In a week when Democratic senators tried to intimidate executives at Clear Channel Communications based on a false interpretation of Rush Limbaugh’s “phony soldiers” comment, MSNBC host Chris Matthews on Thursday decried what he said were complaints from the Bush White House to MSNBC executives about the content of his show. “They will not silence me!” Matthews declared at a celebration of the 10th anniversary of his "Hardball" show, the (Washington, D.C.) Examiner reported.
Talking about the Democrats’ threats to silence Limbaugh on Tuesday, Matthews put all of the onus on Limbaugh’s speech, not liberals’ attacks on the First Amendement. “Do you think that Rush Limbaugh was right to call people who oppose the war who have served ‘phony soldiers?’” Matthews demanded of a panelist, distorting the facts. “So we’re agreed, so we all disagree with Rush Limbaugh,” he later claimed.
Apparently, Matthews is far less concerned about government interference against a conservative media personality than a liberal like himself.
Here’s more of how the D.C. Examiner reported on Matthews’ remarks at a network party last night, which also included a rant against the Bush administration’s “criminality” and an accusation that if Vice President Cheney had been in charge during the Cuban missile crisis, “We’d all be under a parking lot.”
In front of an audience that included such notables as Alan Greenspan, Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Sen. Ted Kennedy, Matthews began his remarks by declaring that he wanted to "make some news" and he certainly didn't disappoint. After praising the drafters of the First Amendment for allowing him to make a living, he outlined what he said was the fundamental difference between the Bush and Clinton administrations.The Clinton camp, he said, never put pressure on his bosses to silence him.
“Not so this crowd,” he added, explaining that Bush White House officials -- especially those from Vice President Cheney's office -- called MSNBC brass to complain about the content of his show and attempted to influence its editorial content. "They will not silence me!" Matthews declared.
"They've finally been caught in their criminality," Matthews continued, although he did not specify the exact criminal behavior to which he referred. He then drew an obvious Bush-Nixon parallel by saying, “Spiro Agnew was not an American hero."
Matthews left the throng of Washington A-listers with a parting shot at Cheney: “God help us if we had Cheney during the Cuban missile crisis. We’d all be under a parking lot.”
Update/Related Item (Ken Shepherd | 10:15): Matthews's appearance on Comedy Central's "Daily Show" is causing some buzz on the Web. Host Jon Stewart trashed the "Hardball" host's new book, "Life's a Campaign," saying essentially that it's a poor re-write of Machiavelli's "The Prince." It's priceless. Watch it here. See also Greg Mitchell's editorial at E&P and P.J. Gladnick's NewsBusters post.
—Rich Noyes is Research Director at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Yeah; yeah, yeah Chris.
October 5, 2007 - 09:03 ET by BourbeauIf only we could have Jack Kennedy as President for life. As smart as he probably is, he's blinded by his liberal leanings. Some of the comments he makes on his show are egregious assaults on peoples characters, from the President on down, and he does it with reckless abandon. If he's offended by what anyone might say to NBC, then he shouldn't complain about Rush or anyone else pushing back. Why General Electric, and NBC particularly, do not have standards for talk show hosts such as him and Olbermann is beyond me. I think MSNBC, and Chris Matthews particularly, have been a huge embarrassment for GE/NBC; too bad they aren't taking notice.
More from the over-the-top Chris Matthews
October 5, 2007 - 09:13 ET by CT"They will not silence me!" - Chris Matthews adds delusions of grandeur to his delusional view of the world. How not surprising.
Victim???
October 5, 2007 - 09:14 ET by mattmIf you're a victim of the GOP you get a TV show and a million dollar income; if you're a victim of the Dems, you're either out of a job, slandered and libeled, in prison or dead.
What a weiner...sorry, that's not fair to the other weiners out there...
Two words: Fairness
October 5, 2007 - 09:15 ET by sunandsteelTwo words: Fairness Doctrine. Who is trying to silence who Chrissy? You libs scream all the b.s. you want and no one is supposed to say anything, but Heaven forbid a conservative (or anyone else for that matter) disagree with you. Do us all a favor and just shut up.
Texas has a population of nearly 21 million people, all of whom are ashamed to be from the same state as the Dixie Chicks. (IMAO.us)
Isn't it amazing how you
October 5, 2007 - 09:52 ET by motherbeltIsn't it amazing how you see liberals day in and day out, all over the media, complaining that they are being "silenced"?
