Patterico's Pontifications

11/8/2008

Chris Matthews: My Job Is To Help Make Obama’s Presidency a Success

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 8:09 am



Serious question: is Chris hitting the sauce here?

55 Responses to “Chris Matthews: My Job Is To Help Make Obama’s Presidency a Success”

  1. He should be fired I think. If I tried to appropriate my company’s resources to further my own political agenda I sure would be.

    happyfeet (71f55e)

  2. Did he ever try to make the G.W. Bush presidency work?

    Ira (28a423)

  3. Gee Chris, tell me again why it wasn’t your job to help make the Bush presidency succeed. Wanker.

    Joe Miller (207166)

  4. Is this a surprise? The guy is just “coming out of the closet,” so to speak. But everyone know that Mathews wasn’t “hitting the sauce” as much as “drinking the Kooaid.”

    Honestly, imagine how Mathews would have treated a Republican candidate—eloquent or not, African-American or not—who sat in a racialist church for 20 years (complete with a pastor who claimed that the US government manufactured HIV), had sweetheart deals with corrupt officials, made silly gaffes like the “57 states” business, was the second largest recipient of Fannie Mae funds, etc.

    Obama got a bromance deal with the MSM from the very start. The election is over. The guy is our President now, and I hope things don’t go as badly as I suspect they will. Screaming about it now doesn’t help.

    Maybe the MSM will hold Obama accountable for his words and actions from now on. We’ll see. Finally, Mathews is being open about his—and the MSM’s—role in government.

    I hope he will be disciplined for this breach of journalistic integrity. But he won’t. Nuance, as Ace would write.

    Eric Blair (a723e0)

  5. is Chris hitting the sauce here?

    Is the Pope Catholic?

    Mike LaRoche (6a9875)

  6. He “doesn’t question motives?” Huh? Since when?
    Here’s one example: he questioned John McCain’s motive for suspending his campaign to focus on the financial crisis.
    Here’s another: he questioned Bush’s “motive” for the war in Iraq.

    And on and on…

    Viktor Nehring (6c107f)

  7. Once Tip O’Neill’s cabana boy, now Obama’s cabana boy.

    Dmac (e30284)

  8. Liberal bias in the media? Well, no, there’s no evidence which shows bias, none at all. Clearly, the reporters and broadcasters are careful to be objective and fair. The record proves it.

    Sure, you can cherry-pick the news for examples which seem to favor one side or the other, but when taken in context, or viewed from an overall perspective, there is no question that professional news outlets (with the exception of FOX News) are even-handed, objective, and fair to everyone, except Republicans.

    Ropelight (5b609a)

  9. is Chris hitting the sauce here?

    He’s a swallower.

    Darleen (187edc)

  10. Darleen: Best three word post. Ever.

    Old Coot (8a493c)

  11. I agree it is not his job to make this presidency work. That’s what all the media did for Bush for the first 5 years. If only they had questioned everything W did the first 4 years, we might not have been stuck with him the 2nd 4 disasterous years.

    anmsnbcwonk (0e49aa)

  12. You don’t have to cherry-pick the news for evidence of bias you can just not watch it or consume it and then it becomes even more beholden to the left. Automatically. That seems to be what Matthews is acknowledging. If MSNBC pisses off liberals they don’t have a business model left.

    happyfeet (71f55e)

  13. The idiot Editor from the NYT said something similar.

    Anyone with two brain cells knew this — nice to hear it confirmed from a horse’s mouth errr ass.

    Robert Rodriguez (54247e)

  14. Pretty obvious to me he’s whoring auditioning for WH press secretary.

    Tom W (ab941b)

  15. That’s what all the media did for Bush for the first 5 years.

    Really – then please, by all means let’s see some examples of the egregious MSM tongue – bathing to Bush. Links must be included, btw.

    Dmac (e30284)

  16. Pretty obvious to me he’s whoring auditioning for WH press secretary.

    Tom W (ab941b)

  17. The press helped Bush 01 to 05?

    Bwaaaaaaaaa, again a liberal inventing history

    Robert Rodriguez (54247e)

  18. But at heart he’s a good man, right?

    Stephen macklin (f552f7)

  19. Serious question: is Chris hitting the sauce here?

    Nope, just trying to help out a good man.

    I kid, I kid

    sears poncho (319646)

  20. Try these for starters…..
    http://mediamatters.org/items/200512240002

    anmsnbcwonk (0e49aa)

  21. “mediamatters” “bush spying scandal”

    Yeah…real objective source there…

    are you like Pauline Kael?

    Darleen (187edc)

  22. I think He is looking to be Press Secretary for POTUS, or maybe Dou Che’ bag for First Lady???

    David (cb8a6a)

  23. From Dana Perino, to Chris Mathews…

    Now, there is change you can believe in gag over!

