Chris Matthews Show: Is Obama Inexperienced Or <I>Un-American</i>?
Argh. Want to know who is enjoying the primary race more than anyone? The corporate media, who, I think it's safe to say, want to control democracy by framing the debate. Need proof? Look at this "Meter Question" from The Chris Matthews Show. After repeating how the electorate is stubbornly and willfully ignorant of Barack Obama's background (Is he a *gasp* Muslim? What a shame he had to disavow his pastor, because the fact he calls himself a Christian doesn't really count.), the question that Chris Matthews poses his panel of "experts" is will Barack Obama be viewed in November as "inexperienced" or "un-American."
Download | play 
Download | play (h/t Heather)
MATTHEWS: David, you don’t agree, you think the un-American thing could be a lethal problem.
BROOKS: Specifically, what I mean by that is, ‘is he like me? Does he get what I get?’ And that’s a question of resilience. Why doesn’t he talk about fighting? Has he suffered? Has he struggled the way I’ve suffered? This guy seems to have led a charmed life, why do I think he understands me? And I think that’s [unclear] Hillary’s [unclear] strength.
MATTHEWS: I agree with you, that’s a fair thing to ask. Is he one of us in the broadest sense?
Excuse me? So by virtue of a foreign name, it's alright to question whether you're un-American. Great. Hang it up, Yuichi. Fuggedaboutit, Consuela. Don't even think about it, Salim. According to Tweety and Bobo Brooks, your name disqualifies you from running for the presidency.
And don't you love Brooks' characterization that Obama has led a charmed life? A man born of a mixed-race marriage at a time when it was illegal in some states, abandoned by his father and raised by his grandparents and getting to Harvard on scholarship. Nah, he doesn't understand struggle at all. And I'm curious, would this have been a fair thing for Bobo to ask of George W. Bush, the legacy admittance to Yale who didn't even bother to show up for his National Guard duty to help his father run for Senate? Or are the struggles that he's gone through too obvious for comment?
Oh yeah, they asked a question about McCain that wasn't exactly the news his campaign wants to hear. Don't blink or you'll miss it.
Does anyone think that "David Brooks" is David Brooks' real name? Does anyone think that Chris Matthews spelled in the gaelic wouldn't look weird? What is wrong with these people, don't they even know enough of our own history as a people to grasp that new names were taken by lots of people to obscure their old names? Obama just happened to come along at a historical time and place where his mother didn't feel required to anglicize his name as David Brooks' parents and grandparents did his.
aimai
"Is he one of us?"---Chris Mathews
Um, just who is "us" Chris? Rich, white male? American? I just knew after Mathews had a couple decent shows on, that he would follow up with a stinker. Is he one of us? Is he one of us? Is he a mooslime? Is he an evil Al Keeda operative waitin' ta blow up da Whitehouse? Does his personal gas smell Chris? Does he have lobby support Chris? Will he throw BBQ's fer da good ol' media boys and girls, and greet them on a first name basis at every media scrum? Mathews------deluded white moron.
lol @ the term "Un-American".. it's such a blatent way of saying "not white".
This shows precisely what's wrong with our country - the people delivering our news are retarded.
How can we expect Americans to care about real issues when the talking heads refiuse to present any? And instead play game shows about assinine non-issues.
It's the old "Don't think of a pink elephant" game, where they throw out this type of garbage and then wonder where the division in our country comes from.
Too bad we don't get to elect the "media representatives" too (I refuse to call them journalisnt anymore - except for maybe Colbert and Stewart). Sheesh!
The term "charmed life" has both kinda negative AND positive context.
You can argue that someone like George Bush has led a charmed life. Because of his name and station, it didn't matter how incompetent and stupid he was (and is). He couldn't f*** up enough and NOT rise to a station of power and prominence. By all rights, he shouldn't be trusted to collect money in an elementary school lunch line, wearing a hair net whilst wearing a court-ordered location ID bracelet for his many MANY DUIs. He is who he is, so he has what he has, none of it earned. Truly a charmed life.
You can also argue that someone like Barack Obama has led a charmed life. Not an EASY life, I'm certain he's worked hard to achieve all he has. But there are others who had a similar background, similar disadvantages, and possess similar intellect and potential, yet did not achieve a fraction of what Obama was able to achieve. Some of that is bound to be Obama recognizing opportunities - being in the right place at the right time, as it were. Some of it is bound to be people of means and power he met along the way who recognized his abilities and wanted to be a part of his story - giving him chances, championing his agenda. This is not meant to be a slight on Obama or some kind of racist/affirmative action comment - what Obama was able to achieve throughout his life was all the proof anyone should need that he was capable of bigger chances, more power. But there are plenty of people who show the same capabilities, but they don't show them to people who are able (or willing) to let them take a step forward, get a better job, run for public office, etc. In fact, sometimes, they show those abilities to people who are small-minded and threatened by people by pure potential (people like President George "I'd rather have dumb loyal people by my side than smart opinionated people" Bush.
