Matthews Likens Cheney to Glenn Close's Stalker Character in 'Fatal Attraction'

Geoffrey Dickens
May 18th, 2009 4:33 PM
Font Size

Chris Matthews, on the syndicated "The Chris Matthews Show" over the weekend, likened Dick Cheney's recent media appearances, to defend the Bush administration and to criticize Obama on national security policy, to Glenn Close's stalker character from the 1987 film "Fatal Attraction." Before playing a clip of the movie Matthews made the cinematic comparison: "Well some say Cheney's refusal to move on reminds them of Groundhog Day but you could also say it's like that more frighteningly relentless Glenn Close in 'Fatal Attraction.' Like Cheney she was not gonna be ignored." After playing the clip in which the Close character utters the famous quote, "I'm not gonna be ignored, Dan." Matthews then threw it to Newsweek's Howard Fineman:

MATTHEWS: Howard what do you think? Cheney? "Fatal Attraction?" What do make? Will not be ignored, this guy.

HOWARD FINEMAN, NEWSWEEK: Ha, ha. Yeah, yeah I don't think he's going to boil the rabbit. Let's put it that way.

MATTHEWS: Or come out of that bathtub like that other scene in that movie! Everybody is gonna go see Fatal Attraction again.

The following is the full exchange as it was aired on the May 17 edition of "The Chris Matthews Show":

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Before we break a lighter note. One thing is clear about Dick Cheney. He's redefining what it means to be a former vice president. When Cheney left office the world was his oyster. He could have gone the corporate route like Al Gore. He could have played golf like Dan Quayle or he could have held court, out in that GOP stronghold of McLean, Virginia hosting Republican soirees like Perle Mesta used to do for the Democrats back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. On his way out Cheney gave no clue that he had a brand new view of life after the vice presidency. That he was not taking his 19 percent approval rating and going home. Now he keeps making it very clear he ain't getting off the stage.

DICK CHENEY ON "FACE THE NATION": If I don't speak out then where do we find ourselves Bob? Then, then the critics have free run and there isn't anybody there on the other side to, to tell the truth.

MATTHEWS: Well some say Cheney's refusal to move on reminds them of Groundhog Day but you could also say it's like that more frighteningly relentless Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction." Like Cheney she was not gonna be ignored.

(Begin clip from "Fatal Attraction")

MICHAEL DOUGLAS AS DAN GALLAGHER: I don't know what you're up to but I'm gonna tell you it's gonna stop right now.

GLENN CLOSE AS ALEX FORREST: No it's not gonna stop. It's gonna go on and on until you face up to your responsibilities.

GALLAGHER: What responsibilities?!

FORREST: I just want to be a part of your life.

GALLAGHER: Oh this is the way you do it, huh?! Show up at my apartment?!

FORREST: Well what am I supposed to do. You won't answer my calls, you change your number. I'm, I'm not gonna be ignored, Dan.

GALLAGHER: You don't get it, you just, you don't get it.

(End clip)

MATTHEWS: Howard what do you think? Cheney? "Fatal Attraction?" What do make? Will not be ignored, this guy.

HOWARD FINEMAN, NEWSWEEK: Ha, ha. Yeah, yeah I don't think he's going to boil the rabbit. Let's put it that way.

MATTHEWS: Or come out of that bathtub like that other scene in that movie! Everybody is gonna go see "Fatal Attraction" again.