Media Matters Edits Out Matthews' 'Fascist' Slur of Rudy

In a flagrant instance of intellectual dishonesty, Media Matters, which might be considered the liberal alter ego of NB, edited Chris Matthews' "fascist" slur of Rudy Giuliani out of its account of yesterday's Hardball.

As I noted here, on yesterday's show, Matthews, discussing Rudy with former congresswoman Susan Molinari, had this exchange:

Matthews: "He got the pee smell out of the phone booths in New York. Even phone booths that aren't booths, they're just a place to make a phone call, had that smell about them before. I think I've been to New York enough times -- he did clean up that atmosphere in New York."

Molinari: "You bet he did. He stopped making excuses for people. . . "

Matthews, interrupting: "Was he a little bit of a fascist?"

View video here.

But in Media Matters' account of the exchange, the "fascist" comment conveniently disappears. Here's how Media Matters plays it:

MATTHEWS: Well, he got the pee smell out of the phone booths up there. Even phone booths in New York that aren't booths, they're just a place to make a phone call, had that smell around them before -- I think -- having gone to New York enough times, he did clean up that atmosphere in New York.

[...]

MATTHEWS: Well, I'll tell you, three things going for him. He acts and talks like a president.

Note that telling "[...]"

The Media Matters item also contains a video clip of the exchange. It, too, manages to omit the f-word. How can Media Matters possibly defend its attempted deception?

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net