In that stretch of the definition - rising from nothing to be a few months away from the most powerful position in the world, while other people of similar backgrounds and abilities didn't rise as far, or still struggle - Obama has led a charmed life.
But because most people muddy those definitions together, I'm sure plenty of people will assume Obama got everything handed to him. And I wouldn't be surprised if that confusion is something Brooks wanted to cultivate.
Oh Tweety, should we believe you're a true American just because you say you are?
ConcernedCanuck @ 2:
Was Michael Moore right in Bowling for Columbine when he said that Canadian news is generally positive and informative? It would help explain why you all don't go around blowing up other countries.
Bridget Jones @ 4:
QFT, Bridget. I work a night shift job which involves a lot of down time, and much of that down time is spent watching 24-hour cable news. At this point I feel like I could *write* for the Daily Show, there's just so much fodder to mock and maul. The media constantly misses the point, magnifies things that mean absolutely nothing to working people, and whenever they have to talk about people who've criticized the media, they not at all surprisingly pass the buck and pretend that people are for real, truly, honestly, TOTALLY interested in the crap they're putting out there.
Leslie [Hussein] @ 6:
Unfortunately, that is exactly what we train American children to do. We send them, for 13 years (if you count kindergarden) to a daily routine where they are taught to do what the authority figure in the room says, to never ever question the authority figure in the room, and that if the authority figure says a thing, it is to be taken as the gospel truth. We take the position that thinking for yourself is a bad thing, and then we wonder how we got to this point that Chris Matthews thinks EXACTLY that.
The good news: they're focussed on the general election and have finally given up on the Obama-Clinton "horse race." The more Obama is compared to McCain, the better. And, as we've already seen, the more he's able to fight back against the Republican noise machine, the stronger he becomes.
The bad news: David Brooks and Chris Matthews are able to frame the substance and tone of political discourse despite being as dumb as a bag of rocks.
The MSM stays sooo far away from ever mentioning that Obama is what America is ALL ABOUT! Here is a man who's father was African, with a a white mother, brought up by white Grandparents, who lived in and out of country (experience), goes to college and becomes a Lawyer and a millionaire and then a Senator and then runs for President. The very fact that this can happen here is what this country is really about. We used to be proud to be a melting-pot, now suddenly those values are looked down on by the GOP?
I noticed he didn't spend any time on how McPsycho avoided voting on the new GI Bill and his pal's Lindsey and heir Lieberman voted against it (snuggling up to bush).
If his show really lived up to the name HardBall he would have been on McLame about that.
bethy @ 8:
You know, I often think those guys get some of their material from posters on liberal blogs...
The only "serious" news I watch is CNN's Jack Cafferty, because he's the only one in the media who will accept and even read criticism of the media from average joes like us. And you're right - if they let Lou Dobbs give a preview of his show right afterward (and I forget to change the channel), if Jack has just read some criticism of the media, Lou will get all indignant and defensive. Couldn't possibly be them... Oh, no, Lou, you can't think that all your anti-Mexico talk would lead to more anti-Mexican sentiment that includes an increase in physical violence. Forget cause-and-effect. Morons.
Bridget Jones @ 7:
We have biased media as well as non-biased......Toronto Sun newspaper rag is basically equivalent to NeoConArtist in it's logic....but as a whole, most people I know, get their news from more than one source compare, and dissect the BS. American media is impossible to do that all the time. Instead of giving news, they try to be the celebrity entertainers. It's actually quite sad to watch or listen to.
Tweetie occaisionally shows some honest opinion, but then reverts to the script. They are all paid hacks. I guess that makes all of you who watch them hackees; they've hacked into your political views and influence them in favor of their corporate masters.
Where the fuck is Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson, or the NAACP! How dare these mother fucker think that just because Obama is an Ivy league graduate, he must had lived a charmed life.
Nicole:
See if you can get video of Billy Kristol on the Fox Sunday show sneaking an extended peak down the blouse of fellow commentator Nina something while she was answering a question by Wallace.
More evidence, as if it were needed, that Kristol is the dumbest, wrongest guy in media.
I for one later today will send an e-mail blasting Matthews for such a low gutter question.
Bridget Jones @ 4:
They might be university educated or at least stayed out of trouble long enough to get their degrees, but they aint smart or do a good impression of being dumb.
Question of the day: Is Chris Matthews Inexperienced or Un-American. Anybody? Because, you know, there are only two options. That's really what his whole career must boil down to, isn't it? Is he one of us in the broadest sense? Sure, that's a totally fair question. Sure.