    Another Drew (70642b)

  24. Seriously though, MSNBC/NBC has (have) a real dilemma on their hands. Matthews has been suggested as a possible Democrat candidate for the Pennsylvania Senate seat that Arlen Specter currently holds. If he plans on using his show to help promote the Obama Administration, isn’t he also setting himself up to run in a more favorable political climate? The peacock network needs to really think hard about the potential conflict of interest here.

    JVW (f93297)

  25. Greetings:

    Moral superiority is the cocaine of the 21st century.

    11B40 (f5fa53)

  26. Oh, so let me see if I get this straight.

    In the entrenched media, your “job” is to make every non-leftist look bad and your “job” is to make every leftist look “good”.

    Therefore, ipso facto we should regard your “facts” as suspect on their face, and since I already know your opinions…you aren’t worth watching.

    You see, we were fooled once, into thinking that your “job” was to call them as you see them, present the facts, (all the facts, not just some), in an undistorted, unbiased, fair, balanced and objective manner.

    We got this silly notion based upon the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.

    http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

    Let me just highlight a couple that may interest you and your tingling leg.

    Seek Truth and Report It
    Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

    Journalists should:

    — Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.

    — Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

    — Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.

    — Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.

    — Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.

    — Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

    — Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context

    — Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

    Act Independently
    Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know.

    Journalists should:

    —Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
    — Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
    — Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
    — Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
    — Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
    — Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
    — Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.

    Be Accountable
    Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

    Journalists should:

    — Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
    — Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
    — Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
    — Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
    — Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

    Now, all we have to do is go through some of these with MSNBC, Matthews, ABC, CNN, NYTimes, LATImes, Reuters, AP, ABC, CBS, Rather, Mapes, Gwen Ifil, David Gregory, ….and see if they have ever intended to abide by ANY of them.

    The clear answer…is no. And the “ombudsmen” and “reader representatives” are paid alibi makers and co-conspirators in the “in your face” disgrace of the septic disease that is endemic in the entrenched media and causing their irrelevancy and creeping necrosis.

    I would say that they have shamed themselves, but shame requires a conscience.

    They must now feel rewarded and invincible for having violated every ethical standard openly and notoriously and they risk no punishment, they risk no rebuke, they risk nothing for near criminal violation of a public trust.

    Bring on the “fairness doctrine”, …but you better pray the pendulum doesn’t ever swing back against you…because, while I am vocal about not emulating the bad behavior of those I condemn…in this case…I would make an exception.

    cfbleachers (1f4df1)

  27. “My Job Is To Help Make Obama’s Presidency a Success”

    Nice to see Matthews come right out and admit that he’s a propagandist for the liberal Democrats…like the vast majority of the folks in the MSM.

    Kind of a dog bites man story, though.

    Dave Surls (00087b)

  28. Amputate the talking heads to save the news.

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)

  29. We know girlie man Chrissie worked for Carter administration as speech writer. I can’t find a link, but I think he was the assclown who penned that malaise speech.

    Years later on Hardball, watched by dozens of viewers, Chrissie referred to Jimmuh C. as a brain-damaged jackass. http://161.58.5.90/fmj/pukes.wav

    So right now what blood Chrissie does possess migrated from his brain to his penis when he’s around or thinking of Obama. Down the road a bit, will Matthews throw Obama under the boss too or perhaps O! will reject Chrissie?

    Here’s one for DMJ: Matthews came down with malaria from either a trip to Africa OR TEXAS (wikipedia). Damnit, I did not realize Texas let the mosquitoes multiply that badly.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  30. Why is this even news? We all know his last job was to help make Obama’s candidacy a success. Isn’t this the next logical step?

    Xrlq (a6c07c)

  31. In response to your question, yes, I think so. Aside from the slurring and the slack face: in vino veritas.

    Jackie (132051)

  32. My advise would be to show a bit more decorum and hide the obvious infatuation, before he further embarrasses himself and his employer, that wonderful bastion of journalistic purity, MSNBC. Heh.
    It is sincerely hoped that there will be no sudden appearance on Oprah, where we will find ole’ Chris suddenly jumping up and down, declaring his undying “loovve”. But then Chris has, in recent years been a spectacle that continues to embarrass and prove that MSNBC will continue to fade and die in ignominy. Farewell, farewell, oh odious one.

