Interviewing Barack Obama's senior strategist, David Axelrod, Chris Matthews made a pitch to get Obama on his Hardball College Tour. On last night's edition of the show, Matthews made this syrupy plea to Axelrod: "I think it's a great, it's a great platform for a guy who, clearly, according to my kids, and maybe me too, the kid in me, appeals to the youth of America and the young at heart."
The following is the full exchange as it occurred on the February 19th edition of MSNBC’s Hardball.
Matthews: "Let me ask you, David Axelrod, let me just try to make a proposition to you. On behalf of our producers here and everybody that works at MSNBC, we would like a lot to have your candidate, Barack Obama, to sit, the junior senator from Illinois be our guest, our special guest on a town meeting with college students at some college, perhaps, of his choice. Certainly a good college. And we'd love him in the round with the students for an hour, like we did with John McCain and we've done with other candidates, including Hillary Clinton in the past, and, and Rudy Giuliani and the others. We've tried to get everybody. We would really like to get Barack Obama. You don't have to answer today."
David Axelrod, senior strategist for Barack Obama: "Well, I appreciate the offer. And I, because we, we're spending a lot of time on college campuses, a lot of the energy is coming from young people here. So it's a great invitation and I am going to, I'm gonna get right out of there and pass it along."
Matthews: "Well, we will pay for it, and it is very expensive, but it will be a well-lighted room and he get a chance to answer questions for a full hour in front of students, and they'll get involved with him. And I think it's a great, it's a great platform for a guy who, clearly, according to my kids, and maybe me too, the kid in me, appeals to the youth of America and the young at heart. There's no doubt what you say is true. He does draw on something deeply good about this country. And we will have to see whether he can really deliver. Anyway, thank you very much, David Axelrod."
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Yes, the "kid" in
February 20, 2007 - 16:20 ET by DyneYes, the "kid" in Chris Matthews: Whiny, spoiled rotten, brain-damaged, mud slinging, name-calling, tantrum throwing delinquent who won't stop yelling until he gets what he wants.
Appeals to the kid in him, so
February 20, 2007 - 17:07 ET by BDAppeals to the kid in him, sorta like Santa Claus, right?
He appeals to the demented lu
February 20, 2007 - 17:18 ET by mattmHe appeals to the demented lunatic in me....
I recall a brilliant observat
February 20, 2007 - 17:36 ET by BDI recall a brilliant observation from PJ O'Rourke about ten years ago that goes something like this..... (Apologies to PJ as he can say it far better than my poor memory.)
Liberals love Santa Claus because he gives them things for free and with no repercussions. He says he will only provide presents to those who are nice, but even the naughty children seem to get gifts just the same regardless of the level of their evil.
Likewise, Conservatives love/fear the almighty who visits vexations on the evil, and only rewards an occasional good doer....
The only difference is that.... THere is NO Santa Claus....
BD...No Santa?When the hell d
February 20, 2007 - 17:44 ET by Clear thinkerBD...
No Santa?
When the hell did this happen?
oooops. Uh, that is uuuuh..
February 20, 2007 - 18:12 ET by BDoooops. Uh, that is uuuuh....classified.....
Don't forget that he drools a
February 20, 2007 - 20:53 ET by MikeBDon't forget that he drools all over himself.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Obama draws on something real
February 20, 2007 - 16:21 ET by HumanEventsObama draws on something really good about this country, eh Chris? But you can't pinpoint it huh? Just an appealing , mushy feeling you get. Let me help you: You think he draws on something really good about this country because he is a liberal and a Democrat.
And the kid in you? But I thought boys liked and are fascinated with cowboys. But we all know that you hate them and their "f****ing ranches".
Chris
February 20, 2007 - 16:23 ET by Jerry MackPlease come on my show and maybe I can move from #32 up to #31.
Quick, get Chris a Trojan! I
February 20, 2007 - 16:26 ET by americaneagleQuick, get Chris a Trojan! I think he's about to have an Obamagasm!
Chris says: "according t
February 20, 2007 - 16:28 ET by JABChris says: "according to my kids".
Those poor kids stand about the same chances as Britney's for a normal life.
"To bad Ignorance isn't painful..."
Because, you know, someone w
February 20, 2007 - 16:30 ET by dahliatraversBecause, you know, someone with kid-like qualities is who you want for the Presidency of the United States.
Assuming the rest of the MSM
February 20, 2007 - 16:42 ET by Chris NormanAssuming the rest of the MSM feels about Obama the way Matthews does, I'd guess immaturity has a lot to do with it. After all, what is Liberalism, except the childish desire that Mommy and Daddy take care of everything?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
The sad thing about today i
February 20, 2007 - 16:44 ET by DyneThe sad thing about today is that a lot of mommies and daddies do nothing to take care of their children and expect everyone else, especially the public school system, to raise them.
