Mea Culpa: Chris Matthews admits WH engaged in "pure press manipulation"
By SilentPatriot Tuesday May 27, 2008 5:40pm
Wow. Who would have thought that the incompetent Scott McClellan of all people would force the talking heads to re-evaluate their role in the lead up to the war, and make them finally realize that the White House deliberately manipulated them into mindlessly passing along pure government propaganda? To his credit, Chris Matthews today connected the dots and made as clear a case as possible that the White House used, in the case he cited, The New York Times to inject into the national dialogue completely bogus information that Cheney, Bush and Condoleezza Rice would later cite on the Sunday talk shows in order to scare Americans into supporting the Iraq War.
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"There was a lot of salesmanship here....a lot of propaganda."
Chris Matthews and David Gregory seem to get it. Mike Allen...not so much. We'll see how the rest of media handles it.
Of course, for those of us who actually pay attention to this sort of stuff, Bill Moyers chronicled this manipulation extensively in his fascinating documentary, Buying The War.
Memo to the media: Better late than never.
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Tweety, tell us again how herr dubyah should be on Mount Rushmore.
The MSM was manipulated partly because it let itself -- many reporters were too afraid to challenge King George during the run-up to the war.
Wow, I'm starting to have a grudging respect for Tweety.
Blowing up the media, bout damn time! I'm onboard, let the smackdown begin!
well no shit. now lets get some one official to document this, oh wait, mcClellend.
Imagine my shock!
David Gregory seems to get it? Are you kidding me? He's clinging to the idea that the press is just supposed to report both sides and not stir up any debate of their own. Even if that nonsense were true and that's what a reporter was supposed to do, they failed. They completely ignored all the people who were against this war. Ask Ted Kennedy or Bernie Sanders what kind of coverage David Gregory and his colleagues gave them in 2002.
ari fleischer was right, every one has made up their mind so nothing anyone says matters at this point, but we need to keep remembering.
I'm stunned that Mike Allen doesn't seem to quite catch on here. It's almost as if he's a bought and paid for hack, and Politico.com is nothing more than Pajamas Media 2.0.
Oh, yeah . . .
Despite this, that 25-30 percent will still support the boy-king.
no crap ! boy i must be smarter then all these god damned news whores , i knew from the start it was all bullshit! when you hear candy ass rice , dork cheney and bush mouth sink every dam lie dont you think the news casters should ask , who wrote this shit anyway for these bozos?
i'm watching gregory's show right now; and i don't see him performing any penance. if anything, they are all horrified at how little scottie could betray his mentor and the man who gave him the opportunity to go to washington (paraphrased jay carney).
Memo to the media: Better late than never.
I totally disagree. The media is just as guilty as if they told the lies themselves. Which they did. Chrissy included.
Yeah, I started to see the glint of recognition in Tweety's eyes during the "appeasement" segment. He realized that he was talking directly to a stuffed suit that had been handed a talking points memo and told to march to the (usually) friendly MSM with it.
Say what you will, but Matthews does have a shred or two of integrity. It's his failure to live up to that integrity that we find frustrating. He's not Bill O'Reilly.
But the recognition he had wasn't just, it seems, that some unqualified hack had managed to slip onto his show. It was that this kind of hackery has been par for the course for years...and he's played no small part in making it so.
That's got to rile him, chagrin him, as well as the others. They've been played like pianos and the know it. And they resent it. And they're smart. And no one is getting rich singing the praises of the Bush Administration anymore. And no one is interested in silencing these stories because they are just too, too juicy.
So the carrots and the sticks are in place for a real bloodbath on this. Once the Bushies are out and unable to set the narrative framing of every little thing, as the magnitude of the disaster we have brought upon ourselves becomes clear, as weasels like McClellan and Feith come out of the woodwork to point the finger of blame at everyone but themselves (or maybe grudgingly at themselves as well), the MSM will do what it's best at: pile the fuck on.
Instant Karma(tm)'s gonna get you.
It's a little goddamned late for the media to fess about about their appalling complicity in war, corruption and lies.
Fuck 'em all.
The Left Blogosphere wants power.
Want power? Get Chris Matthews and those like him to pay attention to the elephants in the living room.
What are the elephants?
The new (over last 10 years, or so) revealed facts about the JFK and RFK assassinations.
There is no power for the left blogosphere, only crumbs, until the elephants in the living room are addressed.
