Terry Jeffrey walked away the winner on Hardball this afternoon. Despite being double-teamed by Chris Matthews and Salon's Joan Walsh, the editor-in-chief of our sister publication CNSNews.com had the others admitting that the Obama admin has gone too far with the cult-of-personality way it's pitched the president's speech to schoolchildren.
But that didn't prevent Matthews and Walsh from unsubtly accusing PBO's opponents of racism, archly claiming that the motive for the opposition to the president is his "background."
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TERRY JEFFREY: The Department of Education sent out to all these principals aruond the country and all these teachers recommendations about what they should do before and after the president's --Don't miss Matthews' wry smile that comes 53 seconds into the video as Jeffrey is making his case. Chris knows he's a beaten man, and reluctantly invites Walsh to take up the cudgel.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: OK, read your bill of indictment here.
TERRY JEFFREY: Pre-K through sixth grade, they say, the Secretary of Education is saying this is what they should do. "Teachers can build background knowledge about the President of the United States"--this president--"and his speech by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama." OK, we just had 18 months of saturation media about this guy, Chris. He's a cult of personality to the liberal media. And you're going to make these poor schoolteachers have to read --
MATTHEWS: I'm going to let Joan Walsh defend the President of the United States in this regard, should she choose to do so. Joan Walsh, it's Friday afternoon, there you go. What do you make of the paper hand-out that went to accompany the president's speech next Tuesday on TV to the schoolkids?A bit later, Jeffrey read out his second count, describing what the Obama admin suggests for older students in preparation for the speech.
JOAN WALSH: You know what? I'm going to give Terry a point here. I think that that was overreaching, and you and I have talked going back to last year that there sometimes is a tin ear in the people around Obama. They do play into this cult of personality.
JEFFREY: Now we've got through 12th grade, seniors in high school. This is what they say teachers should do to kids as late as senior year in high school: "Teachers may engage students in short readings. Teachers may post in large print around the classroom notable quotes excerpted from Pres. Obama's speeches on education. Now give me a break!"Eventually Matthews and Walsh tried to mount a counter-attack, predictably playing the race card.
WALSH: You got to the point, Chris. You got to the point. They have vilified this man from day one. They have whipped up an hysteria about him so he's not even human. And they will not extend this man the respect that every single president has gotten. I can't imagine --
The respect every single president has gotten? Like the respect the left gave Pres. Chimp-Hitler-Bush, for example?
MATTHEWS: Joan, you're right, you're right. And the trouble I have in this job, and my nature is, that even though I know the motive behind a lot of this crap being thrown at this president has to do with who he is, where he comes from, his background, his politics, his "background"--I'll just say it that way--View the video to hear the intonation, leaving no doubt Matthews and Walsh were using "background" as a synonym for "race."
WALSH: Yes, "background."
MATTHEWS: A lot of it is based upon that in terms of motive. But occasionally the clock is right twice a day. And when they are right about a couple of facts I give them a score like you did as we started off tonight. That's the nature of my job.So that's Chris's problem: he's just too darn fair.
BONUS COVERAGE: Matthews Makes Like Capehart
Not long ago, I noted Jonathan Capehart's total identification with the Obama administration. Appearing on Morning Joe, the WaPo editorialist said "we've got two problems," before revising his remarks: "We. I should say the administration or Democrats have two problems."
Matthews did much the same thing this evening in his show opening spiel.
MATTHEWS: The Obama White House needs to figure out how to confront the right-wing media machine when the President of the United States is called a socialist for trying to make a back-to-school speech to children and the White House doesn't know how to respond! There's a problem there. When are we going to learn how to avoid being tackling dummies--when are they going to learn how to avoid--being tackling dummies for the far right?Someone cue I Am The Walrus: "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together."
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Comments Policy
The opposition to Obama IS about his
September 4, 2009 - 18:18 ET by kgThe opposition to Obama IS about his background and actions. It has nothing to do with race or skin color. Obama is judged by the company he keeps and his actions both of which are not very pro-American.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
dittos, it's easy to
September 4, 2009 - 18:21 ET by 10ksnookerdittos, it's easy to understand what you said, if you want to.
And, of course, you have
September 6, 2009 - 10:19 ET by JRJ08And, of course, you have first hand awareness of the President's background and with whom he kept company. So you can assert with complete moral authority that all the things you say about him are 100% fact. I have some beachfront property in Nebraska I'd like to sell you.
We are just over eight months into this coup...
September 4, 2009 - 18:27 ET by R D Helm...and all they have left to defend Chairman Obama with is the "racism" charge.
That's pretty pathetic, actually.
