Chris Matthews: Weiner Press Conference 'Sort of Like the Hanging of Saddam Hussein'
Chris Matthews came up with a bizarre analogy on Thursday, suggesting that Anthony Weiner's resignation press conference was "sort of like the hanging of Saddam Hussein." While offering criticism of Weiner, the Hardball anchor also praised the event: "At his best, he had dignity today. He had a measure of class, which has been missing in all of this."
Matthews made the weird comparison to the execution of a dictator while talking to Ben Smith of Politico. The host complained of hecklers at the press conference, opining, "Ben, it reminded me of the Saddam Hussein hanging today. Even they couldn't do that right. The grossness of affair led to the grossness of the finale."
[See video below. MP3 audio here.]
Showing sympathy for Weiner, Matthews marveled, "He kept talking. He did his job, in the end. I think Weiner did very well today."
The liberal journalist hopefully added, "...Maybe for his good and the good of his wife and his family, his parents who must be suffering through this, he'll be back to being a human being after all this."
Matthews did have some tough words for Weiner, chiding, "You don't lie your way through [a scandal]. You don't say I want to call a lawyer. I'm going to call a doctor. I'm waiting for my wife to get home. You get it over with."
A partial transcript of the June 16 exchange can be found below:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: You know, let me go to Ben Smith, who has been doing great reporting on this very sleazy story. But, you've been great. Let me ask you, Ben, it reminded me of the Saddam Hussein hanging today. Even they couldn't do that right. The grossness of affair led to the grossness of the finale. Who were those clowns in the audience making a disgusting situation even more disgusting? Was that a Howard Stern guy? Who was yelling? What was that line, something about seven inches?
5:11
MATTHEWS: Here's more Weiner, by the way, a little more, those who missed the event today. It was, as I said, sort of like the hanging of Saddam Hussein. Gross, even in its conclusion. It was interrupted by hecklers calling out really obscene stuff. I'm sure you can hear it. Let's listen.
ANTHONY WEINER: I want to thank my colleagues in the House of Representatives. Democrats and Republicans alike. They come from different places around the country but, fundamentally, we all agree. They're all patriots and I will miss them all.
MAN: Are you more than seven inches?
WEINER: Thank you. I also want to express my gratitude to members of my staff. They're young people not paid very much. They are people that work very hard and very long hours. Ultimately, those people define the notion of service.
MATTHEWS: Well, I guess, Ben that-, you were there. I want to close on this. That certainly is an example of keeping on message, despite what we all heard on television. The gross comment by that Howard Stern guy. He kept talking. He did his job, in the end. I think Weiner did very well today. I'm going to leave it at that. I think Weiner did a very good job of- At his best, he had dignity today. He had a measure of class, which has been missing in all of this. And maybe for his good and the good of his wife and his family, his parents who must be suffering through this., he'll be back to being a human being after all this.
...
MATTHEWS: This is not how you deal with a problem. You don't lie your way through it. You don't say I want to call a lawyer. I'm going to call a doctor. I'm waiting for my wife to get home. You get it over with.
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Comments
Was MSNBC sad about Saddam's
Submitted by JeffC... on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:29pm.
Was MSNBC sad about Saddam's execution too?
YES!
Submitted by OldJarhead77 on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:40pm.
They equated it to Bush pulling the handle to drop him to his death.............
He got caught cheating online
Submitted by felizagain on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:30pm.
What? Keeping on message? Saddam? He's a U.S. Congressman who was caught sexting to strangers and porn actresses and teenage girls for over a year from the Congress halls, in his birthday suit, towels, and undies.....while we find out he has a pregnant wife.....and Bill Clinton married the two of them.....and she's off w/Hillary working in silent bravery amidst the press. OK. No, he's not a classy guy, he's not on message, he's not Saddam Hussein facing death, he's just a husband caught fooling around online, and he's a Congressman acting like a moronic teenager, and putting his party in jeopardy. He got caught. That's all. He's a very foolish man. That's all. He's not a decent guy. He's a jerk. He is not deserving of sympathy. He's deserving of a 2nd chance, yes. But, sympathy, no way. Praise, no way.
Looks like LIL Chrissy wants some of Lil Tony Weiner too
Submitted by OldJarhead77 on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:41pm.
again like kelly hes sucking up to him big time!!!!
→ So Weiner was hanging?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:57pm.
That's not what I heard. I heard his staff was struggling hard for him.
Just to correct Prissy's grammar, Cool.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 7:45pm.
Hussein was HANGED; Weiner was HUNG.
And I thought Prissy was sooooo smart!
When Prissy Chrissy said hung...
Submitted by OldJarhead77 on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 8:16pm.
He was either dreaming of Lil Tony or his dreamdate Barrack.....
Or was he just
Submitted by OldJarhead77 on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 8:16pm.
wishing... and hoping.... and dreaming...... praying.........
LOL
My thoughts:
Submitted by djwolf12 on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 7:51pm.
I think that a congressional ethics probe would expose sexting videos of him chaffing his schmekle.
~Classic
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 8:35pm.
At his best, he had dignity today.
Dem definition of dignity: Managing not to cry while being publicly taunted about the multitude of pervy naked pictures you took of yourself and sent to women you've never met.
Atleast Jim McGreevey and Client No. 9
Submitted by djwolf12 on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 8:51pm.
had their wives present during their pressers. Same as Vitter & Sanford.
I knew it was over, when
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 9:35pm.
Washerface and Pelousy abandon him. Those 2 already hang with the lowest form of life already,
It wasn't Saddam
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 9:50pm.
that we saw hanging...
What a shocker....
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 06/17/2011 - 1:44am.
"Chris Matthews came up with a bizarre analogy on Thursday..."
Doesn't Chris Matthews hold some kind of patent on bizarre political analogies and comments?
Sort of Like
Submitted by Injest on Fri, 06/17/2011 - 4:34am.
"Chris Matthews: Weiner Press Conference 'Sort of Like the Hanging of Saddam Hussein'"
Chris Matthews: Weiner Press Conference 'Sort of Like' the opening of Disney world.
Chris Matthews: Weiner Press Conference 'Sort of' Like the moon landing, the real one not the studio one!
Chris Matthews: Weiner Press Conference 'Sort of Like' Reagan after the Challenger Disaster.
Chris Matthews: Weiner Press Conference 'Sort of Like' the new Camaro.
Chris Matthews: Weiner Press Conference 'Sort of Like' the Hindenburg disaster.
Chris "Oddball" Matthews
Submitted by Buck Ofama on Fri, 06/17/2011 - 10:24am.
Does anyone other than me see a strong resemblence between Oddball and Hitler? Look at that hair-do and goofy looking face. All that's missing is a tiny cookie duster under the nose.