Hillary Opponents Beware: Oppo Research Underway

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Having hit Chris Matthews hard here in recent weeks, let's give him credit for flashing some real reporter's instincts in going after Hillary aide Howard Wolfson on this afternoon's Hardball on the issue of whether the campaign is conducting opposition research on its Dem rivals.

And while Wolfson wouldn't flatly admit it, by the end of the interview there was little doubt that Hillary's campaign is actively digging for dirt on its Dem opponents.

View video here.

Matthews: "Let me ask you about opposition research. Is that part of your campaign: checking out other candidates's possible flaws in their resumes? Are you guys going to engage in that kind of politics to win the nomination?"

When Wolfson gave an evasive answer to the effect he and Hillary believe she can win by focusing on her record, Matthews persisted:

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"Is anyone in the campaign tasked with opposition research? Right now, right now as we speak, has anyone been given the job of digging up information about the other Democratic candidates? Do you have people on your team who are looking at the other candidates for their records, for their past practices, possible weaknesses in their resume? Are you doing that kind of work in your campaign or not? - it's a simple question."

Wolfson again dodged the question, saying they're "not going to get Swift-Boated," they would respond aggressively to any attacks by other candidates, and that they would have the means to do that.

Matthews: "So you have begun the effort to of digging up information."

Wolfson: "I didn't say that."

Matthews: "I'm asking you: have you or have you not?"

Wolfson ultimately chose to stone-wall: "I'm not going to get into the campaign tactics."

Matthews was relentless: "You won't answer the question as to whether you have an opposition research capability at this point. You won't answer the question."

Wolfson: "I'm telling you the kind of campaign we're going to run."

One parting shot from Chris: "OK, but you haven't answered that question."

By the way, that's a very wry smile on Chris' face: at the end of the interview he collapsed in laughter at Wolfson's intransigence.

Early Christmas Gift Idea for Chris: The Blue Book of Grammar. At the end of the segment, Chris invited viewers to "join Keith Olbermann and me" for a preview of the State of the Union. Chris then "corrected" himself, saying he knows it should be "Keith Olbermann and I." You had it right the first time, Chris.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.


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Too bad he doesn't operate th

Too bad he doesn't operate this way all the time.  It's only when he's on the inside, i.e. when it's Dem vs. Dem,  that he acts a little bit like a journalist rather than merely a Democrat spokesman.   He'll get all the Dem-attacks out of the way until the General Election, then he'll be back to his usual, biased, DNC mouthpiece self.

He has a dog in the hunt

I think Chris Matthews has a dog in this hunt, he's rooting for Obama. He knows the Hillary attack machine will come up with something to tear him down before he gets too much headway.

I actually enjoy watching Matthews.  He's partisan, yes, but he loves politics. 

Campaign tactics are red meat

Campaign tactics are red meat for Democrat ex-insider Chris. I'm sure he's lickin' his chops (and spraying those close by)...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Thanks once again Mark, 2007

Thanks once again Mark, 2007 IS turning out to be exciting, and the demolibs are starting eat their young, and the msm (Lsm) are co-conspirators.

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad

Wrong analysis, imho. Matthe

Wrong analysis, imho. Matthews is digging to see about the Obama muslim tactic. He's still shilling for the liberals, just doing it for their current savior.

Matthews

NEVER,NEVER trust Chris Matthews!

NEVE,NEVER trust a liberal

Kudos on catching the gramm

Kudos on catching the grammatical error. We live in what has become the "between you and I" era. I once read an article about Lynne Cheney giving a talk, and saying (paraphrasing) it's a great honor for Dick and me. A hostile member of the audience mocked her, saying she's not even literate. LOL

I always told my kids....remove the word that's not the pronoun, and say the sentence. Matthews would have had to say "join I for a preview"....it's an easy way to figure out which is correct.

And don't get me started on my other grammatical pet peeves, like off-ten and heighth. LOL

GMTA - I had originally inc

GMTA - I had originally included the same tip, then took it out, not wanting to sound pedantic - not that you have.

Mark, what's GMTA? I'm no

delete double post

Mark, what's GMTA? I'm no

Mark, what's GMTA? I'm not familiar with that one. And as for pedantic....no offense taken; I know I'm  picky about things like that ;-)

mb,Being acronym semi-illiter

mb,

Being acronym semi-illiterate, I found that www.acronymfinder.com has been a helpful site. Just type in the acronym and usually the solution is right there. By the way - "Great Minds Think Alike"...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

TGTBT! Thanks Chris...it is s

TGTBT!