Well, while Matthews was belching his platitudes of Bush and Ann Coulter, Obama was fighting to make people's lives better. While Matthews was going to his beloved Beltway parties and lifting a pint with the punditocracy, Obama was working in Chicago communities, rubbing elbows with those sweaty downtrodden folks with whom it's so hard to relate when you JUST CAN'T SHUT UP!
Bridget Jones @ 9:
As one of those supposed "authority figures," I can say that your experience in a classroom is not indicative of all classrooms.
Unfortunately however, if we don't get all of the GOP fascist agenda (NCLB) out of education soon, it will be as you say.
ched @ 16:
I smell a sexual harassment lawsuit coming up, he was obviously trying to harass her, make her feel uncomfortable or demean her in public...
Thats not normal behaviour for a set piece Television studio, must be deliberate or something, or maybe hes just arrogant and dumb
ConcernedCanuck @ 13:
But someone must have taught you how to look at several sources, and think for yourselves. We definitely don't do that here. We punish people who think. I find it fascinating that your country is a prime example of how a thinking and educated population will rarely resort to violence to solve it's problems. I wish we could see it here, and want the same for ourselves. Though I will say that the internet has really helped a lot, especially as the last really free source of information in our country.
Yes, it's definitely all about entertainment on television, regardless of the genre. It's almost juvenile.
This question is like that episode of Family Guy where Brian is on trial and Peter is on the stand:
It's just funny to me how both of the responses are negative. How about is he American or Un-American? Is he inexperienced or experienced enough? Instead they get to choose between two incredibly different things. If I was personally forced to choose I'd go with "inexperienced", but like Peter Griffin I don't think that is true either.
That "is he one of us" and "is he like me" stuff is the crap that drives me insane. Really, who cares? How does questions like this give the public any indication of how well Obama can do the job? Why is there any mention of the "un-American" question? Because he doesn't wear the stupid lapel pin, or because his name doesn't sound American enough for some?
Good Lord. I don't know if I should be angry because Matthews & Brooks are treating me like an idiot or if I should be pissed because they are idiots and towing the corporate line on avoiding the issues. Or both.
Aw heck, I'm just pissed.
Well..I just read Bobo's bio and I see no struggle or suffering in it. Born in Toronto ( he is just like us) and graduated from college at the age of 22 (just like us) and went right into his profession. Just like us. W.F. Buckley was his sugar daddy (just like us) and gave him a job at the National Review when he had all of 1 year experience post college. What a struggle.
Other points..hell no he never served in the military or participated in any program or project that did not pay him well. He has only served himself.
The guy is a classic Daddy's Boy and never had a hard day in his life.
ferrofluid @ 18:
I teach college, and briefly taught high school. I would say that perhaps the biggest problem with the education system in our country is that it's based so much on theory, with very few educators having any practical or life experience, that for many people who go to college, having a degree is no sign of intelligence, or aptitude. Just an indication that they can memorize (or read off a teleprompter).
I couldn't agree more with you statement "The corporate media... want to control democracy by framing the debate."
Your points are well taken, but totally ignored by the msm. The dumb ass we have leading this country to ruin NEVER had such questions posed to him. Hell, he was lifted as a hero while Kerry was labeled a "traitor" with 3 purple hearts, a bronze star, etc. Give me a f*cking break America.
We are totally dumbed down by "canned media" and propaganda in this country. Too many just don't give a rat's ass, and too many think the world is flat. We are a country of ignorance. We truly are #1.
When I hear "one of us" I think of Todd Browning's "Freaks".
"one of us, gabba gabba, one of us, we accept you"....
Mathews returns to his typical self. What a shock.
We request your unbiased opinion on the following:
Republicans:
a)Dumber than dog shit
b)Deliberately stupid
c)Evil All Over
d)All of the above
Seems fair, yes?
Bridget Jones @ 26:
and how many people who teach go straight from being a student to being a lecturer.
It happens in the art world, a practice that stunned me when I found out.
fastfeat @ 29:
maybe the medications started working again.
Both Brooks and Matthews trying stand out of the idiopunditry crowd.
Well, ..outstanding (slow clap).
MargeAggedon @ 30:
D
I don't want someone just like me to be President. I want someone with a greater intellect, true tolerance, patience, the humility to know he is not always right.
I sure as hell don't want someone just like Matthews or Brooks. Both lack the qualities listed above. They are just like me - not the sharpest tacks in the box, intolerant, impatient and righteous as all hell. The only difference between Matthews and Brooks and me is they're rightwingnuts and I'm a leftwingnut.
Obama is an intelligent "good" American. If I could drink without becoming a total assh*le, I'd love to sit down over a couple of drinks to listen to him.
yellow dog @ 35:
I will quite happily sit down and drink coffee with anybody anytime , booze dulls the senses and intellect.
theres a time and a place for booze, serious talking isnt one of them, partying and loud music well thats the time for boozing :)
NoGWBpolicyleftinplace @ 20:
Well, I'm not like that either, but as someone who works in the education system, I know that teachers like us are unusual. There are several studies that show that people who like to boss other people around trend toward becoming cops, teachers and priests. In my experience, as well as the many educators in my family in other parts of the country (both blue and red), it is certainly more the rule than the exception, and I think the general public validates that. I also think most students would agree. The nightmare stories I've heard from them about other teachers is staggering.