Bill B. @ 9:
there was a quote of his i copied at the time because it was so jaw-dropping suckass bullshit. allen was on olbermann's show talking about the video briefing that idiot son got on katrina. you know, the one where he didn't ask one question. this is how little mikey allen described it:
"On the question of whether—of the U.S. push to arrest everybody, we‘re told that from the very beginning, you know, Keith, on your air, you showed the video of the president with his Katrina briefings, internalizing them, not asking questions."
Oh!........................................the media!
Now you get it? Really?
Come on now, really.
There is nothing more satisfying than trying to put polish on a turd. Will it shine for me as it did for you??
Wanna place a bet, tweety?
Dems have been SCREAMING about this crap at the top of their lungs for years! Hello America! Hey Tweety...where's the apology? Where's the G-damned apology?!
Then again, Chris Matthews routinely referred to President Bush and his White House team as "good guys."
Scotty is going to on Countdown tonight!!!!
"the press was manipulated!"
no shit sherlock.
Speaking of "not getting it"...if you got from anything Matthews said that he was doing anything other than presenting "fake outrage" at being manipulated ...you're as delusional as they'll be wanting you to think McClellan is...of course they are wetting themselves with GLEE over a new subject to obsess over...give Hillary a break for awhile...here's the fun thing in all this (not really new news except the source from which it spews) ...watching the MEDIA spin themselves into the ground validating their performances back in the days before the WAR...
the news pimps were bought off just after the corporations all became owned by the same rich bastards who own this government and big oil, they werent going to shit where they eat , kind of like a dog!
Note to all that lied to save their jobs: fuck you.
You think we're going to forget what you did?
I hope every time you see a homeless man you're reminded how many lives you ruined to maintain yours.
Like Matthews does with anything he can make negative about Hillary Clinton?
Well - why didn't the press go after the bogus "aluminum tubes that can be used only for atomic centrifuges" claim of Condi - easily debunked by anyone with half a brain and a phone or computer?. Why didn't the press follow up on the Downing Street Memo where the Brits claimed "the intelligence was being FIXED around the policy"? - complicit? You bet.
Now that two-thirds of the American Public has realized we've been lied to repeatedly.
Hell I figured out the BS when I saw Hans Blix saying "if you know where the weapons are just tell us and we will inspect". Although, post 9/11 I couldn't believe that there was any warning that had been ignored. Richard Clarke dispelled that stupid idea. That's what happens when you project your morality on others, especially when they are socio-paths.
Hindsight is 20/20 - however, that is not the case here. I remember watching meet the press and Mattews' show fervently from 2001-2003 and all that was given was white house and GOP talking points. Matthews and Russert certainly didn't do anything about it then and it seems only now, or since Olbermann has been kicking ass and taking numbers, that the rest of the msm wants to try their hand at channeling Edward R Murrow. I thank 2 people every day for their courage and wisdom in not letting this country go to hell. They are Howard Dean for reinserting the spine into the democratic party and Keith Olbermann for making cogent points 5 days a week while slapping down idiots (which includes most of the GOP at this point, HRC and most of her supporters). It doesn't matter what you say once the battle is over, it is your courage to act during the heat of battle that matters most.
Yeah, I agree w/ Annoyed Canuck...it's a little damned late....fuck 'em.
Yeah, bitches, doesn't feel so good when your job is on the line, does it?
They should market the 'smart pill' they took to come to this conclusion...
talk about a fortune to be made!
Matthews is a bit slow, and at times off his rocker, but when he's on, he's on.
Dr. (Bitter Hussein) Matt @ 21:
Oh yea, thats right, should be interesting.
I"m sure that Scotty knows he is persona non grata on both sides now, both liberal and conservative, after lying for a living he stabbed his conspirators in the back.
I'm sure Keith will ask........why?
Nice to know Rove told dumbshit to look out the window at flooded New Orleans and look pensive, thankls Scotty.......hahahahaha....
No mea culpa's here. Many of us knew all along the administration was full of sh*T. The MSM went along for the ride WILLINGLY. They are accomplices, in my book, in one of the greatest crimes the world has ever seen. And they are continuing, today, covering it up.
Gregory is a fucking tool. One clip of him barely doing his job by asking a weak follow up question, and we're suppose to by that he is a "hard hitting journalist"? He and Rove can freak dance each other right off a fucking cliff.
David Gregory doesn't get it. Why would anyone think he does?
These buffoons should be run out of town and real journalists should be put in their place.
Chris Matthews and David Gregory enabled the murder of 4000+ American soldiers and countless Iraqis with their shoddy, enabling reporting. Everynight America had to listen to them "report" the White House Talking Points as if it was the truth and "news". I say we don't give them any slack. They must be run out of this profession. The media as the fourth estate is much to precious to Democracy to let these crooks and liars (i.e. Chris Matthews and David Gregory and their ilk) to continue to put these lies and deception to the American public. I can't understand why C&L would give them a pass on this.
