You might say nothing could be more unsurprising than a panel of political pundits admitting the obvious: that Barack Obama is playing the race card when he accuses John McCain of saying the Dem candidate "doesn’t look like the other presidents on the currency."
But what makes the punditry panel's unanimity notable is that no one would accuse them of being McCain backers, and what's more, that they turned up on Hardball. Surely Chris Matthews, were he not on vacation, would have found one diehard to deny reality. But with Mike Barnicle guest-hosting, a consensus of truth-telling broke out.
Barnicle began by playing a clip of McCain, interviewed by CNN's John King, saying that it is legitimate to accuse Obama of having played the race card. The video is worth viewing if only to watch McCain end the interview by shaking a surprised King's hand and walking away. Then the panel commented. Perry Bacon of the Washington Post said he would decline to answer directly, but his answer left no real doubt as to his view.
View video here.
PERRY BACON: I will say that Obama usually says that "they," or Republicans, are suggesting that I'm unusual or I'm different. He yesterday said that McCain or Bush, which I think is different. I think he has not said that before. So I think this is part of a different issue than usual.
Jonathan Martin of Politico agreed.
JONATHAN MARTIN: Perry's right. In fact, McCain's top aide Steve Schmidt told me today that was part of the reason why they seized on this. In the past [Obama's] done the general flow. Yesterday it was McCain himself that they were accusing him of. The McCain folks wanted to seize on this quickly and make sure he knew they were not going to tolerate a direct accusation of McCain playing the race card here.
Jill Zuckman of the Chicago Tribune made it unanimous.
JILL ZUCKMAN: That's exactly right. They don't want to be tarred with it, they say they're not doing it, they're not going to do it. The only person in this presidential race who was ever sucked into a horrible race accusation was John McCain in 2000 in South Carolina, and that's when the opposition said he had fathered an illegitimate black child, only they were referring to his adopted daughter from Bangladesh.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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hardball without chrissy
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 18:44 ET by francisbernI think thhis show is so much better without Chris M.
Mike B is doing a fair job, a big change for MSNBC
hopeful he does not come back!
DOREEN
Good Point
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 18:56 ET by CaringwhiteguyLots less fanatical ranting and raving. (That will probably get MSNBC management to hasten Matthews' return. In their minds ranting = ratings).
On the other hand there's less spittle sticking to camera lenses. (That may encourage MSNBC management to keep the loonball away. Those cameras are expensive).
Caringwhiteguy.Any relation
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:30 ET by the strugglerCaringwhiteguy.Any relation to the angrywhiteguy?Ha!
gad matthews will demand
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:37 ET by TruthMongergad matthews will demand heads on a platter for this when he gets back - he'll be fuming something like "they've turned my GD show into a neocon faux news house organ for the RNC yada yada yada...!!!"
olby's blood pressure will hit the roof too
lovely:)
This is my comment
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 20:31 ET by FairlightThis is my comment yesterday while many were condemning this man. It is even more true today. If you think he is doing a quality job, let him know and give him the praise he deserves. Here is my comment from last nights show:
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Mike is doing an amazing job this week in comparison with the person he is
filling in for. Mike gets an A+ for the sheer fact that he NEVER, EVER
interrupts the guest. Just watch him and it's hard not to notice the
effort he makes not to be Chrissy Snow. Try finding an interruption on
his part--you simply won't find one. For that he should be commended and
,frankly, rewarded with his own show. At the very least, MSNBC would
save a lot on shrimp cocktails and slobber sponges.
Barack's Base
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 18:44 ET by allanfBarack has to be carefully. He could lose his political base: the MSM.
McCain needs a few more
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:05 ET by bigtimerMcCain needs a few more acting lessons, but that low-keyed voice and answer, then shake of hand with King and turning to walk away was priceless....
McCain camp isn't going to let what happened to the Clinton Duo by the racism assassination that Obama and the msm did to them... happen to him...smart move.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Obama is right
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:14 ET by 10ksnookerSomeone put together a dollar bill with Obama on the portrait, and Obama is right, he doesn't look like all the rest -- He looks positively child-like.