Thanks Chris...it is saved forever!

Btw...I dion't even know if that is there...gonna check after I post this....LOL!

"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under."  Ronald Reagan

bt,Too Good To e True? :) The

bt,

Too Good To Be True? :) The "semi" part of me figured that out - errrrr - I think...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Chris...Yep! I took a chance

Chris...

Yep! I took a chance and did what I said I would, after I posted this to you ZAP it came up instantly! I love the site!

Thanks so much...what a prize!

"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under."  Ronald Reagan

Thanks for the answer, and

Thanks for the answer, and the link.

You're welcome. :)The dogs ba

You're welcome. :)

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Chris...I went to the link an

Chris...

I went to the link and just for fun I typed in STUPID, this is what I got back...Smart Talented Unique Person in Demand

I will no longer be calling liberals stupid.

 I saw the interview, I wasn

 I saw the interview, I wasn't surprised, Chris is in the bag for Obama...he has detested the Clintoon's forever if anyone remembers his disdain during the impeachment and all...he was rather obvious...

Too bad he wasn't spewing and turning red like he does with others he doesn't like, say Michelle Malkin or Zell Miller to get an answer out of the very filthy leftist Wolfson.

*edit*

I should of said Matthews disdain for the Clinton's, especially the President, the male one...errr...the one named Hillary

"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under."  Ronald Reagan

bt, What do you think, did th

bt, What do you think, did the Clintons let Matthews down, did he resent them from the git-go  - the way they came in and took over ol' Washington boy Matthews' Democratic Party, or does he just dislike they try to create the illusion that they aren't Liberals - when it suits them? I only started watching Matthews during the impeachment and can't bear to watch him at all anymore, so I don't have anything in which to compare his hostility.

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Good question Chris,But I hav

Good question Chris,

But I have to go with my gut and the first answer I was going to give you...I truly believe he had disdain for what Pres. Clinton did to women and the office.

Since then and the way he is...who knows, he is not even close to being fair and balanced, Matthews is simply someone I cannot stand, it is hard to figure the guy out....he is so biased it is unbelievable. On the other hand, it may be who was running the network then and his rating appeals, although I think not, it may be he was dissed by the Clinton's and they would not come on or be interviewed by him for his show...I do not know.

I detest the leftist.

"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under."  Ronald Reagan

Matthews, being one of the ul

Matthews, being one of the ultimate operators of "politics as sport", strikes me as a guy who wouldn't like the way the Clintons play the game. It would be nice to think he has some principles, though, and truly doesn't like Clinton for his tomcat personal morals (not to insult tomcats).

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

The plan

Once Matthews gets him to admit it, the plan is to go on about how it will hurt the party, and talk it down, and push it away, so the democrats don't blow eachother up. Prepare for the wailing and moaning at the party wall.

Answer for Chris Matthews

Answer for Chris Matthews:

No, we don't do opposition research. We don't do it, unlike everyone else. This is shining bright Hillary, and by golly, we're the one campaign in all of American history who doesn't do that. Thanks Chris, you're a great investigative reporter.

Wow, it doesn't take much for the meat eaters to be satisfied. Yeah, great, great investigating Chrissy, glad you had that inside information on how many and what they're digging. Gosh, you actually asked the question. I'm so impressed. So much research put into that one. You even said you know they're doing it because everyone does, didn't you.

Someone beat me over the head with a stick.

one for all and all for one,

one for all and all for one, chubby hubby I will get you your war room back if it wreaks me trying. ??

Hillary

Negative campaigns work up to a point. I believe Hillary's nasty nature is going to be unearthed sooner or later. I also believe she is a sneak and she'd better be careful about what she does. Like any criminal, she will make a mistake and get caught. She's gotten away with everything so far , but it can't last forever.

NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal

AWOL

I once thought Chris was a reasonable adult about -4-5 years ago. I sent his a two page letter outlining the details of Inactive Duty vs. Active Duty in the MIlitary (Texas ANG story)
He did not respond, and kept up broadcasting the lie that Captain Bush was AWOL. This, of course is impossible if a person is not on Title 10 duty. Guardsmen are on Title 32 while on Inactive duty for training.

Fund kicks his a$$, then he p

Fund kicks his a$$, then he puts his foot in his mouth the next day now he's pressing Wolfson and laughing about it.

Maybe he should adjust his medication.