"I'm not fit to be a Senator. I'm not fit to live. Expel me! Expel me! Not him. Every word that boy said is the truth! Every word about Taylor and me and graft and the rotten political corruption of our state. Every word of it is true. I'm not fit for office! I'm not fit for any place of honor or trust. Expel me!"—Claude Rains as the corrupt Sen. Joseph Paine in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
Chris Matthews has broken out a Jimmy Stewart/Mr. Smith Goes to Washington analogy to assess Scott McClellan's book. Here's how the Hardball host put it on this afternoon's show:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: When you read the book, it reads like Claude Rains in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. You know: "everything the guy says is true." I mean, he's admitting that the other guy–the good guy's–right. I mean, if that's your perspective.
View video here.
It's certainly Chris's. I must admit to having been a bit rusty on my Frank Capra filmology, but a quick Googling revealed Matthews was referring to the climactic scene in which good guy Jimmy Stewart collapses on the Senate floor, and the corrupt Sen. Paine, overcome by remorse, admits his corruption and guilt, as quoted above.
So if we have things straight, Matthews has cast McClellan in the role of Paine: a former bad guy who has now come clean about the corruption within the government. He has admitted that the "good guy" is right. Wonder who Chris would have in mind to play the Jimmy Stewart part? Let's see: fresh young Senator, recently-arrived in Washington, promising to change things, "right" about the war.
Hmm. Any ideas?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Nice for Chris to slip-up
May 29, 2008 - 17:56 ET by zfNice for Chris to slip-up and expose his bias, "the good guys, um, I mean, um, if that's your perspective."
If there is anyone who still believes the media is not biased after this session of lionizing McClellan and trumpeting that they "were right all along" needs to be bitch-slapped. Hard.
The media is so excited and delirious they forgot to even *pretend* impartiality this time.
I have a bet for you all.
May 29, 2008 - 18:13 ET by Missouri ConservativeWhat's a good over/under on how many days Matthews & Olbermann flog this McClellan story for?
"women and minorities hardest hit"
How many days until the
May 29, 2008 - 18:32 ET by RESTLESS 1How many days until the election? That's the number I want.
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
-
May 29, 2008 - 20:48 ET by dahliatraverslol
I say four days.
hmmm
May 29, 2008 - 18:41 ET by ort777The Claude Rains character attempted to put a gun to his head and pull the trigger in the movie after he realized how wrong he was. Do you think Chris remembers that part as well? Let's not forget that in real life Jimmy Stewart flew a number of missions in WWII and was a staunch Republican and friend of President Reagan.
When I initially heard
May 29, 2008 - 18:49 ET by SickofLibsWhen I initially heard Claude Rains, for a second I thought he was referring to 'The Invisible Man'
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that so far, only the left leg has been 'spoken for'. That's leaves the other open for... whatever
Rewrite from Oliver Stone's BUSH script
May 29, 2008 - 19:07 ET by zhombreGW Bush: "I'm not fit to be President and never was! I'm not fit to live. Impeach me! Impeach me! Every word Scott McClellan wrote is the honest to God truth! Every word about Cheney and me and the illegal war for oil and the rotten political corruption of the Rethuglican party.
Every word of it is true.!I'm not fit for office! I'm not fit for any
place of honor or trust. Impeach me!"
Nothing New in the Book that I have heard...
May 29, 2008 - 20:18 ET by JayTeeIt's the same old Re-hash of the Far Left Mantra, from the Libby comments to the War critique.
My Kingdom for some HONESTY in the NEWS !!!!!
Who would buy this Book ? and WHY ? The Guy Lived a LIE, or the Guy Wrote a Lie, either way he's Suspect of severe Personality Dis-order.
Well let me tell you
May 29, 2008 - 20:42 ET by MidAmericaWell let me tell you about this 'fresh new Senator' that is going to clean up Washington. He comes from a state where the governors go from the state house to the big house and nowhere did he take a stand against 'politics as usual' as a member of the state legislature. He didn't ride out of this state on a white horse responding to a ground swell of public support. In fact, it is the shady insider politicians that sent out this 'doer of good deeds'.
MA... Yep...their sock
May 29, 2008 - 20:49 ET by bigtimerMA...
Yep...their sock puppet.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
However....... in
May 29, 2008 - 21:58 ET by MidAmericaHowever....... in spite of the politicians Chicago is a real place not just a large number of people. Great place to visit.
Have some music on me. (partaking a little wine tonight...shhhh)
As often as Chrissy brings
May 29, 2008 - 23:28 ET by fitzfongAs often as Chrissy brings up the tired James Stewart cliche, I get the sense that "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is the only film he's ever seen...on a continuous loop. No doubt he's used the Mr. Smith character in reference to John Dean, Paul O'Neil, Richard Clarke, Joe Wilson and now this doughy clown. Probably didn't use it in reference to George Stephanopoulos, though.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
Too bad we dont have more
May 30, 2008 - 09:00 ET by misterbee241Too bad we dont have more Senator Paines in the Senate.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745