NCLB is the worst thing the government has done to education in years, and because Obama will have soooo much of a mess to clean up across the board, it's going to be tough to see it going away as soon as we'd like for it to.
Wall Street desperately needs a president who will “sweep all the corruption and losses, would-be indictments, perp walks and prosecutions under the rug and get on with an unprecedented taxpayer bailout of Wall Street.” Who better to sell this “agenda to duped American's than our first, beloved, president of hope and change?”
ferrofluid @ 31:
Oh yeah. My cousin is a former IT profesional turned h.s. administrator who says of his colleagues "They go to high school, then college, and then right back to high school. This is the extent of their universe".
hey if you want experience then look not further than dick cheney, he's had lots of experience, anyone want him for another 4 years ?...... thought not.
To Brooks it is inconceivable for a person who has not suffered in their life to be a compassionate person. Obama has not suffered, therefore he has no compassion. That is what he is saying in the quote and that is as far as he thinks about it. Brooks can relate to that image because he has no empathy for those in dire straits.
yellow dog @ 35:
Please don't go there.
Every one wanted to sit down and have a beer with George Bush too.
archerofloaf @ 41:
Except that Obama has suffered.
Chris Matthews: ya can't get any whiter than him. Even his hair blends in with his skin. sorta like McCain or Cornyn. he cant even tan as the whiteness of his skin reflects the light back to the sun (which as a result wears sunglasses). haha
Chris Matthews: Evil or just stupid? You decide.
I just think that this is just like push poll with two false choices. When people are given these choices, if they don't tell the pollster to shove it, they pick the answer that is closest to their rationalization.... Inexperienced is the least inflammatory out of all the phony choices.
It is closest to saying "not Mr. K Street" which is how "inexperienced" should be framed.
yellow dog @ 35:
But, but Cindy McCain could supply all the beer...
The most interesting thing about the Obama and McCain graphic table is that Obama is neither un-American nor inexperienced and McCain is both Bush's third term and Mr. K Street.
They did this to achieve the successful Fox standards of tabloid journalism. Two lies vs. two truths = FAIR AND BALANCED.
Well, that other 'poll' he had about McCain just continuing the Bush presidency is very accurate. It would be a third Bush term, so these pundits have that point right. and amazing to think that in a year where so many people want change that McCain and his people staggeringly presume that what they offer: OLD, REPUBLICAN, BUSH 3, WarMonger..somehow embodies 'change'. now who's being naive, McCain. you, if you think the American people are going to fall for that malarkey.
archerofloaf @ 41:
May I be a little disrespectful and ask: "How does Brooks know this" about Obama? Has he spoken with Obama..I think not. Does his life have strong parallels with Obama's, allowing him the insight to make these assessments. Laughably not. Bobo has never spent a minute in public service..a place that Obama has spent the bulk of his life.
Mr. Brooks want you to think like him. That is his concern here. He is a conservative and wants you to be one too. He will bend, twist and distort any fact or person in order to achieve his goal. It is Matthew's job to reign this in not ride shotgun for it. But...that aint going to happen.
Bridget Jones @ 43:
Consider me corrected on that detail. But my point still stands even if he hadn't. Obama has shown his compassion through his lifes work.
Bridget Jones @ 43:
No he hasn't. He's had it sooooooo easy compared to some of us.
Matthews is a joke, only slightly less funny than the giant bobblehead O'Reily.
L.A. Confidential @ 38:
LA, Hillary wasn't railroaded, she lost. She isn't/wasn't/never will be Bill. No matter how much people "remember" the good ol' days, they never remember everything about them, just the good stuff.
If I someone missed your snark, I apologize in advance. It just boggles my mind, that those that thought the Clinton's are some kind of pure magical political team, compare everyone else as the same and not in the same category.
ConcernedCanuck @ 54:
It doesn't matter anymore.
L.A. Confidential @ 52:
I would think Obama personafies that old spiel "American Dream" rags to riches rise to the top good guy, that Hollyweird puts in it's movies. In comparison to Hillary and McCain, he's like a pauper in paradise. How hard to Hill have it? How hard did McCain have it? No comparisons with Obama.
L.A. Confidential @ 55:
I guess you are right. My thinking is if Hillary really isn't as bad as her campaign has been, she better hope her and Bill can call in all their political IOU's to keep even her senate job, or her political life is all but over. Her campaign team must be proud.