That's why Liberals want Big
February 20, 2007 - 16:46 ET by Chris NormanThat's why Liberals want Big Daddy Government to take over - so the real ones don't have to get out of their chairs...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Big daddy government should b
February 20, 2007 - 16:49 ET by Clear thinkerBig daddy government should be treated more like the strange Uncle we all have. Don't call him unless it's absolutely imperative.
and keep a close eye on your
February 20, 2007 - 16:56 ET by Chris Normanand keep a close eye on your kids while he's around...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Keep your kids under lock and
February 20, 2007 - 16:59 ET by Clear thinkerKeep your kids under lock and key if he's around.
Maybe he appeals to the type
February 20, 2007 - 16:50 ET byMaybe he appeals to the type of kid who wants to grow up and be a big fake.
If Obama brings out the kid in Matthews...
February 20, 2007 - 17:04 ET by Pam Meisterwhat does Hillary bring out? The masochist in him? (She does wear the pants and wield the whip, after all...)
appeals to the youth of Ame
February 20, 2007 - 17:12 ET by Jack Bauerappeals to the youth of America
Isn't it kinda pathetic that a 45 year old middle-aged man appeals to the "youth"?
What the hell happened to youthful rebeliousness. Not trusting anyone over thirty.
Good grief, when I was young, dudes over 25 were like from another planet. A dead planet.
These kids need to go to Yoof Camp, and learn to be rebels.
Maybe Obama and the "kid
February 20, 2007 - 17:52 ET by ThisnThatMaybe Obama and the "kids" can do coke for that hour, eh? Now, that's how to really connect with the younger crowd, right Chris?
This is too easy... Chris, th
February 20, 2007 - 18:42 ET by Andrew H.This is too easy... Chris, there's a whole 'lotta' kid in you!
It's the same kid who believes democrats are the salvation of the country... you know, with all their killing, ingnoring parents, taxing, appeasing the enemy, socialism and all.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
"Bringing out the kid&
February 20, 2007 - 19:31 ET by mytwocents"Bringing out the kid" in Chrisy usually requires a diaper.
I'm telling you, people. It
February 20, 2007 - 22:18 ET by Chicago RepublicanI'm telling you, people. Its going to be 1992, times ten, next year. Those of you in 1992 that screamed from the mountain tops to no avail then, brace yourselves. You're going to feel like you are in hell once again. Substance won't mean a damn thing. He's young, he's cool, he looks good, and most importantly, he's "black". The fact that he's a bed-wetting liberal won't make it past page A-13. No, the Useful Idiots will be in the presence of God during the campaign. Meanwhile, we'll be asking about his voting record and will again, be ignored.
CR...You are dead-on accurate
February 20, 2007 - 22:25 ET by Clear thinkerCR...
You are dead-on accurate. A star is born, and nothing will stop the Dems from showing the world how clever they are. Obama will win the primary, period.
Schoolgirl crush
February 20, 2007 - 22:42 ET by nkviking75Chrissy needs to get over his schoolgirl crush and at least make a meager effort to act like a journalist. At this rate, the Federal Election Commission may have to look at Matthews and MSNBC for providing the in-kind contribution of free commercials.
Viking,He's already passed cr
February 20, 2007 - 23:01 ET by NeoConfirmedViking,
He's already passed crush and heading towards a Monica.
for providing the in-kind con
February 20, 2007 - 23:14 ET by dahliatraversfor providing the in-kind contribution
Hi, Chris. It's Mitt's campaign manager. August 2008 is wide open for us right now. Let us know what night and which campus. Thanks, bud.
I did not see this part of th
February 20, 2007 - 22:57 ET by saw the lightI did not see this part of the show, but I was watching later. Chrissy was discussing the Libby trial with Michael Isikoff and a couple of others. Matthews talked about the story of Iraq trying to get uranium from Nigeria.
Maybe Wilson went to the wrong country!
And I have admitted that I watched Hardball. I'm so ashamed!
"People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news." - A.J. Liebling
"Chris Matthews: Barack
February 20, 2007 - 23:30 ET by bbilly"Chris Matthews: Barack Obama Appeals to the Kid in Me"
Is he refering to his lunch?
latent feeling's??
February 21, 2007 - 09:47 ET by foolnomoredoes make one wonder why 'crapthews" would butt'up to this young man so much,shades ,??
Matthews (on Obama): "
February 21, 2007 - 11:43 ET by GalvanicMatthews (on Obama): "He does draw on something deeply good about this country. . . ."
What specifically? That if you're at least 35 years ago and born in this country, you can be elected President?
Once again, Matthews gushes with glee.