I understand, however, that if either should win, they WOULD try to deliver what they promised, and that would be the nightmare on main street. hillbama playing a tuba!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Up and locked
March 25, 2008 - 10:27 ET by ScrapironPrissie Chrissie has had his head locked up Shrillary's butt and elsewhere on Slick Willie for 15 years and now he's found a new 50% white,12.5% black and 37.5% Arab lover. BooFreakinHoo
Old, Retired and glad of it.
how convenient
March 25, 2008 - 10:28 ET by candanceTen years ago, Hillary Clinton sat on a studio at NBC and blamed the Monica scandal on a vast right wing conspiracy...and folks like Chris Matthews ate it up.
Now that Obama is in the picture they have suddenly discovered that the Clintons are slimy.
A few years from now when some other hip, new Democrat comes onto the scene, Matthews will be calling Obama a racist.
candance...Chris Matthews
March 25, 2008 - 20:44 ET by Jercandance...Chris Matthews was not a fan of the Clintons--particularly Bill Clinton--and was especially critical of him with respect to the Lewinsky scandal.
Jer
Hillary is now fair game to Chrissy
March 25, 2008 - 10:39 ET by c5thenBecause he is head over heels in the Obama camp. To most liberals that I've have experience with, the "other guys" are fair game and can be critisized and denigrated. It's only their side that is supposed to be immune from such bad press. Chrissy is just living his ideology.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
After they all lose in the Fall
March 25, 2008 - 11:57 ET by CaringwhiteguyMaybe after all these charlatans lose in November they can go to Hollywood and make a musical. David Geffen can produce and Spielberg can direct. The flim flammers can all play themselves. And maybe even a cameo for Chris Matthews.
I see awards at Cannes, Tribeca and at least an Oscar nomination.
Matthews has never has a smidgen of credibility
March 25, 2008 - 14:16 ET by PlaceboMatthews, seemingly, has Obama in bum-lock… meaning he is so bewitched by Obama, so anal, it is symptomatic of one suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Either that or Chris is suffering from gender disassociation disorder or worse: one realises, now, why MSNBC has opted to programming “documentaries” as programming mortar. The wild-eyed wildebeest likes of Matthews and Olbermann are hyped as their marquee pundits: anyone with a tad of grey matter or discernment would opt for reality television over these two, leftist, woollenheads. Matthews has never had a smidgen of credibility but in the eyes of his employers and wee gaggle of viewers… MSNBC’s retaining this besotted over-opinionated nutter is proof they, too, are suffering from some malady… perhaps self-delusion.
Not so sure Chris
March 25, 2008 - 14:15 ET by maggieqpublicNot so sure Chris Matthew’s adulation is doing Obama much, if any, good. Matthew’s monologues have become so peculiar lately, the Obama campaign might do well to hire away Matthews and stick him in the back office.
You're right. They are
March 25, 2008 - 15:36 ET by Chris NormanYou're right. They are sounding like diary entries of a thirteen year-old. I wouldn't be surprised if the I's on his teleprompter are dotted with hearts.
Thanks for the perfect
March 25, 2008 - 19:33 ET by maggieqpublicThanks for the perfect mental image! (how 'bout a pair of red Lolita sunglasses)