ConcernedCanuck @ 56:
Obama should have studied music and became a Jazz Trumpet Player
breakspear @ 49:
A third bush term complete with all the thugs, org criminals and shiny happy lobbyists,
a third term would also allow the Republicans to 'tidy up' some more and avoid some rather nasty criminal prosecutions they are in for in 09.
Their mission statement is to establish GWBs 'legacy' , also finally destroy the last semblance of democracy,
and establish a permanent fascist regime under the bright shiny burning crosses of the CCC.
oh and of course permanent serfdom for the American public.
ConcernedCanuck @ 57:
"another fine mess you have landed me in DLC" said and acted out in the style of Laurel and Hardy.
MATTHEWS: I agree with you, that’s a fair thing to ask. Is he one of us in the broadest sense?
I'll have something to say after my head stops exploding.
"One of us"?
Who the FUCK would want to be part of Tweety's "us" crowd?
ferrofluid @ 60:
LOL!! Was thinking three stooges..........nyuck, nyuck, nyuck.
L.A. Confidential @ 58:
preferable to Hillarys off tune rusty mouth organ
Bridget Jones @ 37:
"NCLB is the worst thing the government has done to education in years, and because Obama will have soooo much of a mess to clean up across the board, it's going to be tough to see it going away as soon as we'd like for it to."
As a fellow educator I totally agree with you on this. It can't go away fast enough.
The observation that our students are leaving school with a poorer education than students in Europe, Asia, etc. was correct. What was overlooked was the fact that students in most other countries are taught to think, which hasn't been done here in America for a couple of decades. But how would the right wing GOP fare if we taught our students critical thinking skills? I can't help but feel there is a hidden agenda here. Meanwhile we're all stuck jumping through the hoops, cramming their little heads full of meaningless data and hoping they do well on test day. In the process we're ALL being left behind. I'm already frustrated at the number of people I see who don't have the slightest clue as to how to think for themselves and have no interest in anything of substance. I can only imagine what it will be like in another 20 years.
The only thing I've been grateful for is I teach music - which isn't mandated by any NCLB guidelines. Which leaves me free to find ways to teach them to compare, question and think when it comes to my content area. I don't have to worry about no stinkin' test!
Imagine for a moment, Barack Obama has clinched the nomination. And he has called a news conference to announce his Vice Presidential choice. It is not Hillary Clinton. What do you suppose the story of the day is going to be?
No. 44 @ 61:
Republican Bathroom Stall Foottapper's Society????
L.A. Confidential @ 65:
Economy still in meltdown?
ConcernedCanuck @ 62:
ChimpyLarry,CheneyCurly andMcCainMo .....nyuck, nyuck, nyuck slap slap tickleL.A. Confidential @ 65:
BRITNEY kisses PARIS
Bridget Jones @ 12:
Lou Dobbs is awful. I don't get MSNBC at work so I watch a lot of CNN (I refuse to watch any FOX) but I always change the channel in a frenzied rush when Lou Dobbs appears. Thankfully, the replay of Dobbs usually coincides with the replay of Daily Show/Colbert, so it works out. But I am convinced we could tap into Lou Dobbs' hot air and use it as a renewable energy source.
ferrofluid @ 69:
actually, what would really pull the rug from under McCain and the GOP would be the nomination for VP of Chuck Hagel with Obama. Obama would then be a true uniter and take the natl security tag away from McCain with Hagels nod. that would be a masterstroke of truly large proportions. McCain wont see it coming.
bethy @ 8:
more fool them
How utterly grammar schoolesque. I mean he asks of BOTH candidates . . . "have you stopped beating your wife?" The MMS has been very pathetic for a VERY long time.
breakspear @ 71:
Hagel? Why? Because he opposes the Iraq war? Cuz he has basically agreed with Bush and Cheney on everything else.
ConcernedCanuck @ 67:
Russert, Andrea Mitchell, and Chris Matthews have orgasms over Obama's pick.
ferrofluid @ 68:
HA!
The traditional media will never admit that McLame is not only bush's third term, but also a whooly owned entity of K Street.
K Street will be the major player in trying to defeat Obama.
I'm getting to this thread late .. maybe someone already asked ..
(#1) Inexperienced
OR
(#2) UnAmerican
What an amazing question.
But I've got a problem here ..
Why didn't Fox offer BOTH as an option?
(#3) BOTH Inexperienced AND UnAmerican
Is Fox slipping?
Want to know who is enjoying the primary race even more than corporate media?
Bloggers who desperately need their daily corporate media trashing even if it means using the same tactics as Bill O'Reilly namely: out of context editing.
I'm not a fan of Brooks but you completely mischaracterized what he actually said. He thinks the whole smear campaign around Obama's name and religion has only a marginal effect.
The "quote" you transcribe is part of a discussion during which he is explaining how some voters, typically in KT and WV, reacted to Obama's candidacy during the primaries and may well react during the general election if the Obama campaign doesn't do anything to correct the false info. These are just undisputed facts, and don't reflect his opinion of Barrack Obama.