We should all thank God
October 5, 2007 - 12:09 ET by MikeBWe should all thank God they're being silenced. If they weren't, the din would be so loud we'd all have permanent hearing loss, or the federal government would step in and mandate that we all wear hearing protection 24/7. </sarc> (for those for whom the switch was necessary)
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Poor little Chris. He
October 5, 2007 - 09:48 ET by bassndudePoor little Chris. He droped his ball in the mud and nobody will clean it up for him. What little baby this guy is. If he was attacked as Rush was, we would see real tears.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
I have an idea
October 5, 2007 - 09:50 ET by KC MulvilleMatthews' thesis is that the disciplines you acquire during a campaign can lead to success.
<crickets chirping> Uh-huh </crickets chirping>
That silence that you hear is not the result of GOP dirty tactics. It's the underwhelming intellectual response to Matthews' ideas. Let's look at his current idea, that politics creates skills that succeed in life. If anything, it's the other way around. Matthews cites the idea of Clinton listening to people. Listening is not a campaign skill that works in life ... listening is a life skill that helps win campaigns. The campaign didn't create the skill.
his current idea, that
October 5, 2007 - 10:04 ET by motherbelthis current idea, that politics creates skills that succeed in life.. [ ]... Matthews cites the idea of Clinton listening to people.
Gee, it's too bad that Matthews and his buddies don't have that skill. If they did, they would know that Rush Limbaugh not only never said what they accuse him of, he never even uttered the words "oppose the war."
And apparently their "listening skills" also failed them when Congressman Murtha sadi of our troops that "they killed innocent civilians in cold blood," since they don't seem to understand what he said.
Matthews actually alleged on
October 5, 2007 - 09:53 ET by TEMatthews actually alleged on his unwatched show "Loveball for Leftists" that Paul Wolfowitz cooked up a conspiracy in the bowels of the Pentagon to funnel a dog collar to Lyndie England with instructions for England to place the dog collar around the neck of an Iraqi prisoner.
Poor Chris
October 5, 2007 - 09:56 ET by JayTeeThe Reality of Chris's book sales may be devastating to him...After watching the NYT best Sellers cross before him with names like Ann Coulter and Supreme Court justice Thomas, he will suddenly find himself in the basement, below the Rare air...of "Best Sellers"...
Chris will realize he can't compete.....he isn't a player...he isn't in anyone's league.....Even the Dumbest writer knows not to open a Book Review on a "comedy" show.....or your book becomes a Joke.
Chris can't handle the TRUTH !!!
What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ? David Foote GoE
Matthews is off his meds.
October 5, 2007 - 09:59 ET by Pasco ConservativeMatthews has been strange ever since his bout with malaria. The man is in need of help. Stewart lambasted him.
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any
man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.
-Unknown
free speech to liberals is they say what ever they want but
October 5, 2007 - 10:27 ET by Dee Bunkconservatives have to shut up and take it. Responding to their attacks threatens free speech. They want to make it so we can't attack or respond to their attacks and they call that free speech.
He then drew an obvious
October 5, 2007 - 10:37 ET by SMGalbraithHe then drew an obvious Bush-Nixon parallel by saying, “Spiro Agnew was not an American hero."
My guess - and one always has to engage in such a process when lisening to Matthews make historical analogies - is that this was a swipe at Cheny and not Bush.
Matthews has a bizarre and irrational hatred - there's no other word - for Cheney. Recall during the buildup to the first Gulf War in 1989 when Matthews penned several columns arguing against using force to eject Saddam from Kuwait and warning that the "real danger" in the matter emanated from the hawks in the Pentagon.
At that time, Cheney was SecDef so it was obvious, if not explicitly so, who Matthews was concerned about.
Just substitute the word "neocon" for "hawks" and Matthews' views on radical Islamists is the same today as it was almost two decades ago.
He's a very silly man with a very dangerous view of the world.
Let him talk.
SMG
This from the man who has
October 5, 2007 - 10:52 ET by drillanwrThis from the man who has spent more than a week spewing out a lie in order to silence someone else.
Somebody call Rosie's doctor. Chrissy has slipped into acute paranoia ... He is actually believing his own lies.
