Alas, Laura Ingraham, Chris Matthews ISN'T "better than that"

By Michael Gaynor

"Chris Matthews, ponder Matthew 7:3: 'Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?' (English Standard Version, 2001)."

Chris Matthews of NBC and MSNBC calls his weeknight show "Hardball" and regularly throws beanballs and spitballs at Republicans and shills for President Obama while posing as a moderate. David Korn, Washington bureau chief of Mother Jones, the radical magazine named after the socialist woman who co-founded the Industrial Workers of the World, an international union that wants all workers should be united as a class, the age system abolished and workplace democracy in which workers elect their managers, is a regular Matthews guest.

Conservative radio and tv star Laura Ingraham is rightly outraged that the efforts of race-baiters Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson apparently provoked vicious attacks on innocent white people in the wake of the tragic Trayvon Jackson-George Zimmerman encounter. She did not hold back in her criticism of their provocative remarks. Instead she played them on her show and explained why they were so dangerous. For an illuminating discussion between Ingraham and a caller, listen to "Nate speaks as an African-American who opposes the race-baiting of Al Sharpton — April 24, 2012" (www.lauraingraham.com/calloftheday).

On August 24, 2012, conservative radio and tv star Laura Ingraham chided Matthews for called the Republican Party "the grand wizard" crowd. Ingraham posted this message on her website (www.lauraingraham.com/b/Chris-Matthews-calls-GOP/29417615235281970.htm): "More from the racial healing set — MSNBC's Chris Matthews insults his black guest, former RNC chief Michael Steele (and all Republicans) with one of the more incendiary off-hand remarks ever made on cable news. MSNBC's Hardball host Chris Matthews has a short-hand way of referencing the GOP — the "grand wizard crowd." This type of commentary is not only irresponsible and slanderous, it fans the racially charged attitudes setting the stage for vicious reprisal attacks against innocent Americans. (See the video of the day for the hate crime that took place in Mobile, AL last Saturday night.) Do Comcast shareholders actually countenance this from one of its cable network's most recognizable (and well-paid) hosts? And yes, Chris Matthews is better than this."

Ingraham is right about the insult and fanning, but not about Matthews being "better than this."

Maybe Matthews once WAS better, but he isn't now.

Matthews is determined to reelect President Obama has only gotten worse since I posted "Chris Matthews is a hypocritical, sexist Obama shill targeting Sarah Palin" on January 12, 2011 (http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/gaynor/110112).

I wrote:

"Chris Matthews, February 12, 2008: 'I have to tell you, you know, it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often.'

"Now Matthews is advising Sarah Palin to promote her presidential prospects by apologizing for her 'Don't retreat, reload' slogan and a map that targeted with cross hairs Democrats running against candidates whom Palin supported (as though Democrats had not previously used a similar map targeting Republicans).

"Sarah, you may be the solution to the problem that is Obama and 'that man' — Chris Matthews — does NOT have your best interests at heart. He's a hypocrite, a sexist and an Obama shill targeting YOU!

"Why didn't Matthews condemn and abandon Obama in June 2008, after Obama called for bringing a gun to a knife fight?

"Politico's Ben Smith (www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Obama_brings_a_gun_to_a_knife_fight.html) wrote on June 14, 2008: 'The McCain campaign and RNC are pouncing on another line from the Obama pool report: "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun," Obama said in Philadelphia last night. "Because from what I understand, folks in Philly like a good brawl. I've seen Eagles fans."'

"Saying that bringing a gun to a knife fight makes for 'a good brawl' is NOT presidential.

"Smith continued: 'Obama never paid much of a price for his willingness to go negative. He...never promised that he wouldn't attack, and indeed often promised to be tougher than past Democrats, and bragged of his Chicago training....'

"The New York Times reported Obama's 'bring a gun' speech this way (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/obama-we-bring-a-gun/):

'Senator Barack Obama was fund-raising Friday night in Philadelphia. But he was talking about "the Chicago way."

'Channeling the mob drama, "The Untouchables," Mr. Obama said in reference to the general election rumble with the Republicans: "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun."'

