Matthews: Media Shouldn't Cover RNC Criticism of Hillary

Photo of Mark Finkelstein.

Now that Barack Obama is assuming the presidency, partisan criticism is suddenly so passé.  Just ask Chris Matthews. In the course of cheerleading anchoring the MSNBC coverage of Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing today, Matthews suggested that the media shouldn't cover the Republican National Committee's criticism of Clinton. 

The comments came during the Hardball host's chat with Newsweek's Jonathan Alter.  A few minutes earlier, Matthews had assured us that those who had the privilege of knowing Hillary personally were aware of what a "wonderful" person she is.  Then it was time to attack Republicans for refusing to join the Hillary love-fest.

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JONATHAN ALTER: What I thought was a little surprising was that the Republican National Committee fired some shots this morning and some blast emails, revisiting differences between Clinton and Obama on the campaign trail. And it had the whiff of something old and kind of out of synch with where our politics are right now.  And I think there are a lot of Republicans who actually would say it's not the time for the Republican party to be picking at those scabs, but moving forward. If they have other disagreements with Hillary Clinton based on administration policy, then they can raise those at the time, but this kind of partisanship right now feels a little old-fashioned.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well isn't that staff-driven snarkiness?  Isn't that what we're watching here? The kind of thing that staff people get paid to do, so they come out with this tired, old partisan cheap shots, and they throw them across the bow, and they get the principal, whoever it is at the time, to sign onto them.

It's so tired.  And it's so predictable, and the press, unfortunately, uses it as news-helper, and puts it in its news accounts. As if it's actual news. I'm doing media a criticism here. I should never be a media critic --

ALTER: No, you're absolutely right.

MATTHEWS: -- but I don't understand why it's even news when some staff-level person writes some snarky material for the principal person. It's put out under the name of Republican National Committee, revisiting some old dispute between contestants in primaries, as if that's clever.

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


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"Tired, old, predictable, partisan and snarky"...

... hey, wait a minute, that's a description of Hardball!

Hosted by The Artist Formerly Known As Hillary-Hating-Matthews.  

OMG, Matthews is talking about himself!

OMG, Matthews is talking about himself!

"Forget change, I want improvement!"

"but this kind of

"but this kind of partisanship right now feels a little old-fashioned."

HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HARHAR HAR HAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

congrats to all the new U.S presidents - and press secretary obama

double

double

It's news, Chrissy

MATTHEWS: -- but I don't understand why it's even news when some staff-level person writes some snarky material for the principal person. It's put out under the name of Republican National Committee, revisiting some old dispute between contestants in primaries, as if that's clever.

It's news because Hillary and Barry had a hard fought primary battle in which she attacked "The One" quite aggressively.  It's news because it raises questions about the character of the nominee.  (Pause for uproarious laughter.)  It raises questions about whether Hillary will work to undermine the Anointed President's foreign policy.  It's news because maybe she raised some legitimate questions about the eventual fearless leader, the Minister of Vague.  And finally, it's news because the people have the right to have all the facts and make up their own minds.

Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!

The evil, conspiratorial part of me...

....makes me wonder why in the world BHO would have ever put Hillary in a position that puts her in the line of succession after Biden, Pelosi and KKK man.

Senile old Byrd

Speaking of that, even though the odds are heavily against it happening, doesn't it bother anyone that that doddering old coot Byrd is only a few heartbeats away from the Presidency?  Hillary would immediately work to invoke the 25th Amendment and have him removed from office. 

Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!

Prester,

LOL-The conspiratorial part of me wonders exactly what it is that Obama is doing in the Polaroids the Clinton's apparently have on him.  :-^)

-Dave

“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.

Matthews is on right now

Matthews is on right now with The Mummy for the confirmation coverage; both are whining about how mean the WSJ was to editorialize about Hillary/Slick foundation's conflict of interest.

This from someone who ripped her to shreds every chance he got during the primary. What a colossal hypocrite. And he can't refer to BHO as anything but 'Barack' - like they're on a first name basis. Not.

After Olbermann, there's no

After Olbermann, there's no one on TV more snarky than Chris Matthews. It's big of him to tell us what we can think, feel, or say. His crush was elected and now he thinks it's time we all moved on. Would he be willing to move on if McCain had been elected? I think not. He is, in one word, a hypocrite.

My favorite Hillary moment

I remember The Drooler once accosting Hillary at some event and she just patted his cheek with a pleasant, slightly pitying look.

Chrissy

Is whineing about partisan cheap shots.Hmm never stopped him from spreading those from Dems.Gee they are coming from staff members.I guess that is wrong unless your a Dem staffer.Kudos to Mark.I dont see how you can watch this hypocrite DNC shill.I was channel surfing the other night and I only lasted 2 mins.If I didnt turn the channel I would be buying a new TV.             

