Sure, there was the little matter of a presidential race to be settled. But tuning into MSNBC this evening, there was also the suspense of seeing whether another spat would break out between Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews. And the pair didn't disappoint. Renewing the on-air feud that began out during the DNC, tonight's tussle left no doubt there's still plenty of bad blood between the two.
Matthews sparked the spat by suggesting that Obama had gone back on his word to take public financing for his campaign. When Olbermann sprang to Obama's defense, Matthews suggested that his, um, colleague was being naive.
Boys, boys: can't we just all get along?CHRIS MATTHEWS: Barack Obama, I'm not saying he's cleaner than other politicians, or other Democrats, but he's different. He's different. He doesn't like having his hands on street money, he doesn't like making cabinet deals, he doesn't like the old politics, he doesn't work with the committee chairs, the county chairs. He does it his way. I'm not saying it's better. In fact it may offend me in many ways. But it is different, and we ought to take account of that tonight.
And by the way, he's not super-clean, because he didn't take the federal money; he changed his mind on that. Let's keep clear about that --
KEITH OLBERMANN [dismissively]: No he didn't. He didn't. He didn't change his mind on that.
MATTHEWS: Don't buy the blue-plate special from anybody.
OLBERMANN: I've read the document!
MATTHEWS: [inaudible] politicians all my life. Don't believe them all. And don't believe everything they tell you.

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.





CHRIS MATTHEWS: Barack Obama, I'm not saying he's cleaner than other politicians, or other Democrats, but he's different. He's different. He doesn't like having his hands on street money, he doesn't like making cabinet deals, he doesn't like the old politics, he doesn't work with the committee chairs, the county chairs. He does it his way. I'm not saying it's better. In fact it may offend me in many ways. But it is different, and we ought to take account of that tonight.