"Matthews should read the following comments to the article to appreciate his hypocrisy, sexism and partisanship:

'It seems that the "Chicago way" in politics is worse than the "Republican way." This is what the Democrats brought on the political scene — the gang style of the early 1930s. New politics or recycled politics? Obama's manipulative words and tricky political games hurt democracy more than any guns.'

'Why are the Republicans being so whiny? They're the ones who are used to playing dirty politics.'

'I guess they're not used to Democrats who can take a punch and respond with a haymaker.'

'This is sadly so laughable! Senator Clinton was pummeled with complaints of violent racism for speaking about RFK's 1960's run for presidency. She... said the dreaded word "assassination' (with no implication of anything negative), and the media, as well as Obama's camp, had a heyday attacking her about it. She may have lost the election in part because of it.

'So now Obama, trying to portray youth and hipness, jokingly says he'll bring a gun to the meet McCain.

'You folks are completely *nuts* that you are not criticizing him, and I am flabbergasted that you are saying he's so cool. Come on, he is spouting pure violence wrapped on pretty pop culture. Such double standards.'

'Obama's statement is tantamount to incitement to violence. What kind of message is this sending to our kids who are trying to resist the allure of gang culture? How does this statement help families and communities who are trying to keep their kids out of gangs.

'That a candidate for President should make such an outrageous statement renders him totally unfit for the office of President.

'After making such an outrageous statement, Obama should take the only honorable course open to him and withdraw his candidacy.'

'This was clearly a metaphor comparing the relative strength of the Democratic and Republican positions. You know... a way to use language that is memorable. Instead of an intergovernmental memo. Language counts, and Obama understands that.'

'Senator Obama makes a good point. Since the ultra-conservative Republicans often shriek about Democrats being "weak" — I think it's about time to use powerful and straight-forward language. Senator Obama is the man for the job. He sends a strong message to these conservative scoundrels — that they're time is up!

'For all of you w*nkers saying "it's only a metaphor," you're missing the point. Imagine for a moment if HRC had used such a metaphor.

'It's the double standard again.

'And for all of you who claim that it's different for Clinton to use a gun metaphor because Obama is somehow more at risk than Clinton for assassination, gimme a break. That's a creation of your mind, with its prejudices and its hushed veneration of your Chosen Lamb.

'How can you pretend to know what some LUNATIC is likely to do? Lunatics kill women out of a generalized bigotry toward and hatred of women as a class all the time (Amish schoolgirls, anyone?), sometimes even specifically as a way to stop women from getting ahead. Anyone recall the Montreal massacre of female engineering students? Oh, maybe not, since the same press that's been lionizing Obama also decided no one cared about that crime and buried it.

'The truth is that a bigoted lunatic might try to do in either Clinton or Obama, but Clinton isn't a rock star with a reverential celebrity following and supporters who are in love with her, so no one concocts these tragic romantic fantasies about her.'

'Senator Obama can only speak successfully when he is given a prepared speech. When he tries to speak extemporaneously he misspeaks. Here is another example in which he shows a lack of judgement and political immaturity. He'll bring guns to fight the GOP? And we're all supposed to think he's cool because he's making reference to a film?

'Why is he joking about guns? Has he no sensitivity to the enormous gun violence problem in the US today? This man is not fit to be President. And don't accuse me of being a Republican. I'm a Democrat who is disappointed in the Democratic candidate.'

'My, my, my! All the fake outrage about the "knife/gun" comment. It's almost as lame as the Republicans. And this is a new kind of politics: a politics where the democrat doesn't stand by like a scared kid and allow republicans to swift boat him because it's "taking the high road."

'For months HRC supporters said "the republicans will destroy Bambi; he's no match for them!" When Obama shows he can give as good as he gets now HRC supporters are saying "whatever happened to the politics of hope?"'

'The whining and outrage over this comment is hilarious.

'Let me see, if I understand it, there's two groups in a tizzy over this bringing a gun to a knifefight comment. One would be the Republicans (oh dear me he is being SOOO negative) The other are people who I assume a Clinton Democrats (or are they really Republicans pretending to be Clinton Democrats) "Oooh how nasty. He's a thug. OVER MY DEAD BODY!"