I think it's laughable that
October 5, 2007 - 10:57 ET by SmartypantsI think it's laughable that anyone from Cheney's office would take the time to try to dictate the content of this guy's program. How many people watch that show? Of those, how many already have their minds made up about Bush/Cheney anyway? So what is the point? Without seeing evidence to the contrary, I'm going to assume this whole Cheney episode is a figment of Matthew's imagination precipitated by an overinflated opinion of Matthews' own importance.
Chrissy Mat is an unfunny clown
October 5, 2007 - 11:20 ET by general companyI'm going to assume this whole Cheney episode is a figment of Matthew's imagination precipitated by an overinflated opinion of Matthews' own importance.
After hearing him cry wolf so many times, all he has left are figments of imagination
Am I thinking of something
October 5, 2007 - 11:59 ET by maggieqpublicAm I thinking of something else… or many months ago did Mary Matalin (employed by office of VP) make a call to complain about the content of Matthew’s show? I believe the subject had to do with the nightly harangue… Scooter Libby is guilty, Carl Rove is guilty, Dick Cheney is guilty…
Well, it was revealed
October 5, 2007 - 12:28 ET by SMGalbraithWell, it was revealed during the Plame investigation that Scooter Libby called Tim Russert to complain about what he allegedly believed were anti-semitic "hints" from Matthews because Matthews was always rantings about how the neocons were the cause of every mishap in the world since the beginning of time.
I think that's a very unfair charge, if Libby did indeed make it. There is no evidence that Matthews has any anti-semitism in him.
Granted, he sounds like an idiot - the most obvious characteristic of any anti-semite - with his frothing statements about the neo-cons. But not all people who seem idiotic are actual begots.
SMG
OK, thanks.... for some
October 5, 2007 - 12:46 ET by maggieqpublicOK, thanks.... for some reason Mary Matalin was coming to mind. At any rate, is this incident or alleged incident at the center of Matthew's charge that the Vice President's office was attempting to silence him?
at the center of Matthew's
October 5, 2007 - 13:24 ET by SMGalbraithat the center of Matthew's charge that the Vice President's office was attempting to silence him?
Yes, I believe so. From what I've read, it was just the one call from Libby complaining about Matthews.
But Matthews has been on Cheney's case for a long, long time.
SMG
Yeeek, that’s kind of
October 5, 2007 - 22:13 ET by maggieqpublicYeeek, that’s kind of what I was thinking. Imagine the guy with a 5-day-a-week show complaining about the fellow under federal indictment…. So the guy under indictment says something like…. “Would you mind not announcing my guilt 5 nights per week before I have a trial”? The valiant hero, Matthews, screams, “I will not be silenced.”
What a man.
So...mathews doen't want calls from people he's assasinating ?
October 6, 2007 - 10:49 ET by JayTeeSorry Chris,
Bad manners sometimes results in Reprimands...if you assault Scotter Libby, He just might give you a call from the "Vice Presidents" office...especially if your lies can COST HIM $250,000 and his Job....
What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ? David Foote GoE
They all complain
October 5, 2007 - 14:16 ET by KC MulvilleI have a friend who used to work in TV. Every politician complains, especially about their own coverage and image. Constantly. My friend said that she used to get letters and phone calls all the time, from Republicans and Democrats alike. And my attitude is, why not? That isn't censorship, like the story of the Clintons suppressing coverage unless a magazine spiked an unflattering story. I don't see anything wrong with complaining about how the media is covering things.
After all, isn't that a core belief of this website?
Censorship is another issue. But if it was just complaining about the coverage, I don't see anything wrong with it.
Liberals are con artists.
October 5, 2007 - 11:28 ET by Chris NormanLooks like Matthews is operating off the playbook for the Democrats - phony tit for legitimate tat. Deflect legitimate accusations, with trumped up charges of your own. O'Reilly rightly acuses MediaMatters of trying to silence him, Matthews pretends the GOP is trying to silence him. Liberals are con artists.
"Spiro Agnew is not an
October 5, 2007 - 12:19 ET by MikeB"Spiro Agnew is not an American hero."
Chrissy, you ingnorant slut. Spiro Agnew received the Bronze Star during his military service in Germany and France in WWII.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
I'm sure we're just taking
October 5, 2007 - 14:06 ET by drillanwrI'm sure we're just taking him out of context ... ;^ )
Chris M.