The journalists that do address this (like Tweety) will just pass the ball around a few times so that they can go home with a clear conscious. Don't expect any big changes, folks.
Why would anyone want Scottie to appear on their show (Countdown). A liar has no credibility. He may be lying right now.
And again, the media played right along with this bunch. So, their "epiphany" is a little late.
I don't know whether to buy this line or not... I'm skeptical in the extreme but it sure is sounding lately like Tweety has pulled his mouth and ass out of the kool-aid trough.... Wonder if he has a hang-over to go with his next day buyers remorse... Tweety honey? You still may have to chew your arm off to really detach yourself from this pond scum you've been cheerleading for these last five plus years ...
I actually think Frybread@2 is on to something about all this media 'mea-culpa we're soo sorry' B.S..... tyree has a good point too.. Who indeed wrote all the copy/garbage they put out there for the last five years until now to snow people with... And the idea that ol fat Scotty's tattletail tell all tome is the one to break the honesty dam open is almost too surreal for words...
And really, all media apologies or whatever aside... Until Nancy sets a table and puts the 'I' word on it, I still don't really give a fuck what they have to say in their own defense at this point... Motherfuckers should have put their thinking caps on and tried some of that critical thinking shit way back at the beginning because ultimately? This far down the road? This many dead and maimed later and two nations with ruined economies?? You're all a day late and a couple trillion short of any absolution as far as I'm concerned.........JD
real journalists don't get misled because they do due diligence. these liars were carrying water for bushco and got caught so now it's because bushco mislead them. they are lying incompetents.
*by the way, by by I meant buy. I still say Gregory and Rove are bi together though.
Fascist fucks.
david gregory's performances at the white house press briefings were just that -- performances. they were calculated because the more testy the exchange the more likelihood he'd get facetime on the nightly news. i watched those briefings. it was interesting to watch that upon the end, he'd jump up out of his chair, usually laughing, but certainly enjoying the moment and then prepping for his teevee report.
would you perform back-up dancer for someone like karl rove?
Tweety was better in his grilling of Fleisher today, and in fact cross examined his inconsistencies in an earlier interview with Nora O'Donnell. If only he had been this aggressive 5 years ago and consistently. And David Gregory -- I disagree with your post -- he doesn't seem to have any insight into his own failures, or the ability to recognize them as such.
Are Chris Matthews and David Gregory considered journalists? Or are they simply pundits? American thinks they are journalists. They put themselves out there as journalists. Their networks display them as journalists. We need a list of true journalsts and send these others packing. I tend to think Bill Moyers is a journalist.
ABC News - Al Qaeda Supporters' Tape to Call for Use of WMDs
NY Times - A Scary Prank About Al Qaeda and W.M.D.
Where are the medals when a Bushy finally does good?
Is the press finally admitting their role or are they really just now getting it?
Either way, perhaps they should take Scott M's advice and start listening to the Liberal Media.
I have to admit, I'm proud of Scott, and surprised, too. Of all the little tyrant's men, he is not the one I'd have expected this from. I'm very curious to know what happened to open his eyes.
I really don't understand how G.W. got in office in the first place. Where were the crowds to protest the stolen election. I would hope that Rove, Cheney, and the likes would be handed life sentences for the frauds they have perpetrated.
Thomas Jefferson insisted on that the separation of powers was essential to prevent the consolidation of government and the formation of centralized, authoritarian tyranny to which all governments are prone. But that is exactly what GW Bush and especially Cheney has done.
In my mind American have every right to toss out the government that currently exsists. It is my hope that another fraud won't happen this fall. If it does I hope Americans will do something about it this time.
You may wonder why I as a Canadian think that I should be allowed to comment on American affairs? The reason is that as a Canadian I am affected by Americas actions. From the outside I can admire what Americas founding fathers attempted to achieve without being jaded by the reality of the America that currently is. As a Canadian I understand the noble intentions that founded the United States, but I also can see that your current administration wipes its ass with those good intentions.
It is time to re-regulate your media. So that they tell America the truth. How can anyone make any sort of informed decision when all you are fed is bull shit. It is the meddia that has pollarized America by feeding you left and right extremism. However at least the Left extremism doesn't suggest bombing other countries.
They're just figuring out this now, after over 4,000 US service personnel and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are dead. Gee, how can I be a journalist, too?