-Dave
Even when the government tries to kiss you, it is just a prelude to a good screwing. -Neal Boortz
The ''right hates Obama
September 4, 2009 - 18:49 ET by CooltomThe ''right hates Obama because he's black'' canard is totally bogus. Pelosi, Reid and Biden are so white it is conceivable that they are totally composed of Wonder Bread. And guess what... we dislike them too. We revile them because of their politics, not their race -- the same as Obama.
Conservatives adore the black economists Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell and think Klugman, the white guy, is a nitwit. Odd behavior for people who supposedly decide everything based on race.
Black (and white) Liberals should learn how to use the race card sparingly. In any instance of uncovered malfeasance they throw, not just the deck, but the whole shoe of decks at their detractors.
Race Card.....
September 5, 2009 - 08:44 ET by adamsmithOn any thread on left wing sites, as soon as I'm accused of racism(not that I said anything remotely relating to race) I immediately write: "Your race card has expired. To activate your new card call 1-800-555-5555 and press #2 for spanish if applicable. After you have done this you may hang up. Thank you for crying wolf with the increasingly meaningless word of racism and have a nice day".
Kills the argument everytime. Post racial President? I've heard more charges of racism in the last 7 months than in all my 45 years of living in America..It's all a lie to appeal to people sitting on the fence and their emotions. Like crying wolf too many times, it's now meaningless.....
they will not extend this
September 4, 2009 - 19:07 ET by motherbeltthey will not extend this man the respect that every single president has gotten.
Every single President?
I'm speechless.
...
September 4, 2009 - 19:47 ET by EugeniaThe video is still playing and I was just about to write what you just said, motherbelt. These people are certifiable. Absolutely amazing.
"When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing -- they believe in anything."
-- GK Chesterton
Speechless
September 4, 2009 - 21:02 ET by Brad90956If I were Terry Jeffrey I would have said this to Matthews and Walsh:
"How did you extend respect to President Bush in the last 8 years? Just give me one example".
(crickets)
A Fulminating Leftist
September 5, 2009 - 07:52 ET by allanfWalsh recently accused Rush Limbuagh of "whipping up" a climate that sparks shootings such as the Holocust Museum shooting. Walsh called Bill O'Reilly an accomplice to the murder of abortionist Tiller.
Walsh traffics in the most pernicous form of hatred -- and then accuses those who disagree with her of not being civil.
well its MSNBC
September 4, 2009 - 19:28 ET by katainkentthe rules of logic are suspended.
See how they snort like pigs in a sty, see how they snide.
they are the walrus... (apoligies to the Beatles)
September 5, 2009 - 08:20 ET by OldJoeyellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye...
Beatles....
September 5, 2009 - 08:52 ET by adamsmith"You say you want a revolution....." I feel it's coming to this. It's no longer about Republicans vs. Democrats. It's now Capitalists vs. Communists....I'm just hoping the American Bolsheviks are not successful like their Russian counterparts of 1917......
Mathews is the true racist
September 4, 2009 - 19:52 ET by RayRayMathews, Obama and the whole bunch are the true racists of this country. The dominant form of racism is reverse-racism, and has been for quite a few years now.
It's the kind of thinking that makes heroes of the "Jena 6" thugs.
Yet conservatives are still mainly on the defensive, always with the "I'm not a racist" instead of pointing the finger to where it really belongs.
Racism...racism...racism...br
September 4, 2009 - 20:18 ET by Kat Outta the BagRacism...racism...racism...broken record...broken record...broken record...
Ratings for September 3,
September 4, 2009 - 20:46 ET by TERatings for September 3, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Beck (FNC) - 2,865,000 viewers
Blitzer (CNN) - 608,000 viewers
Matthews (MSDNC) - 570,000 viewers
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/the_scoreboard_thursday_sept_3_130360.asp#more
Obama is receiving exactly the respect he deserves.
September 4, 2009 - 20:50 ET by CTThat would be contempt for the arrogant punk from me. The real news of this summer of discontent is that more and more Americans don't trust him. Significantly due to the people he has surrounded himself with, but in no small part to the antics of San Fran Nan and her poodles in Congress. The dripping contempt for the American electorate by Democratic Leftwing Leadership is putrefying the party. Those that brought Obama to the party are now dragging him down and they're in denial.
Personally I don't trust anyone that trusts Obama.
IF
September 4, 2009 - 20:50 ET by Joe CamelIf the Repubs had run Alan Keyes against Obama, Keyes would have mopped the floor with this guy. And, I know many of us whites who would have not only worked for Mr. Keyes, but encouraged others to vote for him. What a great man who will never get the exposure he should have. This is not about skin color, but the color of the lies that come from Obama..
TOTUS vs. Keyes?
September 4, 2009 - 20:58 ET by Sergeant ROCKNo contest.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
I disagree...
