Does Chris Matthews know something about what Bill Clinton's been up to, so to speak?Not once, not twice, but no fewer than 12 times in under two minutes on Friday's Hardball, Matthews raised the question of whether the former president would "behave himself," not cause "distractions" with his "private life," etc. Chris' guest was Hillary confidant and campaign aide Ann Lewis, who is also sister to Rep. Barney Frank.
View video here.
Here's how it went:
Matthews: "Is Bill Clinton going to be a problem in this campaign? Is he going to behave himself?
Lewis pretended not to know what Matthews was referring to, answering instead about how Clinton had been around the campaign and traveling around the world to save lives.
Chris continued to pound the point, getting less subtle. He described Bill as a "multi-tasker," meaning he could perform his campaign duties but still have time for extracurricular activities. Again Matthews demanded to know: "Is he going to behave himself? Is he going to behave himself, and not cause publicity that's going to get her embarrassed?"
Again, Lewis answered a question different from the one Matthews was asking. She suggested Chris speak with Schumer and Rahm Emanuel as to the number of campaign appearances Bill had made.
Matthews, yet again: "He's going to behave himself, right? No bad publicity?"
After alluding to a New York Times story speculating about Bill's private life, Matthews yet again asked the question: "so he's going to behave himself? He's going to behave himself so Hillary can be the first woman president?"
And then: "I think it would be great for the country if we were not distracted by what you call 'private life'. And I think the way not to get distracted is to have nothing there to distract us."
Proving that time doesn't fly when you're not having fun, Lewis complained that they had spent three minutes on the subject. It had only been 1 minute, 15 seconds.
In closing, Chris went into virtual Hillary campaign-consultant mode, using Lewis as a vehicle to get his message back to Bill: "I want to have some assurances from people that I trust and like to spread the word that he better watch it. I am watching it."
Got it, Bill? Behave!
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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Ha. Chris Matthews got scolded
February 3, 2007 - 08:28 ET by SportPoliticsHa. Chris Matthews got scolded for wasting 3 minutes by his guest.
And by the way, Chris, when y
February 3, 2007 - 08:54 ET by Mica the MagnificentAnd by the way, Chris, when you interview my brother, Barney Frank, give him time to get his thought out.. You keep interrupting him! Stop telling him to 'spit it out!' It has a different meaning in his world.
When Hillary wins in '08, my trampoline gets installed in '09. - Bill
Clinton
February 3, 2007 - 09:17 ET by iveseenitallThe Clintons---Here we go again! You'd think the country would be sick of this.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Mark, Chris need not worry about Bill. Hillary is enough.
February 3, 2007 - 10:14 ET by acaiguanaMark, Chris need not worry about Bill. Hillary is enough.
A more appropriate set of wasting 2 minutes would be on the order of:
"Is Hillary going to stay on script? Is she going to go off reservation like she did at the Winter Meeting? Does she have any brains at all? Is there any thought process going on up there? How in the world can people believe she is the smartest woman in the world when she keeps going off script?"
Chuckle.
ACA
...
Hillary Clinton says: "I want to take those profits."
I wonder if Ann Lewis IS Barn
February 3, 2007 - 11:21 ET by kathleenirishI wonder if Ann Lewis IS Barney Frank. Not too much of a stretch, if you think about it.
Both are obnoxious, boorish elites. God, spare us!
"He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, and he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere" -Ali ibn-Abi-Talib, 4th Islamic Caliph
PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! no mo
February 3, 2007 - 11:37 ET by buddycPLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! no more ann lewis. can't hillary do better than that? i will have a breakdown if i have to put up with her for 4-8 years? where do they find these people?
Stupid question
February 3, 2007 - 15:47 ET by nkviking75Asking if Bill can behave himself is like asking if the sun is going to rise in the west tomorrow. It ain't gonna happen. The real question to be asked is if Bill can behave himself until 2017, which is when Hillary's two terms (GAG!) would end. If Americans had any sense, they wouldn't put up with 10 more seconds of the Clintons, let alone 10 more years.
"Asking if Bill can beha
February 3, 2007 - 17:10 ET by HumanEvents"Asking if Bill can behave himself is like asking if the sun is going to rise in the west tomorrow. It ain't gonna happen."
That's for sure. I was thinking that as I read the exchange. Chris shouldn't say "if" he doesn't behave will it hurt Hillary's chances, but "when" he doesn't behave....
But the Dragon Lady is a reprobate too. Her supporters should be every bit as concerned about her messing things up for herself as they are about her "husband."
Chrisary
February 3, 2007 - 17:04 ET by Jerry MackYea he will be watching. Soon as Bill or Hillary makes a slip-up he and the Msm will be there to protect Hillary and Bill. No change!
Matthews
February 3, 2007 - 17:35 ET by Jerry MackI had to add this or go beserk. Anyone that would take his " I'll be watching" statement seriously is dumber than a log!
What an embarassment. Chris
February 4, 2007 - 22:47 ET by dahliatraversWhat an embarrassment. Chris, it wasn't a factor in the 1996 election. Why should it be in 08? You should be much more concerned about Hillary's unfavorable (44%).