It's a mass desertion of rats from Bush$Co's sinking ship. What pisses me off is I know, everyone here knows, all of our elected officials (most of whom are WORTHLESS) know and most of the the American People know that George Bush and Dick Cheney lied about anything and everything they could possibly lie about. They have broken Constitutional Law God only knows how many times. Totally corrupted the DoJ. Not to mention are directly responsible for the deaths of over 4,000 of our men and women in uniform and untold and unknown tens if not hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis.
Stop talking about it andIMPEACH, CONVICT AND INCARCERATE THE CRIMINALS BUSH AND CHENEY!
You should include Tweety's interview with Ari Fleischer. "That's the White House talking point!" ... lol, I loved it.
Plant the story/quote the story. That's Bush/Cheney's legacy. That and not catching Osama and Zawahiri.
The problem with with "professional" journalists is that as careerists, dependent on access to the right people, they either play ball or they're out of the loop. That is a career ending move. Truth, as we have seen, is at best a secondary consideration.
I heard Gregory on MSNBC this morning talking about people who resigned from government on principle, ala Archibald Cox. HE INCLUDED KARL ROVE IN THAT CATEGORY. The Bush pod people may have gotten to Gregory that night he was on stage "dancing" with Turdblossom.
Gregory is also getting VERY defensive on Hardball about the role the press abdicated in the runup to war in Iraq.
JasonS @ 14:
compliments on your insightful analysis.
The press definitely let the USA down. I recall searching feverishly for the proof of WMDs or skepticism on the existence of WMDs and could find very little... The notable exception was Knight-Ridder (now McClatchy)... They got it right before it was a proven fact...
David Gregory has become a bit of a punk but I do recall him trying to ask some questions occasionally,, once they started bringing him into Studio for Sunday morning sit downs and the like he completely caved and commenced with the douchebaggery himself.
These talking heads and reporters have as much blood on their hands as anybody else. They knew what they were reporting from the WH was B.S., yet most continued to report it anyway. Their surprise and shock now is disingenuous.
Don't kid yourself, these talking heads all knew what was going on. Any anger or outrage they express at supposedly being "used" is laughable. They were knowing and willing accomplices, and now they're trying to pretend othewise. Their credibility is zero. Joseph Goebbel would have loved these guys.
i think matthews realizes that this will be the dividing line between the journalists people trust and the ones they don't.
The Today Show had the three network anchors on with their "reactions" to McClellan's book. The worst was ABC's Charles Gibson, who actually said (with a straight face):
“I think the questions were asked,” Gibson repeated. “It was just a drumbeat of support from the administration. It is not our job to debate them. It is our job to ask the questions.”
Criminal.
I'm more cynical and more convinced that the press by large knowingly supported the lies.
rend @ 59:
YEP.
Never forget Matthews and his Commander Codpiece routine the night of Mission Accomplished. He is not to be trusted.
Charles Gibson is a longstanding Bush whore.
Bill Moyers deserves the highest honor this country can bestow an honor upon a civilian. The media schools should retool themselves to emulate his approach to journalism. (Back to the Future! Do you realize the the University of Southern Colorado has a mass media degree? I don't know if the white, clueless bitch Dana Perrino has that degree under her "belt" but if I were the department head at that time I would be looking to hide my head in the sand. I've said it before, as an alumnus, I am truly ashamed her name appears in juxaposition to this years graduation ceremonies.
"Those who lied for you will lie against you...."
uh... is making people lie for you stupid ??
Let's go to the tape....now that Scotty boy has picked the scab off this old wound, can we get a replay of the "tough questions" Gregory, Matthews, et al asked during the runup to war?
btw, don't hold your breathe waiting for fox to own to their part in this canard.
Dave @ 54:
Agree, Gregory is very creepy. I feel sorry for Mathews, it's just an automatic reaction. HOWEVER.......we've all witnessed the media's compliance over the past five-plus year. Personally, I will never, ever forget the role they played, who they are, NO MATTER WHERE THEY SURFACE WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER...............I WILL NOT WATCH MSM OR ANYTHING THAT THE LIKES OFNOVACK, MILLER, RUSSERT, MATHEWS, ETC.,ETC., PUT THEIR HAND TO........not now, not ever.
rend @ 59:
post of the day!
Dave @ 66:
I disagree... I know of few on-air reporters who drill down harder on trying to get to the truth then Tweedie... Does he bat 1000, no... But he's as close to a heavy hitter as I have been able to find on-air... And a respectful nod to Bill Moyer too...