Nowhere in the discussion does Brooks suggest a foreign name should prevent someone to run for office. He was in fact one of the first, in the fall of 2006, to publicly call on Obama to run for President (http://select.nytimes.com/2006/10/19/opinion/19brooks.html?scp=19&sq=dav...).
There are many instances in which I completely disagree with David Brooks. He however is among the few conservative pundits who has a rather positive opinion about Obama.
I suggest to all readers of this blog to go and read Brooks' columns rather than getting all exited in a knee-jerk fashion over a poorly transcribed discussion.
So
Oh looky at tweedy...what a changed-coat repug. I knew he was phony about all the praise that he heaps on Sen. Obama during his cable show.
Why does Sen. Obama get all the stupidass questions? These people are as ignorant as hill and her supporters. No logic, no depth. Childish questions are asked from these repug then we graced with their childish made up debate about their bs.
Code word for white = does he look like me? Fucking racist.
Go Obama!
Go USA!
L.A. Confidential @ 75:
It's a Sunday and you are giving people images of Chris Mathews having an orgasm. EEK!.....thanks.......now I have to go shower cuz I feels so dirty!
hood @ 15:
STFUD
Who watches "the chris matthews show" anyway? I would guess he only gets around 100 thousand viewers to that lame show. Matthews is over rated, I wouldn't worry about his racism. I would hope when Obama becomes president this guy will be out of a job.
Brooks is just pissed off that Buckley didn't pass on the mantle of conservative vanguard to him because he's a Jew. Hence, not a Christian and not really an American...
aimai @ 1:
And the Prime Minister of Israel is even called Barak - Ehud Barak.
The problem with the likes of West Virginia is that there are certain people who do not want to be educated or informed or 'confused' with new information. They prefer their 'pinion'.
Barack Obama is not going win over the Lynndie England demographic. But neither is any other Democrat.
Barack Obama is going to do just fine in the November election, and anyone trying to fret over his name is missing the big picture.
The economy. The war. Constitutional government.
Those are what are at stake, and most Americans get that, as every poll indicates.
abroad @ 79:
"""BROOKS: Specifically, what I mean by that is, ‘is he like me? Does he get what I get?’ And that’s a question of resilience. Why doesn’t he talk about fighting? Has he suffered? Has he struggled the way I’ve suffered? This guy seems to have led a charmed life, why do I think he understands me? And I think that’s [unclear] Hillary’s [unclear] strength.""
Just how is that poorly transcribed and where does it show anything like support for Obama? Brooks uses the "Question Journalism" trick to cast doubt in the viewers mind. I don't think you can argue these were just "questions" from a "concerned" journalist. They were Mind Plants from a partisan hack.
I suppose Bobo could ask Obama these questions but he will not because in "Question Journalism" the point is to use the interrogative as a declarative ( providing safety for the cowardly type that resort to this method) and never to allow answers. Never.
Why don't these assholes read Obama's books.
Why is anyone surprised at Matthews? He backed Obama because of his irrational hatred of the Clintons. Now that Obama looks like the nominee, Matthews reverts to his true self. He is a die hard McCain loving Republican who voted for George Bush.
We interrupt The Chris Matthews Show and its stupid, binary, media-frames-the-debate-to-favor-the-right-wing-agenda questions, for the following fair balance alternatives. Alternative Obama question: Did the public finally learn a lesson from 2000 and 2004, that voting for the "I'd rather have a beer with this guy" candidate is a horrible, disastrous way to pick a President, yes or no? And this alternative McCain question: Will the public, which now overwhelmingly thinks Republican economics and Republican foreign policy have put this country on the wrong track, recognize that John McCain is a Republican and is a devout believer in those bad policies, yes or no? We now return you to you regular dumbass program, take it Chris.
comradebillyboy @ 88:
When the 2008 elections are over will history show that media pundits, from every arena, ruthlessly and impiously victimized their every reader, viewer, or listener by their twenty-four-seven relentless and intentional political rhetoric created not for substantive, informative, and balanced reporting, but for selfish gains?
I'm sick of the Media buying the Hillary and Republican talking points that Obama is too inexperienced. They rarely define the experience he is missing rather it repeats the tagline. First, the Constitution only requires one to be 35 years old. Are they suggesting that the Constitution needs to be changed. What significant experience did Bush II, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, and so forth have prior to them becoming President that Obama is missing? I'll give credit that Ford and Bush I were VP's prior to becoming Presidents. Yes, Hillary and McCain have Washington experience. So what, what has that gotten us?