September 5, 2009 - 08:57 ET by adamsmithI disagree as the George Soros Communist machine was well funded and Saul Alinsky's methods were well rehearsed. They pretty handily fooled a lot of the electorate. I don't think they'll be that lucky or successful again...
We don't need Health Care Reform. We need politician reform, as in term limits, lobbying limits, tort reform, and heavy enforcement of the 10th amendment limiting the power of the federal government...The longer these pigs are in power through re-election, the worse the corruption is..
Let them accuse us. My
September 4, 2009 - 21:12 ET by mostlymoderateLet them accuse us. My African American Republican friends know we are not. Oh, and yes there are MANY conservative/Republican black people where I live even if the mainstream media wants you to think differently.
doubleteam
September 4, 2009 - 21:20 ET by ConservativeClarkFrom the minute i saw this segment, i new it was a setup for a double team. Joan Walsh is so hard over left wing, its not even funny. The "Right Wing Media Machine?" Where is this located? I see a completely biased left wing media machine and then i see Fox News. I see large populations of left wing newspapers and then i see a few publications that are center right. The only place which is right wing is talk radio, but thats only because nobody listened to the drivel that was air america. Matthews sucks so hard, with his little more than half a million viewers a night. A Fox news host could get that with an hour just sitting silent reading a newspaper.
Unabashed opposition
September 5, 2009 - 00:19 ET by CobraManIf opposing Obama is now a form of racism, then I am an unabashed racist as I am the unabashed opposition. Of course, it's not the color of his skin that I oppose, it's his ideals and his radicalism that I oppose. But ideals, beliefs, and actions are no longer applicable as we now have a Person of Color in office, so the color of someone's skin is all we're supposed to be concerned with.
Obama is a Back Man so everything he, or we, do is based upon the color of his skin. Obama's a Black Man so nothing else matters, or is relevent. Isn't that right, liberals?
And they call US racists!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
It's Obama's whitey heritage I can't stand
September 5, 2009 - 03:29 ET by Jack BauerSpeaking as a person of whiteness I'd like to clear up something about my low opinion of President Obama...
I love Obama's black heritage. That's cool and hip..
I just LOATHE the white half of his genetic mix.
That's the part that invented the worst ideology in the world EVAH.
BIG GOVERNMENT STATISTS Socialism/Marxism/Communism -- look at this crap.
All invented by ANGRY WHITE DUDES: Marx, Blake, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky, Fabians, et al.
And being white myself that means I cannot be racist by bringing these facts to the surface.
They just don't get it!
September 5, 2009 - 07:04 ET by jacktheripperOBAMA IS HALF WHITE!!!!!!!!!!!
"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can
bribe the people with their own money." – Alexis de Tocqueville
ripper -- exactly. It's
September 5, 2009 - 08:12 ET by Jack Bauerripper -- exactly. It's Obama's white half that's crazy nuts.
One Drop Rule
September 5, 2009 - 12:38 ET by CobraManIt's rather ironic that the very people who balk at the "one drop rule" of racial theory in which to define a Black man, (as was used for over 100 years to deny Black's their rights) now all subscribe to that same "one drop rule" to define Obama as an authentic Black Man.
Hay, liberals, if it's wrong for a racist to define someone based on their heritage, then it's equally wrong for YOU to do the same. Or are all of you just a bunch of hypocrites?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Bonus round
September 5, 2009 - 07:35 ET by ThisnThatMathews almost got it right. He should have asked, instead of tackling dummies, this question:
Sadly, that lesson will never be learned by Mathews and his ilk.
___________________________________
"Tax the rich" is a basically unstable way of governing - The NYT
Pavlovian responses by Matthews & co.
September 5, 2009 - 08:23 ET by OldJoeIt's like they've been conditioned in a laboratory...
Food is introduced with sounds.. gradually the animal will associate sound and food, then salivate when the bell rings.
And does he still get "tingles"?????
insane!
September 5, 2009 - 08:26 ET by jon_torlinYou know the helluvall this stuff? I said in my profile that I'm conservative and I stand by this. Having said that, if I had to choose between the annointed one and Bill Clinton when it comes to trust, whom I consider to be a real sorry piece of crap, I'd choose Bill Clinton. That's saying something!
When I thought about it, my reaction was "my god, this country really is in deep trouble and may not be able to come out of it!"
-Jon
Matthews
September 5, 2009 - 11:42 ET by Patriot IIDon't be too concerned with anything matthews (small m) has to say, he suffers from a "tingling leg" syndrome LOL...and an empty cranial cavity!!!
Do these morons realize that
September 5, 2009 - 12:32 ET by G. MayDo these morons realize that every time they pull the race card in response to criticism of their man that they're saying it was his race that got him elected? His professional background background is almost non existent, his political background the same.