October 5, 2007 - 14:37 ET by Jerry MackI will never believe that an attempt was made to silence him until he presents the proof. Sounds to me that he is trying to get attention for himself by fabrication. There is a big difference in someone calling him with an objection to one of his statements and "Silenceing him".
I heard and posted about
October 5, 2007 - 14:51 ET by bigtimerI heard and posted about Matthews saying that we all disagree with Limbaugh....
The phony baloney POS insisted on putting words in the mouth of the gal, I think her name was Heidi Harris or something like that....against Ed POS Shultz....
Typical Matthews.
Matthews and Shuster have been lying forever on his pathetic leftist show about VP Cheney and attempted, no praying with all their leftist might that he would be going to prison or have to resign ect....same as Rove....the blustering breathlessness he had for weeks thinking this was going to happen over the Plame/Wilson BS was comical.
I thought he may end up in the hospital his blood pressure seemed to rise to such a crescendo you would of thought it was a first time with a gal...he is a pathetic critter really..the sputterin' spittin' leftist fool.
Hey BT, your husband stick
October 5, 2007 - 14:55 ET by bassndudeHey BT, your husband stick a burr under your blanket today? You sure are on a roll there girl. :-)
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
LOL... Howdy bass...my
October 5, 2007 - 15:01 ET by bigtimerLOL...
Howdy bass...my hero...
Just feelin' good today, don't have much time here that I know of this afternoon, trying to get a lot in here in a little bit of time.
Be glad when things are back to normal around here for me friend.
We are about to get snow anyday...dang that AGW!
Drive on girl, your going
October 5, 2007 - 15:02 ET by bassndudeDrive on girl, your going good today.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
What in the heck are these
October 5, 2007 - 17:06 ET by msh1973What in the heck are these left wingers going to complain about when President Bush is not in office any longer? Just curious.
Well, msh, if Hillary and
October 5, 2007 - 17:17 ET by JerWell, msh, if Hillary and Bill are back in the White House, their critics will find plenty to complain about, and their supporters will complain about Clinton Derangement Syndrome.
Jer
Matthews loses it
October 5, 2007 - 17:11 ET by karris56I always thought Matthews was fair even tho his lefty side comes out now and then.I know he hates this war and it has showed more and more. But now I think he just lost it.First his 10 year anniversary which no one cares about but him.Second his book looks to be a loser.Third his show is the lowest on cable.I think he looks at Olbermanns show which is tops on that network which says nothing of course but to him a slap in the face .Why? Because he is Mr. politics.Olby is a "sportscaster" yet is #1.I have to believe he feels he knows 100 times more than Olby. And it's obvious to anyone and Chris the only reason he is tops on Msnbc is because he makes far left claims and outrageous accusations.My guess is Chris is feeling heat and may lose his show.Since politics is his life he has gone over to the dark side just to get ratings.
Good points, karris
October 5, 2007 - 17:38 ET by RJI'm not sure I agree with the "fair" label being applied to Matthews, but I agree that he's been evolving. And hearing footsteps may be the reason he's gotten more outrageous.
I said in another thread yesterday that, at this point, Matthews doesn't care if people know he's lying, and that it's all about ratings. Your post fits that opinion, too.
Chris Matthews is by far the
October 5, 2007 - 17:31 ET by fitzfongChris Matthews is by far the biggest windbag on television. I haven't heard so much unsubstantiated bluster from an individual since I watched professional wrestling as a kid. Dude, get over yourself...like 3 people watch your show. The canary in a coal mine routine is tired, you're simply not that important.
If a tree falls in the forest...
October 6, 2007 - 10:44 ET by ThalpyMatthews' own political positions and demeanor have made him null and void.
Chrissy Video
October 5, 2007 - 18:17 ET by BlondeMust see TV!
That video was absolutely hillarious. Haw Haw Haw Haw (sound of Chrissy cackling like Hillary in a most uncomfortable situation).
Stewart skewered him royally....it was perfect to see the shoe on the other foot and Chris the victim of a sandbag job. Best six minutes I've spent so far today.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Some words of advice
October 5, 2007 - 23:22 ET by tenthreeleaderLittle Chrissy ... put down the bong pipe and back away slowly.
}}---> Bong pipe
October 6, 2007 - 00:51 ET by Cool ArrowThat's no bong pipe you idiot, it's a Bill Clinton plaster cast
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~