'Give me a break. Democratic candidates have been Swiftboated and Roved and Willie Hortoned by Republicans for years. I personally like a little tough talk from a Democratic candidate.'

'Violent language is not the sole [province] of men. Hillary Clinton, after all, said that we could "totally obliterate Iran" and talked very often about being a "fighter." I really like Hillary Clinton and would have voted for her had she become the nominee, so please don't take this as an attack on her. I just wanted to point out that such language is a part of politics — especially from Democrats (male and female) who know their party has lost in the past due to candidates who were perceived as weak.

'When Senator Clinton calls herself a "fighter,' she is absolutely and endlessly ridiculed, with Obama professing that a fighter is *exactly* what this country DOES NOT NEED.

'Now, Obama tries to be witty and charming with ignorant gun and violence references, and the Obama supporters say it is a part of politics, and a necessary and needed one.'

'Are you saying that it is typical of Obama supporters to ridicule Clinton for language that they approve from Obama? If so, that is not what I was doing: while I did not like Clinton's "obliterate Iran" comment, I understood that by talking about herself as a fighter, she was attempting to counteract the perception of Democrats (and possibly women) as weaker than Republicans, and I certainly never ridiculed her for it in any way. I did not insult her for making these statements in my comment — I was simply, as I said, pointing out that using tough language is not something that only male candidates do.

'I didn't see anything the matter with Obama's remark. He was using a quote from a movie (spoken by a policeman) in a figurative way to say that he would not take the kind of vicious and often scurrilous attacks that Republicans have dealt in past elections lying down. To say that he is somehow promoting violence seems like an overreaction, just as I thought that people overreacted to some of Clinton's remarks.

'I might add: Obviously, there are some people who just hate her, just as there are some people who just hate Obama, but I think that some people didn't like Clinton's "fighter" comments because they felt like they were directed against Obama, who was a fellow Democrat, while tough language from Obama is being directed at his opponents in the general election.'

'..."We bring a gun" Obama said, and his followers cried foul, to those who took offense...only a metaphor...President Bush said "bring them on," in response to terrorist who attacked our country...and President Bush is called a cowboy... recruiting more terrorist.

'The Democrats and Obama want it both ways...their way...they have no desire to compromise with the Republicans, their goal is to gain power....'

'Mr & Mrs Obama are the "untouchables" from Chicago.

'So what other kind of metaphor would you expect from them. Too cute for my liking, when you consider the countless number of innocent lives lost to guns.'

'This is a disgusting comment.

'Black youths are killing each other every day and Obama makes comments like THIS?

'Why isn't he telling people to put their GUNS down?

'What a scarey outlook for America with an Obama Presidency.

'The next time a car backfires in Pittsburgh and 150 people hit the sidewalk, lets all HAIL OBAMA for his positive comments for urban youth ears to hear.'

'We bring a gun????!! Did he just say that? He is running for president, isn't he? And he did run an entire campaign on an anti-war platform, didn't he? Didn't he, along with his second gun Axelrod, ATTACK Hillary for negativity? But it's ok to talk about bringing a gun to a political process, that image is acceptable? The hypocrisy of just about everything he says is outrageous.

'Which is it, Obama — peacenik or gangsta?'

'ps. Obama supporters, answer this: What if McCain had made that statement about guns?...

'You know and I know that you would have been all over him. You would have connected it to the war, to the evil in the republican hearts, you name it. Stop stop stop the double standard for Obama. What is the matter with you people that you want the guy in so bad that you can't even critique him???????

'It is NOT COOL for a presidential candidate to be "bringing guns" anywhere, metaphorically most of all. Esp. a black candidate courting the black vote and pretending to be a role model for black youth (not a racist comment, it's a real problem). This after yesterdays missing Dads comment?

'If you don't think it matters, think it out: The third grade is studying their presidential candidates. Joey says, "Obama will bring guns? Cool. I want the dude who will bring the guns...'"

"Yes, it completely matters....'

"Chris Matthews, ponder Matthew 7:3: 'Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?' (English Standard Version, 2001)."

© Michael Gaynor