The world according to Jonathan Alter

As awful as Matthews is what could be more pompous than Jonathan Alter's assessment "...with where our politics are right now..."

The leftwing msm will eventually choke on their arrogance.

Yeah, when Dems are in

Yeah, when Dems are in power, "our politics" is such that nobody is in the mood for dissent.  When R's are in power, it's all about dissent.  This just falls into the line of thinking that Democrats are really THE mainstream party and anything Republican is an aberration.

Partisan Confirmation Hearings

Chris Matthews is right. Senate confirmation hearings are no place for partisan cheap shots. Just ask John Bolton.

no, no

A final Presidential press conference is the right place for "cheap partisan shots." Ask Pres Bush

Down the Matthews Memory HOLE - or is it up

"Let's not forget, and I’ll be brutal, the reason she’s a US Senator, the reason she’s a candidate for President, the reason she may be a frontrunner; is that her husband messed around. That's how she got to be Senator from New York. We keep forgetting it. She didn't win it on her merit, she won because everybody felt, 'My God, this woman stood up under humiliation,' right? That’s what happened."
--Chris Matthews
MSNBC's Morning Joe
January 9, 2008

"The nature of an ideology is not determined by majority vote—but by logic... The logic of environmentalism leads to a society without technology... even if various environmentalists would deny this." Ayn Rand, 1971

Nice find, Jack.

And I would say that up is definitely the right direction.  :-)

-Dave

“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.

Helping Obama Succeed

Christ Matthews is just doing his job as soi-disant propagandist for the success of the Obama administration.

Why does "moving forward,"

Why does "moving forward," at least to the msm, almost always involve accepting the Democrat (i.e. liberal) perspective?  When Bush was elected, and then reelected, the idea of "moving forward' involved Bush "reaching out" across the aisle to ensure the Democrat interests were kept in mind. Even when the R's picked up seats in 2002 and 2004 we were told there was no conservative "mandate."  Now we're told that "moving forward" essentially means no criticism of Obama or his background and actions.  We should quietly accept Obama for who he is and what he wants to do, you know like the left did for GWB.

"Wonderful person"?

Uh, didn't Matthews turn on Hillary back mid campaign. I recall him ripping her pretty hard for something and figuring he'd never get the time of day from her again.

Cheap allegiancies I guess.

"It's so-tired. And it's so predictable...

"It's so tired.  And it's so predictable, and the press, unfortunately, uses it as news-helper, and puts it in its news accounts. As if it's actual news. I'm doing media a criticism here. I should never be a media critic -- " Sounds a lot like the tag team approach Matthews and Alter used for the past 8 years, but then Matthews has been the master of cheap shots throughout Bush's administration. He is a Leftist shill and will always be one.

Just confused

 

Chris once said he voted for Bush.

No way; it didn't happen. 

No way; it didn't happen.  That's just a left wing seminar tactic these guys use to gain credibility, as in, "I've been a lifelong conservative Republican, but I just love this liberal Democrat Barack Obama so much I voted for him."  (Hint:  That never happened either.)

Really, Smartypants?

No way; it didn't happen.

And you know that, how?  Have you subjected Matthews to a lie detector test?  Because you are accusing him of lying.

True, Matthews has gone way overboard with his Obama idolatry.  But he has in the past sung the praises of Bush and a number of notable Republicans--to such an extent that he was routinely blistered on liberal/progressive websites.

Jer

Jer

The left wing websites consider Stalin a moderate.Hope Santa was good to you.

well99... I know a

well99...

I know a certain website--which I won't mention, but its initials are NB--that thinks Obama is a communist. :-)

I think Santa was feeling the effects of the recession at our house.  Maybe he'll make up for it next year.

See ya later,

Jer

I watched/listened to a

I watched/listened to a good part of the hearing today...going to be interesting to see what the witch and her thieving partner get away with...again....money wise.

If this had been a repub, they would never have been named as Sec. of State in the first place, if said person was, the msm would have been all over every single pay-off/ contribution to the 7 entities of the Clinton Library like white on rice until person withdrew their name/nomination.

Glad for Vitter, Iassacson (sp), eventually even Lugar at the end.

We shall see what happens with all of this...as far as immediately showing donations/contributions monthly, instantly, quarterly...or yearly as she/he wants.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Alan Burke and Joe Pine

Duh! why did it take me so long.  Instead of talking about magic plastic that predicts the future and aliens we have the left wingnuts.

They truly are as obnoxious and entertaining as Pine and Burke. 

