Matthews on Romney, Pawlenty and Huntsman: 'I Don't Want An Interview With Any Of These Guys'
MSNBC's Chris Matthews opened his "Hardball" program Monday by once again bashing the possible Republican presidential candidates.
With Indiana governor Mitch Daniels dropping out Saturday, Matthews focused his attention on Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and Jon Huntsman telling guests John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, "I don’t want an interview with any of these guys" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: You first, you first. Which one of these fellows, we mentioned three of them, they're regular Republicans, conservative Republicans, I assume, I guess we are thinking that perhaps left to right it's probably Huntsman, Pawlenty and then Romney today, but it keeps changing. Which one of these could excite a big heated room down in Tampa, Florida, next September, when all the people are there, the whole party, left, rather right to far right, is present? Which could excite them and turn them on most likely? Mark?
MARK HALPERIN, TIME MAGAZINE: All three have the potential to do it. But all of them have challenges, that is a challenge for all three of them, that particular skill.
JOHN HEILEMANN, NEW YORK MAGAZINE: I think the one who has the most potential to be able to tap into the Tea Party's energy is Tim Pawlenty because in fact he is more of a populist, he’s more of a working class guy and he’s more of a social conservative. And we’re going to see him run that way in Iowa for instance. He’s going to run as a strong evangelical Christian. He can tap into a lot of that grass roots energy in a way that the other two might not be able.
MATTHEWS: Well, I have an advantage over you guys: I don’t want an interview with any of these guys.
Imagine saying that about men that could actually end up being president - that you don't want to interview them because you think they're boring.
Should journalists only interview candidates that give them a thrill up their leg? Would Matthews have declined to interview Walter Mondale in 1984 or Michael Dukakis in 1988, neither of which were at all exciting?
Ironically, Matthews' colleague Rachel Maddow predicted on his syndicated program this weekend that one of the GOP candidates would refuse all interviews with mainstream media outlets.
Maybe Matthews wants to be the snubber rather than the snubbee.
Of course, this is all a smokescreen, for the most exciting possible GOP candidate - from a purely entertaining level - was Donald Trump, and Matthews spent weeks trashing him day after day.
As such, it's not excitement Matthews is looking for in a candidate - it's liberalism, and any that don't slant left are the subject of his ire.
This was extremely obvious Monday as no matter how he pounded on the threesome in question, the "Hardball" host's guests - who both had significant access to the 2008 candidates for their book "Game Change" - were far more positive.
Halperin for example mentioned that he had spent the weekend covering Huntsman and found the former ambassador to China to have a greater ability to speak about that nation than any presidential candidate he's ever seen with the exception of Bill Clinton. The Time magazine editor ended his thought by saying that Huntsman shows potential on a range of issues that if he lives up to, "I think he will be the next President of the United States."
Matthews was having none of this and instead told his guests, "I have an advantage over you guys: I don’t want an interview with any of these guys."
And this is what passes for journalism today at the so-called cable news network known as MSNBC.
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
Don't worry Chris, they won't want to waste their time
Submitted by Bill Brasky on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 7:39pm.
Why would any serious candidate go on a show that has no viewers? What's the point? Matthews is an irrelevant, insufferable jerk. When is Comcast going to wise up and can his fat ass?
Agreed
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 8:02pm.
MSNBC doesn't take any GOP politician seriously, so why should they go on their programs?
Really Chris?
Submitted by MightyMouth on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 7:43pm.
Let me guess... They would kick your ass? I don't blame you buddy!
Just Remember..............
Submitted by djwolf12 on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 7:48pm.
Matthews is delighted to have Ron Reagan Jr. on his show because he can say he is a REAGAN while Ron acts like a bobblehead doll to Tingles's shrill pap. Yet, he refuses to have Michael Reagan on his show to have a real debate. Like I said before, Michael Reagan would eat his lunch while Tingles sits back and whines and cries for his woobie.
The rules have changed
Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 7:49pm.
We all should keep in mind that any interview with the MSM is actually a debate with obama/democrats and should be treated as such. The normal rules of interview civility are to be ignored.
Mathews is merely a surrogate for obama. As is most of the MSM. They have set up a defensive wall around obama and all Republican challengers are being forced to fight their way past the media first in order to challenge obama directly. The Republican challenger who can show their rhetorical skills against these media gate keepers will be the winner for the hearts of Conservatives.
I personally would love to see (symbolically of course) Mathews head hanging in some Conservative's trophy room after Mathews dared interview them.
Yawn Obama?
Submitted by Tomorama on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 7:59pm.
First off, really how "exciting" is Obama?
Really?
Second, this lying guless coward for weeks, "Where are all the Republicans and why are they not announcing" and one by one he has trashed them.
Non partisan Chris?
Really. .
He's a guess, NONE of them want to be on show, standards in the contract against spittle being strewn towards them.