L.A. Confidential @ 90:
As compared to? Every election is the same with regards to the media.
abroad @ 79:
I read the column you referenced. Also, there is nothing inaccurate about the transcription of his statements. His column is a positive column about Obama. However, Brooks should have said what anybody who was thinking during that discussion would have said. If Brooks was so impressed with Obama, he should have reminded Matthews that the choice was a false one and predicated on an assumption that a United States Senator was not worthy of being considered a citizen of this country.
Obama will fill in for Ted Kennedy at Wesleyan commencement. He will discuss his life. Now will these "talking heads" shut the hell up?
CNN is covering it.
i have five kids, make 30,000 a year, two jobs, always catching up to the unending bills, the car is fucking falling apart, credit cards to the max, and no end in site ... and i am in the vast fucking majority of americans just like me ... ARE YOU ONE OF US CUM SLUT, CORPORATE PIMP, MILLIONAIRE MATTHEWS ? which one of your three mercedes cars did you drive today ? go fuck yourself you slimy corporate slut ..
Is Chris Matthews a corporate media shill or a willing accomplice to right wing propaganda and smear?
Corporate media shill - 5
Willing accomplice to right wing propaganda and smear - 5
Ladies and gentlemen we have a tie!
Seems to me Maverick McStraightalk is the one with a charmed life. Born into a Naval Academy family, super rich wife who finances his campaign. Charmed except for the time he couldn't fly his plane out of harms way (oops...a little Kerry era swiftboating by hey, they started it).
On Sept. 11th, 2001, the media brought us James Woosley, who, while the Twin Towers still smoldered and there likely were trapped survivors who had yet to perish from this attack, we had the media peddling the "Iraq is behind it" canard to a grieving nation.
We all can see where that led us.
Woosley
Its actually Woolsey. But anyway.
L.A. Confidential @ 38:
That's right old man. Keep the "self-hate" going.
L.A. Confidential @ 65:
It'll be "Another wise move by Obama....and he won't need to hire a food taster." Obama will be very gracious to Hillary, but he doesn't want or need her as his VP to win this election. And he is most definitely smarter than you.
I @ 85:
The economy, the war, and constitutional government were all at
stake in 2006, and most Americans understood that. As a result they returned both houses of congress to the Democrats.
The fact that they are still issues that have been basically unadressed much less resolved, or changed in any meaningful way
does not excatly make me want to go out and vote for another Dem.
I have heard Obama's pitch about change before, and it didn't work out all that well. He may be the second coming of JFK or FDR, or
a combination of both.I have heard his song and dance about change
and hope from any number of candidates over the years and been
mostly dissapointed in the end. " A thousand points of light" sounded really good too, sort of like "Change you can count on".
He is going to have to work a hell of a lot harder and come up with
something a hell of a lot better, before this voter is going to be duped
by the Dems. again.
Gary @ 3:
*Bamb*! Exactly!
WHY IS IT ALL NEOCON PUNDITS LIKE DAVID BROOKS, PREFER ASSHOLES IN THE REPUBLCAN PARTY AND FEAR THAT ISRAEL WILL SUFFER IF OBAMA BECOMES PRESIDENT,,,,BECAUSE THEY ARE JEWS??? I DON'Y KNOW. BUT BROOKS IS JEWISH,,BORN IN TORONTO,,GREW UP IN JEWISH BROOKLYN,,,AS WERE OTHER JEW NEOCONS,,,ARE THEY MORE FOR ISRAEL OR USA OR WHAT???? PERSONALLY I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE WRITERS SHOULD GIVE THEIR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS WITH THEIR TITLES JUST TO KEEP EVERYTHING STRAIGHT
Pre General Framing Now The Attack Dogs Later
Chris Matthews must think he's God. He and Wolf Blitzer own the political propaganda on the air waves. To see them create falsehoods, spread those falsehoods, and then sit back and evaluate the same falsehoods they gave birth to is propaganda in action. Don't be fooled by Matthew's mild evaluation of campaign dynamics, as if he's always a model for fair and balanced news coverage. He is dangerous to the Democratic Party, and you can bet he will do a lot to put John McCain into office, just like he did a lot to make Barack Obama the Democratic nominee.
Blitzer and his CNN team created a unofficial finish line when they presented the "leader" for the Democratic nominee as the winner of the nomination. The number of delegates is 2025 not 1969 or less. There is no rule in the Democratic Party primary book that says the person in the lead wins the nomination. CNN makes this claim for Barack Obama whenever they can, and they made up another falsehood Hillary Clinton was talking to the Obama camp about how to end her campaign. They retracted the claim, but how does a Network with CNN's status and reputation get something like this wrong. This too was a failed attempt at trying to CREATE news.
The Democrats have to be aware of the media's reasons for candidate focus. When the Clinton camp make the claim Obama got a free pass, they may be making it okay for the current right-wing media to bash Obama. The argument Obama got a free pass will not change the race dynamics for the Democrats, so lets get on with the next Republican's nightmare: Democratic Unity.