 I think both of the latter were better educated and could at least make their arguments plausible.  The 3 amigos, I mean 3 dolts, Olbermann, Matthews and Maddow couldn't hold a candle to the Pine and  Burke showmanship that was popular in the late 50's and 60's.   I truly believe that these idiots really don't believe half the crap their spewing but do it for ratings and if not then they should be..........  Please finish sentence.

"Don't let the bastards grind you down."

Red

Kinda like the pot

calling the kettle black, I would say.

The repubs let Broom Hilda sail right through her "hearing"

If that is any indication of what's coming from that collection of apparently boneless chickens, we're in far deeper dog squeeze than I thought.

And that's pretty darn deep.

-Dave

“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.

Not all did Dave...did you

Not all did Dave...did you listen or watch it?

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

The Free Market will fix crissy

As this jerk criticizies WSJ for excellent reporting on the beast..One needs to remember that the WSJ, Fox and Murdoch are doing fine in an environment that has all the left media bleeding to death. Even the idiot Emelt, once his scam to transfer taxpayers dollars to GE (his only hope for GE stock) under the guise of global scamming collapses, in the face of the truth, will no longer be able to subsidize the money losing left wing media and crissy and olberdork will disappear (or write for the nation). My guess is emelts days are numbered anyway. There are a lot of Welch era stockholders who still hold GE and can't be happy with the the lack of objectivity by their media outlets, nevermind the huge erosion of their investment during his watch. "All good comes to he who waits."

Difference of Opinion is what makes a Horse Race

At what point in the video

At what point in the video did Matthews criticize the Wall Street Journal?

Jer

Matthews is correct, as usual.

Personally, I believe that Chris Matthews is right on with his critique.  Hell, since the media decided we should have Democrats in charge, they've been avoiding any criticism the Republicans might have anyway, why change the formula that worked for you.

Why wouldn't Matthews believe that anyway, doesn't he work for NBC?  Isn't this the same NBC that thinks Keith Olbermann is a journalist?  Isn't this the same NBC that thinks tough questions for a candidate, running for President, include, "Are you comfortable?"  "Were you thinking about your mother today?" and other feel good questions, designed to give the voters the information required to vote for the best candidate. 

NBC is a joke, Matthews is a joke, Olbermann is a joke, and they've yet to show they can be a news organization you can trust to provide you with the facts.

Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.  

Hillary's Smart Power(s)

Click Link to see Sec. State Hillary's new policy expert...Smart power(s)

www.ScottOnCapeCod.com

"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation"... until they get fed-up enough to finally say something about it!

CCS... Here's a follow-up

CCS...

Here's a follow-up to your Clinton post.

Comrade Clinton Worried “Sky Is Falling”

 

 Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

I see your point...

Or was that for Bill?

www.ScottOnCapeCod.com

"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation"... until they get fed-up enough to finally say something about it!

Hillary Quotes

"Why do I have to keep proving to people that I am not a liar?" Hillary Clinton

"We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society."
-- Hillary Clinton, 1993

"I guess that will teach them to f**k with us."
--Hillary Clinton, right after her "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" interview on the Today show (as quoted by Clinton "friend" Jeffrey Toobin in his book A Vast Conspiracy).

"F**king Jew bastards."
--Hillary Clinton, to Clinton campaign manager Paul Fray, in 1974 according to three eyewitness accounts.

"Lazy n*****s."
--Hillary Clinton, to black campaign worker in 1992, who was late for a meeting, according to Clinton/Gore volunteer Margorie Hamilton.

 "Many of you are well enough off that...the tax cuts may have helped you. We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." -- Hillary Clinton

Retired Geek...Hillary quotes

Retired Geek...

I'm not casting aspersions on your credibiliy at all...I have read all of these alleged quotes before, and I believe that the majority of them are accurate [though perhaps just slightly out of context in one or two instances].

But I do question the authenticity of a couple of the more incendiary ones.  I can't say they are categorically untrue, but I would love to have the sources hooked up to a polygraph.

One thing I have heard from a number of people, including prominent Republicans, is that Hillary's true persona is nothing like it's been portrayed by the right-wing media.

Jer

jer

but I would love to have the sources hooked up to a polygraph.

i agree completely, really no snark and as long as it's out ---- hook Hillary up too.

fair enough?

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts

Fair enough, botg... And

Fair enough, botg...

And I was remiss in not originally including her in the potential "testees".  [And feel free to make any joke you wish about that particular word--and how it applies to Hill.]

Jer

i would but i believe she

i would but i believe she keeps that box locked

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts

botg...A lockbox?

For hers or his?

Jer

jer

ha!

both

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts

botg...

LOL...a four-pack, huh.

See ya later,

Jer