    WolfBron (5c3e4e)

  33. Don’t you just love the old stories google will turn up if they aren’t yet disappeared?

    Chrissie doesn’t see himself as part of America’s winners circle, but he is a working class champion. Two years ago, Olberdouche (oops, I mean Olberman) was pushing for a 400% raise and the word was no way in hell would he get it, but alas he did get the $4 million despite shitty viewership. That’s capitalism for you. Funny- you type in “olberdouche” and you do still get krappy keith. So the point is why would msnbc and such pay him that much when girlie man Chrissie only makes $5 mil a year? Chrissie has to suffer with the three Mercedes and fancy digs in Chevy Chase. Would be nice to see him as press secretary though. He could end up being O!s Scott McClellan.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  34. I don’t understand how this man still has a job after admitting his malfeasance…he just told his audience that he won’t report any incendiary news regarding Obama’s presidency…doesn’t that disqualify you? Honestly, this guy has lost it.

    Richard Romano (b96fd9)

  35. Moderator email me pls, thx.

    Peter (e70d1c)

  36. My mother told me to date someone through ALL the holidays before marriage.

    The Democrats just married someone without dating him through all the holidays.

    Chris Matthews is about to wake up next to a stranger. Will he want a divorce, or try to stay together for the sake of the children?

    RC (cec759)

  37. Time to change the show’s name to “Softball” (aka “Larry King Live”).

    Icy Truth (84d054)

  38. If only it were possible that what Matthews meant was: “My job is to hold the Obama administration to account for each and every wrong thing they do, so that they will then do the right things and thereby be successful”.

    But of course, unfortunately, that is not what he meant. What he meant is that he will be in the tank spinning everything they choose to do, so as to convince the public that “If you’ll just let him do what he wants, he will be successful”.

    Succussful at creating The United Socialist States of America.

    I feel a tingle running up and down my leg . . . I think it’s an early warning sign of a stroke.

    Icy Truth (84d054)

  39. I’m shocked, because journalists usually aren’t biased.

    steve miller (41e5fd)

  40. Peter,

    I checked and there aren’t any comments in the filter.

    DRJ (cb68f2)

  41. thx drj

    Peter (e70d1c)

  42. Try these for starters…..

    Wow, good comeback, citing Media Matters to buttress your lunacy. What’s next on your agenda, Pravda?

    Dmac (e30284)

  43. “My job is to be totally biased and to neither question fearless leader’s actions nor his motives.”

    That might as well be what he said.

    Icy Truth (0466e6)

  44. I like this version better – a guy reacts appropriately halfway through (whole thing’s only :53 and worth it):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBUjf0eRIk4

    Another howler from the vid above:
    “I don’t question motives…It’s the worst thing you can do in journalism is trying to figure out motive.”

    What happened to the way the links usually work here BTW? My computer going wacky?

    no one you know (1f5ddb)

  45. So Chris thinks Obama is unable to do the job of president without his help? Whoa, Chris, why the lack of confidence in your guy?

    Mo (60fb53)

  46. I wish he had been so supportive of Bush! It is truly sad to see somone with his job to stoop so low as to openly cheer for the One’s success. I just hope the rest of the press open their eyes and truly cover the president as we have always done in this country before it is too late.

    Linda Hand (914054)

  47. Anyway possible to boycott his advertisers?

    Robert Rodriguez (54247e)

  48. No honeymoon for Obama I suppose. Never mind that the country is in crises! We have a president-elect to vilify any way we can! We’re the patriots!

    Psyberian (37b2ae)

  49. #48: I see, so any criticism of the President is no longer allowed. I guess you’re going to practice what you accused the right of during the Bush years. Whatever happened to dissent being the highest form of patriotism? Or do you not care what Thomas Jefferson stands for anymore?

    Sean P (4e644b)

  50. The link button was changed to make it easier.

    Is it not easier?

    Patterico (3a0c1b)

  51. Patterico

    Yes, that is easier and just when I had figured out the last one.

    LOL

    Right Bias

    ML (14488c)

  52. Psyberian whines about criticism of Obama. This is hilarious – Democrats whining about their guy getting just a tiny fraction of the abuse they dished out.

    On that topic, hey, so much for change, Jamie Gorelick for Attorney General! That shows just how much BS the whole “change” slogan was. Jamie Gorelick is just one of a host of examples of the kind of corrupt, incompetent twits we saw in the Clinton administration. The Democrats worked hard to hide her complicity in the incompetence of intelligence that led to 9/11 – of course, putting her on the 9/11 Commission helped that out. And then she pops up in Fannie Mae.

    And Obama will bring her back!

    SPQR (26be8b)

  53. You’d think Mathews’wife (also a so-called journalist)would slap him. He was awful before Obama, but with Obama he has been acting like a 5th grade school girl with her first crush. He is embarassing himself, his family and is a disgrace to journalism. I would have added MSNBC, but that has been impossible for some time.

    Gary L. Zerman (55474e)

  54. I want to know what he’s blinking!

    It’s not “torture,” is it?

    Dan S (c77713)


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