I have some worries about why the media wanted Barack to win this nomination. Although the Obama attacks are increasing, I can't help but wonder if they have a "knockout card" to play against Obama. Time will tell.
While it appears the Democrats will unite, in spite of what the Republican media did to make sure it did not happen, they must continue to move froward and not backwards. The last thing I want to see is another 4-8 years of Republican rule.
Joseph
I @ 85:
Hear, hear...
I am sick and tired of the fucking appeasement that is the policy of trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
Instead of depending on the redneck uneducated voters, why don't spend the same effort making them irrelevant and appeal to those who would actually vote for you.
This country can do better, but as long as we are concerned about the "feelings" of the fucking dumbasses who have been consistently voting against their own interests, we're going to continue sinking deeper and deeper in this puddle of shit.
This country approaches elections like it approaches marketing campaigns. We need to take a loooooong look in the mirror.
L.A. Confidential @ 65:
Probably that Hillary Clinton was spotted, after escaping the asylum, running around a wooden horse, in full napoleon regalia, saying how she is the emperor of Rome.
Everybody was all aflutter about Tweety speaking truth to power last week.
I wasn't.
He's still a stupid, slobbering GOP shill.
The hell with him.
For those of you who are concerned about Matthew's brain, remember he was a heavy alcoholic. You do know that alcohol can affect the brain and leave a lasting affect, so give him some room.
Coming up: Is Obama Uppity or a Traitor? Usefully idiotic or a communist? Is the Democrat party naive or secretly evil? Is Chris Matthews Fair or Balanced?
Well... for six months Matthews has been doing everything in his power to negate and neutralize Hillary's campaign. NOW... it's time to go after Obama. This is just the beginning.
The real question is whether Chris Mathews will ultimately be defined as a pinhead or simply a fool.
I wonder if mr. mathews or mr. brooks could produce a DD-214 I don't think so in my book a flag pin does not say patriotism. mr. mccain's war record is anything but spectacular he even got shot down over north vietnam!!! can anyone say DMZ
Out of both Obama and Mccain guess which one was not born in the U.S.? Why that would be Mr. All-America John Mccain! I thought you couldn't run for pres unless you were born here, but then I remembered that republicans always seem to get a pass from corporate media about issues like this and the fact that Bush-Cheney were actually from the same state (Texas) in 2000 and rules say no same state tickets in our elections. On and on the BS flows.
Joseph @ 105:
Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, you've been sippin the koolaide to long. The Democrats will unite? BWAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, and winged pigs will fly outta my butt and swarm around humming The Battle Hymn of the Republic. It Could happen, but not very likely at all now is it. But it's MORE likely THAT will happen then Clinton supporters enmass will support obamalamadingdong. Is he unAmerican...well lets see. 20 years of NAW,NAW,NAW GAWD DAMN AMERICA! 17 years of Rezko funding for his campaign, NOT 4 or 5 hrs working for that individual. How bout 8 years of WORKING FOR an unrepentent dommestic terrorist who LIKES being photographed dancing on the American flag? And last but certainly not least "for the first time in my ADULT life I'm proud of my country Mrs. Dong? Is he unAmerican...is the Pope an exNazi? This election is going to be genuinely FUNNY if obamalamadingdong manages to con the nomination. The look on that skinny, stupid face when he gets gobsmacked by the corporate media turning on him along with the GOP airing the tapes they're saving for the election almost makes it worth it.
Who am us anyway?
Say what you want about Tweety but he sure smacked down idiot winger Kevin James last week.
Despite the presence of Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow and handful of others, MSNBC is a Zionists propaganda mill. They are doing everything they can to discredit Obama because they don't trust him to suck up to their treacherous agenda. It's obvious the criminal Zionists prefer an immoral hack like John McCain to do their Nazi-Fascist bidding.
secularhumanizinevoluter @ 115:
I can't understand any point you are trying to make. Please restate your comment with meaning or words common people can understand.
Joseph
Joseph
This is exactly why campaigns should last six weeks and absolutely no more. That way the idiocy of the media wouldn't have time to get revved up. Far too much time and money is spent on elections. Have a few debates hosted by the League of Women Voters and leave it at that. The way things are now the election begins the day after the last one. Elected officials spend more time raising money than they do working on legislation.
Who comes up with these slanted little questions? Sounds like something that would come out fo Tweety's brain....or does someone actually get paid to cook up such tripe? This is the political version of "Do you beat your dog in the house or in the back yard?"
Is this dimwit brooks trying to suggset that somehow *he* has struggled? Compared to someone with a name like Obama, Hussein fscking Obama for christ's sake, no satan's sake! What a fscking twatwad.
Twatwad, I like that. Is that a new one? I'm going to have to investigate because it is far more appealing than thinking about what drives bobo brooks, dimwit of teh millennium (yes, this one).
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