More Proof Obama Just Can't Do Anything Right
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:23 ET by SquonkamaticThis whole episode to me represents a proof of how Obama, like most liberals, just can't help but screw themselves into a jam every time they open their mouths. He obviously meant the racial angle in his comment. By having his staff lie about his intentionality they demonstrate how stupid they think everyday people are by implying that he didn't actually mean what he said. What else could he have possibly been getting at when comparing his appearance to those of the Presidents on the current bill designs?
The guy is a cosmic screw-up, my advice to the McCain people is to encourage Obama to keep making impromptu ad-libbed comments just like this one, the crack about people clinging to guns and Michelle's wonderful snippet about never having been proud of America before. Eventually he'll reveal his true nature and perhaps even say straight out "I don't give a flying $#@& about America, never have, never will."
I have a feeling that this election will be voted much like a trial, and if there's even the slightest bit of reasonable doubt most people will realize that they really can't vote for this guy no matter much they might like to have him at their barbeque.
Cant wait to see both these
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:39 ET by general companyCant wait to see both these guys in the room together. Was hoping Obama would had taken McCain up on the Townhall meetings. Easy to see why he didnt.
Great post BTW
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Sq
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:43 ET by the strugglerWhat's with the racist barbeque comment?Ha!
Agreed. Excellent post
Fri, 08/01/2008 - 03:07 ET by FairlightAgreed. Excellent post
Jokers Are Wild
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:23 ET by acumenWasn't that special? Two of the three guests (Martin & Zuckman) shifted the question from if Obama was playing the race card to McCain was not playing the race card. Nice cover for Obama fellow travelers.
I would comment on Bacon's non-response if not for fear of being accused of playing the race card.
Journalism is dead
WOW!!!! I would actually
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:27 ET by mostlymoderateWOW!!!! I would actually enjoy watching this program if Chris Mathews was gone permanently!!! Did you notice how there was no Chrissy to talk over the other? Did you notice how there was no BS spewed all over the viewfinder by Chrissy? Everyone had an intelligent conversation and the show seemed to flow stress-free. They need to get rid of Chrissy.
Shaming Obama
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:37 ET by nkviking75The race card was utterly predictable. If Obama himself didn't say it, he'd have lots of surrogates to say it for him. McCain and the GOP need to shame Obama (if indeed he has any shame) into dropping it. If a whole panel on Hardball is coming down against the race card, maybe there's reason for hope.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Fair and Balanced
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 19:56 ET by third eyeIve been watching him all week and have come to the conclusion that if Barnicle had his own show, Id watch it.
After seeing tonights show
Fri, 08/01/2008 - 03:04 ET by FairlightAfter seeing tonights show I have to say that I am an official member of the Mike Barnicle fan club. You can tell this man has a good heart unlike the sleazebag he is filling in for. And speaking of heart, I triple heart Pat Buchannan. Something about him just makes you want to hug him and buy him a puppy. His laugh is undeniably infectious and you can't help but not adore him. These two together could conceivably be the first show to give Hannity & Colmes serious competition.
Jill Suckman alleges: "The
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 20:28 ET by TEJill Suckman alleges: "The only person in this presidential race who was ever sucked into a horrible race accusation was John McCain in 2000 in South Carolina, and that's when the opposition said he had fathered an illegitimate black child, only they were referring to his adopted daughter from Bangladesh."
"[T]he opposition said he fathered an illegitimate black child"? Name of the alleged "opposition"? The location that the alleged "opposition" made such an allegation? The method used by the alleged "opposition" to make said allegation against McCain? The evidence held by Ms. Suckman to support her allegation (e.g., documents, recordings, etc., of the "opposition" making the alleged allegation)?
Obama not only played race card, he lied!!
Fri, 08/01/2008 - 15:52 ET by shavingcreamObama accused McCain of saying something he has never said. Obama is basically putting into people's minds arguments about things that haven't actually happened. The press is defending Obama as if McCain had made the comparison.