I'd say Chrissy has lost his mind but one can't lose what one
Submitted by Ponsonby Britt on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 8:27pm.
does not have. Isn't he just a priss?
If any Republican candidate
Submitted by Van Halen on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 8:28pm.
If any Republican candidate makes the decision him/herself or gets talked by his/her staff into going on MSNBC then it should tell us a lot about how poorly run that campaign is.
I'm sure the feeling is mutual, Prissy
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 8:30pm.
Besides, who wants to come on your show just so that your mom and the dog can be entertained?
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
CM. Life is going to SUCK for
Submitted by Zippy on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 8:40pm.
CM.
Life is going to SUCK for you.
If your performance review is about the number of listeners.
Pathetic, inconsequential twit...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 8:46pm.
So much for being an objective and fair minded journalist, right Tingles?
Like Romney, Pawlenty and maybe Huntsman, would waste their time and energy going on Tingles' show anyway... A root canal would be a more enjoyable experience.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
If one of them gets the nod,
Submitted by Dan Diego on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 8:56pm.
If one of them gets the nod, you can bet Chrissy will be begging for an interview.
I guess it would
Submitted by Nortonalec on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 9:06pm.
be like me saying I don't want to sleep with Cindy Crawford. Not gonna happen anyway, so what does it matter how many times I say it?
Matthews adolescent stance.
Submitted by Boil It Down on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 9:12pm.
Let's not let your audience get too informed about the views of Obama's opponents Chris. It might hurt your guy's chances. All Obama, all the time, no room for anyone else.
Yeah...That's quality journalism there Chris, you nitwit. -bidn-
And nobody with a brain,
Submitted by blazermaniac on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 9:24pm.
And nobody with a brain, would want to do an interview with Mr. Tingling Feeling in his leg. Mr. Matthews, do everyone a favor and RETIRE!
"I don’t want an interview with any of these guys"
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 9:30pm.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is “Journalism” circa 2011. Enough said.
- Grump :o)
HERMAN CAIN!!!!!!!
Submitted by GregE on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 9:45pm.
HERMAN CAIN!!!!!!!!!
Chris is just mad that none
Submitted by Bhaal on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 9:46pm.
Chris is just mad that none of the three he listed will "Lean Forward" so he can do what comes natural to him.
Chrissy is applying the Reverse Psychology Method....
Submitted by gruyere cheese on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 11:11pm.
In reality, he does want to have an interview with the GOP candidates, and so, he is taunting them to come on his show by saying he does not want to interview them..really?
The call letters MSNBC....
Submitted by bigdaddy on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 12:22am.
...Must Spew Negative Bullsh(eye)t Constantly...
Of course he doesn't want to interview them...
Submitted by Too Old To Be Cool on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 12:35am.
...he's a-scared of them.
"Interview"?
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 12:39am.
How long has it been since Chris Matthews actually "interviewed a Republican anyway? His "interviews" of Republicans are nothing more than childish (on his part) debates and name-calling. If I was a republican candidate, I would agree to be interviewed by a six year old student before I would go on camera with Matthews. The six year old would ask more intelligent questions and would probably not constantly interrupt me.
How About Amb. Johnson He Has Earned It
Submitted by Avitar on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 4:50am.
Since he worked Chris's side of the street to not interview him would be just rude to one of Obama's people.
If prior to any of the
Submitted by ConservativeRex on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:53am.
If prior to any of the National debates the Republicans agree to have this nitwit be the moderator, they need to have their heads examined. I wouldn't even agree to have him on a panel of moderators. Then again McNumbnuts agreed to Gwen Ifill so anything is possible.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
First of all, any candidate
Submitted by ParalegalGoddess on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 9:24am.
First of all, any candidate that would be invited on that show would have to wear a raincoat to avoid all the spittle that comes out of that frog mouth bag of crap. Then while he says he wouldn't want to interview any of them - you can bet he'll be talking about how none of them will come on his show.
Its all personal attacks at the republicans all the time because if you actually had to talk about the issues and what is going on in the country - you can not defend Obama.
guess what
Submitted by ohio granny on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 9:51am.
they probably don't want to come on your show either. It would only diminish them if they did.
It's his show and he can have
Submitted by wiwf on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 10:41am.
It's his show and he can have whoever he wants on it. Surprised he doesn't want Mitt on his show, as Mitt's the only one that isn't off the deep end and isn't embracing tea partyism completely.
Matthews the fraud
Submitted by jessieH on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 10:51am.
And he calls himself a newsman. How pathetic!
Oh..I'm pretty sure those
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 12:15pm.
Oh..I'm pretty sure those guys don't want to waste their time with you either, Christine...
You sure cut that video
Submitted by FAR52 on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 2:53pm.
You sure cut that video awfully quick. Did he later clarify? Because I'm certain that Matthews would want to interview these top republican candidates.