January 14, 2008
Time for Chris Matthews to Apologize (Bill Press)
In this day of hypercritical coverage of candidates, members of the media should also be held accountable.
Today, candidates are held responsible for every word they utter, while talking heads get a free pass.
That’s not fair. Commentators should be held accountable, too — starting with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. His comments about Hillary Clinton were way over the line.
On “Morning Joe” with Joe Scarborough, Matthews dismissed Clinton as nothing but a cheated wife whom voters feel sorry for.
“Let’s not forget, and I’ll be brutal,” Matthews said. “The reason she’s a U.S. senator, the reason she’s a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner, is that her husband messed around.”
Whether you’re a Clinton supporter or not, that statement is outrageous. It’s like saying the only reason Barack Obama’s so popular is because he’s half-white.
Sure, her role as former first lady makes her a celebrity. But, on her own, Hillary Clinton was elected and reelected to the U.S. Senate. And even her critics say she’s a hardworking and effective U.S. senator.
If any other candidate said the same thing about Sen. Clinton, the media would demand that he apologize. Chris Matthews should do no less.
Visit Mr. Press's website at www.billpressshow.com.
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Chris Matthews is afflicted with a disease that many others have, in this country. The hate Hillary syndrome, has you calling her names, projecting things on her like murder, and you continually call her names and compare her to the harridans of history.
This syndrome is a combination of latent woman hatred, probably due to your mother, or never getting the girl or any girl. The other element is intimidation. You cannot, no matter how much you protest, deal with a woman who is intelligent, independent, and popular.
We have Igor and Rosie, who have this disease very bad. At this time, there is no cure; I'm sorry to say.
Comment by Chris Calbi — January 14, 2008 @ 9:18 am
I'm no Hillary Clinton fan, but you are absolutely right, Bill. I would argue that she does not have the 35 years experience she claims, but she has just as much, if not more, experience than either Obama or Edwards.
Comment by Laurence Socci — January 14, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Why did Bill Press have to racistly attack Barack Obama in this post? Obama isn't Chris Matthews, and he deserved no mention in this post.
Comment by Jack Pollack — January 14, 2008 @ 10:41 am
I'm not so sure Chris Matthews isn't right although I think he's a raging liberal. Why else would anyone vote for her since she has no experience at anything but proposing bigger and bigger government. What do you call that? It's certainly not experience. You could pay a circus clown to emote her political positions.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — January 14, 2008 @ 10:51 am
It is about time a professional colleague had the guts to say what everyone is thinking. How dare he? Does he have no shame at all? Does he not have a wife, sister, daughter? How does he feel being thought of as resident misogynist at MSNBC? what a disgrace…
Thank you, Bill…now where are the rest of you gentleman in the MSM and women, for that matter?
enough is enough!
Comment by S — January 14, 2008 @ 11:30 am
I’m not so sure Chris Matthews isn’t right although I think he’s a raging liberal. Why else would anyone vote for her since she has no experience at anything but proposing bigger and bigger government.
This is just what I discussed above. Let's assume that, despite the evidence he has given us in his ridiculous posts, Rosie has some kernel of a brain.
His claim that this is all that Hillary Clinton has accomplished. On one hand this is not even worth debating. On the other hand it shows the sickness that people like Rosie has relating to just one intelligent successful woman.
Comment by Chris Calbi — January 14, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
What post are you reading, Jack? Bill Press didn't attack Obama on race in this post.
Comment by Laurence Socci — January 14, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
I'm not one to agree with Bill Press (or Chris Calbi for that matter), but they are both absolutely right. It is undeniable that Hillary Clinton has more federal level experience than either Barack Obama or John Edwards.
Even as a First Lady, she met with and dealt with many of the same world leaders she would have to deal with as President. I'll take the experience of Hillary Clinton over the smooth talk of Obama any day. Mr. Obama has done nothing to prove he has the capabilities to be President. He talks a good talk, but that's about it.
If nothing else, in a Hillary Clinton Presidency, when things go bad she can turn to her husband for advice and counsel.
Comment by John Simmons — January 14, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
Chris: Show everyone I'm wrong. Name one thing she's done that she's successful at, on her own. Just one. I've asked this question over and over and no one has been able to give one example.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — January 14, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
One other point. Chris Matthews isn't running for public office. Shouldn't this entire thought be rephrased to request that the Clintons stop lying about her record. What is her record?
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — January 14, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
Here's one for you RR — She was selected as one of the top lawyers in the country by the National Law Journal twice, in 1988 and 1991 — both before Bill Clinton became President.
Comment by John Simmons — January 14, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
That was in private life. What has she accomplished in government?
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — January 14, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
RR — about as much as any other Presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat.
Comment by John Simmons — January 14, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Chris Matthews' obsession with Hillary confirms to me that he is just another sexually repressed man who is fearful of a strong woman. Over the past year I have been absolutely amazed at Chris Matthews' ingenuity at weaving a Hillary slant into almost every negative piece of political news. It tells me a lot more about him than I care to know.
Henry Quinlan
Comment by Henry Quinlan — January 14, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
That simply isn't true John. There are a few candidates that actually have experience running something and making decisions or creating something out of nothing. I simply would like one person to tell me one thing she has accomplished or Chris Matthews has a good point. The fact that I'm hearing she has as much experience as the other candidates shows me no one can specify what her experience is.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — January 15, 2008 @ 8:03 am
That IS true, RR. What has Obama accomplished? How about Edwards? Neither of them did anymore than Clinton. On the Republican side, you have Romney, who had a role in the Big Dig project in MA, and Huckabee, who was a mediocore Governor at best and McCain who was in the Senate long enough to accomplish a few things, but doesn't have the experience to govern.
The Democrats don't have much, but in the "experience" category, Hillary beats both Barack Obama and Edwards. If you disagree, I challenge you to show that either Obama or Edwards has more federal level experience than Hillary Clinton.
Comment by John Simmons — January 15, 2008 @ 11:00 am
By the way, RR, her "experience" is 8 years in the Senate; more than Obama and Edwards combined. People never do anything "on their own" in Congress. What would you expect her to accomplish?
Comment by John Simmons — January 15, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Mitt Romney started and ran a successful company. Rudy Guiliani ran one of the biggest cities in the world. Huckabee ran a state. They all have executive experience. Mitt Romney was also a governor. He has the most well rounded experience. Rudy also runs his own successful company. Hillary and John Edwards are simply attorneys. The last thing we need in D.C. are more attorneys.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — January 15, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
well Chris Matthews gave his version of an apology yesterday, with out apologizing, and only making excuses…and did anyone notice the eye rolling and sighing at the end of his statement? it's obvious he wasn't sincere
Comment by grace alexis — January 18, 2008 @ 5:00 am
yes Grace, he was forced to apologize because of the public denounciation of his perverted behavior…he showed no real personal remorse or contrition…but obviously his superiors have put him on notice and if he wants to stay on the air…he would be wise to watch his big mouth in the future and keep his personal thoughts to himself…we are sick of being subjected to his rude,offensive and over the top behavior…he may think he's cool in his attempt to shock…he's not…he can always be Imused…
Thanks to you Bill Press, ever the gentleman
Comment by S — January 18, 2008 @ 7:28 pm