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 00:11 ET by TexndocGlad they both live in "Ground Zero" (and never has that been more applicable) and I live in fly-over country (and I hope the missiles do).
This is exactly why
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 00:26 ET by MikeknaJThis is exactly why Olbermann should've won that in the tank for Obama contest. Gimme a break.
Oh, I just heard Andrea Mitchell, on NBC at around 9:22, claim that one of the things the media has done right, and everyone agrees on this, is leave the children alone. I almost choked on my non-existant food *cough* Palin kids *cough*.
"Look, when Keith anchors, he plays it straight down the line.”
-MSNBC President Phil Griffin
http://www.xanga.com/mikeknaj
Wow
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 00:28 ET by DoktorFrankenIs this the kind of piddly-ass stuff we're going to get exited about now?
Sheesh.
Poor Olbermann
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 00:30 ET by lumpyHis entire show and persona is based on ranting and raving about Bush and those eeevil Repubs. He'll have to get a new schtick otherwise he'll lose his audience in 2009 if not before. Bye-bye, Olbie.
Don't forget his buddies!
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 04:50 ET by Hawaiian JoeRachel Maddow,John Stewart,Colbert Report,ect.They are all going to take a hit in the ratings. Thank God!
These jokers sit there now
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 00:34 ET by averageschmoeThese jokers sit there now saying that we all have to come together to support Obama. Meanwhile they sat there bashing Bush and the Republicans for his entire term. Doberman will have to find someone else to hate on.
Wow!
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 00:46 ET by DoktorFrankenAnd if you think about it, if O'Reilly retires, Olbermann will be out of a job.
O'REILLY = $$$$$$
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 09:20 ET by danybhoyWell, Bill just worked out a 4 year deal worth over $10,000,000 a year. He ain't going anywhere, so will continue to kick BathTubBoy's @$$ in the ratings as long as Olbermann hold on at BSNBC.
Not mention that Glenn Beck is going into John Gibson's old timeslot, he will kick the crap out of Mathews when he hits FNC in January.
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
More importantly, where was
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 00:48 ET by stratmanMore importantly, where was this epiphany from Matthews on June 19, 2008?
How convenient to find one's veracity after America has voted.
odd
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 01:08 ET by MeowMeowI never thought I'd say it, but I agree with Matthews, and am surprised he said as much. Olbermann is a douche.
Obama: A glittering jewel of colossal ignorance. --RL
I didn't think this one was
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 01:09 ET by usinkoreaI didn't think this one was bad. It wasn't close to the talking hand thing during the convention. They were all sitting on the panel just talking crap like journalism has become ---- a bunch of self-important know-it-alls thinking their view of the news is actually the news....
....I do think some of those laughs and scoffs as Matthews was talking were the same as I was letting out listening to him: "Jiminie, Chris!!! You actually want me to believe the man with the thrill up his leg actually thinks Obama is a self-centered politician who won't reach across the aisle or even listen to the other Democrat leadership? ---- For Pete's sake!! 24 hours ago, you would have lambasted anyone else suggesting such things!!!"
I have a feeling though, Matthews in this clip is a sign of what we can expect out of the media after about 6 months of a honeymoon for Obama:
The media will try to reclaim its hollowed ground and un-shame itself by doing what it absolutely refused to do during the election: report on the real Obama.
I expect that LA Times tape to be released within a month.
And I expect a few tough questions for Obama starting soon.
And once Obama has worn out his welcome with the American people, say, within a year to 16 months, I bet the media will find a time to lay into him --- before they start to rehabilitate him for the next election....
No way. They created this
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 01:20 ET by averageschmoeNo way. They created this man. They will never hurt him. He will be the best President of all time to them.
Olberman is such an idiot
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 01:37 ET by RpeggioObama even said in the Dem Primary, on video, that he'd take the Fed financing....gimme a break....a fact's a fact. Obama bought this election....period end of story.
bought and paid for
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 05:55 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsObama bought this election....period end of story.
Well, you can't dismiss the help he got from Affirmative Action.
Obama won, America lost.
For the first time in my adult life, I am ashamed of my country.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
It’s a mighty sad night
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 02:10 ET by maggieqpublicIt’s a mighty sad night when my greatest amusement comes from reading about Matthews/Olbermann and one of their snippy tiffs.
Uh Oh!
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 02:13 ET by dodecahedronOlbermann and Matthews don't seem to realize that they both just became irrelevant as the far left's voice of angry dissent.
We know why we don't watch them. Now that Obama is in power, why would ANYONE watch them?
And in their desperation, they turned to a man they didn’t fully understand. -Alfred the Butler
Where was Mathews the days before election
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 05:47 ET by ferv888Isn't cute, Mathews now discovers that Obama was dirty on the Campaign Finance issue, after he is elected. A pox on both Olberman and Mathews. Too cute by half.
FERV888
MEDIA FREEDOM...
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 09:28 ET by danybhoyWill Mathews & the rest of the MSM oppose the "Fairness Doctrine" & the other heavy handed attempts to muzzle the media? It won't stop with talk radio, it will come for everybody in time. Be carefull what you wish for, sort of the old story about the people who said "...when they came for the Jews, I said nothing. I was'nt a Jew...when they came for the gays, I was'nt gay & said nothing..........when they came for me, there was no one else to stand with me..." sort of story. Those in the media need to oppose ANY & ALL attempts to muzzle the media in the name of "fairness".
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
I could not stomach the
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 09:09 ET by marpelI could not stomach the orgasmic, squealing MSM last night. I decided to watch re-runs of Boston Legal and my son's series, Jurassic Fight Club. Much better TV; even though I missed this lover's quarrel.
marpel... ...for the
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 11:17 ET by bigtimermarpel...
...for the first time I can ever remember, I refused to watch any channel other than Fox early on in the evening...I wouldn't of been able to handle CNN or msnbc without going through the roof...which I was about to do anyway with the results coming in...
Sad night last night was...more socialism is well on it's way.
As to Matthews and his comments to Olbie, good for him, this issue has been one with Mathews when it comes to Obama and his going back on his word as far as public financing goes, he has stated as such in the past.
What irks me more than anything regarding campaign money is the msm refused to look into any of the illegal money that Obama has received, which they would most certainly of done early on if this was a repub and he/she took in the kind of obscene cash O did.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Yeppers....
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 11:49 ET by acumen...the chosen one's big night - feeeeeeel the unity from apostles Matthews and Olberman.
I said yesterday that
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 12:10 ET by Chris NormanI said yesterday that Olbermann wasn't equipped to go from sneering and mocking the Republican president full time to praising and defending a Democratic one. This is the first bit of evidence entered...
McNotObama '08
Olbermann-Matthews
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 18:49 ET by eclaireSounds like in the hard light of the day that Chris Matthews "has lost that loving (tingle up his leg) feeling" that he had for Obama!
----
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 20:49 ET by dahliatraversHe didn't. He didn't change his mind on that.
"Tommy, can you see me?"
Holy mackeral. Olberman is utterly out of touch with reality.