Annoyed Canuck @ 15:
Amen!!!
your not actually buying this bullshit are you?
they're just now realizing that the info they got from the WH could have been false? they're doing the same thing scotty's doing. trying to save face and jump off the sinking ship.
if they really had any integrity they would apologize and quit.
....Gregory, Matthews, et al asked during the runup to war?
I think remember seeing clips of Matthews comments on Bush's "Mission Accomplished" flight...
As the lead-in above indicated, what is the BIG deal as to Scott's about to be released book. Hell, Bill Moyers did a special edition on this very subject in April
2007, so this is not new news.
Oh, that's right, few(very, very few) of the our citizens ever take the time to tune
in to PBS and learn the facts; instead they continue to watch those AWFUL 24
hour cable networks who rarely get it right.
Guess you have to be an ex-press secretary, and write a book, for the truth to
come out AND finally be covered by the MSM. They ALL suck.
Tweety to Gregory: "Oh, you didn't get it wrong, we were manipulated!"
Note to Tweety: Scotty (and everyone else who carried water for Bushco) is trying the same shtick. Let us know how it works out for you.
Let's not forget David Gregory gave Bush his out in Uganda for the yellowcake gaff.
Its been repeated for the last oh, 5 years, but its worth saying again. We won't trust ANY of these MSM fuckwads, not now, not ever.
There's no satisfaction in Scotty coming clean. It's too little, too late. Too many dead sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers, not just American but all the countries involved, not least of which is Iraq. The press totally dropped the ball. The whole thing is just frustrating and sad. I hope young journalists will learn from this and maybe next time, and there will be a next time....but I'm not holding my breath, because even if the press did do its job, I think too many Americans are too ignorant or too stupid to care. Fucking horrible.
Annoyed Canuck @ 15:
Yes, let us all remember Tweety's man-crush over Bush in a flight suit with a codpiece in the crotch.
Vexed @ 74:
WHOA...........WAIT JUST A MINUTE, THERE. Bill Moyers is a God in the field of journalism. There is no compairson what so ever.
Are you sure you know who Bill Moyers is????????? OMG............OMG.........OMG~~~~~~~~~~
seevee @ 80:
You nailed it...stupidity of Americans. Or, as Albert Einstien is quoted:
"Only two things are infinite, the Universe and human stupidity. And I'm not sure
about the former."
Tweety to Gregory: “Oh, you didn’t get it wrong, we were manipulated!”
is that what CM said ? I'm sorry but didn't watch this clip..
so who is next in line to say "We were manipulated !!!"
Tim R, Bill O, Sean H, Rush L .. et al ?
What does Chis M think of his viewer ?? stupid ? I don't watch him though.. so
vrk @ 3:
Quick, take an aspirin.
This twit deserves no on's respect. He proved it over and over and over again starting when fawned over his hero, GW Asswipe in a jump suit aboard the SD aircraft carrier with the giant "Mission Accomplished" sign.
The only reason this jackass would say anything like this is as a start to rewrite his own sordid history as a BushCo propagandist. It's as simple as that. He's transparent and pathetic. An assclown.
To his credit, Chris Matthews today connected the dots and made as clear a case as possible that the White House used, in the case he cited, The New York Times to inject into the national dialogue completely bogus information that Cheney, Bush and Condoleezza Rice would later cite on the Sunday talk shows in order to scare Americans into supporting the Iraq War.
TO HIS CREDIT.... BUSH ALSO CONNECTED THE DOTS.... PICTURE TURNED OUT TO BE A CATERPILLER ON A MUSHROOM
These guys were NEVER so clueless that they didn't know propaganda when it slapped their effin faces, right from the start.
I'm not a journalist, but even *I* knew that an "embedded reporter" was a propagandist.
I know the expression "whore" is overused, but truly: They are all corporate media whores.
!! Chris Matthews is not innocent in falling down on the job but David Gregory is not being sincere. He was partially responsible for letting the white house get away with these deceptions. At least Chris admits that the press namely the producers took this rush to war and went along with it. There was pressure from all quarters to 'push" the war and David Gregory is reaping the benefits of playing nice. He has got a show. At least Tucker Carlson was against the war with Pat B. David Gregory does a great job at brown nosing, not being truthful. Not buying it. One of the most outrageous segments I have seen in this nightmare of the last 5 years. This is the example of crooks and liars !!!
kerplunk @ 45:
They only need two people credited to the White House Press room, throw the rest out -- Helen Thomas and Jack Cafferty. Give them them power to say, "You're full of bullshit!" and bitch-slap Dana Perino every time she lies.
chicano2nd @ 68: