Chris Matthews a Target for Clinton Crime Family Supporters

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/matthews_vs_clinton/2008/01/12/63861.html

Chris Matthews a Target for Clinton Fans

Saturday, January 12, 2008

NEW YORK -- He's become the target for critics who think a backlash against

the media played a part in Hillary Clinton's surprise win in New Hampshire.

Chris Matthews laughs off that idea, and insists he has a lot of respect for

her.

The MSNBC "Hardball" host had more explaining to do after Clinton's victory

when he said that the reason Clinton is a candidate for president "is that

her husband messed around."

"I do like the fact that `Hardball' is a heat-seeker," the rapid-fire

political commentator told The Associated Press. "My job is to provide

excitement and to bring it into the show and have people argue about things

that they would normally argue about."

Matthews was the focal point for the anger many women felt at how Clinton's

candidacy seemed to be written off with lightning speed following a loss in

Iowa and foreboding poll numbers in New Hampshire. He is a man and he is

ever sure of himself.

He also had a history: The liberal watchdog Media Matters for America

counted more than eight negative remarks Matthews made about Clinton for

every positive one during September, October and November.

Another study, by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, found that 58

percent of stories on Clinton on the main ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News Channel

newscasts from the beginning of October to mid-December were dominated by

negative comments. By contrast, 61 percent of the comments about Barack

Obama were positive, and so was 67 percent of the John Edwards coverage.

Watching "ill-disguised hatred and resentment" toward Clinton in the days

before New Hampshire made writer Rebecca Traister feel guilty that she

hadn't stood up for Clinton before.

"Had I been a New Hampshire voter on Tuesday, I would have pulled a lever

for the former first lady with a song in my heart and a bird flipped at

MSNBC's Chris Matthews," Traister wrote in Salon.

Blogger Christy Hardin Smith in Firedoglake also seethed.

"Chris Matthews, it's high time for you to go," she wrote. "None of us

dainty ladies out here who depend on our husbands to get anywhere in life

will pull out our lace hankies, drop into our fainting couches and cry a

single tear when you're gone."

Matthews said he believe it was a time of great sensitivity in America and

that nerves are rawer now over gender than race. People are looking for ways

to make statements and criticizing him is one way to do it, he said.

"I will say this about Hillary Clinton, I've said it a thousand times on my

show, when I'm with Hillary Clinton, I like her," he said. "If it has to do

with the two of us getting along or me respecting her intellect, it's

obvious to anyone who has seen us together ... that she is intellectually

stimulating as a human being and is always positive."

Matthews also said Clinton displayed real courage under fire the final few

days of the New Hampshire campaign in the way she kept fighting even though

she knew she would probably lose.

Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson declined a chance to offer his

opinion of Matthews.

Toward the end of his primary coverage on Tuesday, Matthews remarked that he

would never underestimate Clinton again.

After a short night's sleep, Matthews appeared on Joe Scarborough's morning

MSNBC show and said Clinton's appeal has always been about a mix of

toughness and sympathy.

"Let's not forget, and I'll be brutal, the reason she's a U.S. senator, the

reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a frontrunner,

is that her husband messed around," he said.

Bam! That quote raced around the Internet and unleashed a fresh round of

anger toward Matthews at a time emotions were already frayed.

Joy Behar went on the attack on "The View," saying it felt like men were

piling on Clinton.

"I thought it was a patently ridiculous statement to make after having

stated so emphatically the night before that he would never underestimate

Hillary Clinton again," said Rachel Maddow, a liberal commentator and "Air

America" talk show host who was on the MSNBC set that night.

However, she also said Matthews is the best political analyst on television

for his knowledge, quickness and ability to be critical while anchoring a

broadcast.

"Chris is relatively impervious to criticism," she said. "I think Chris does

what he wants."

Matthews said his comments referred to the late 1990s, when Clinton made

some appearances to support New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and impressed pols

with her grace under pressure during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Shortly

thereafter, she was asked to run for the Senate from New York.

He's surprised more people _ particularly the women on "The View" _ don't

remember that as the birth of her political career.

"I thought it was an unexceptional statement," he said.

On Sun, 13 Jan 2008 07:54:27 -0500, "Patriot Games" <Patriot@America.com> wrote:

>http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/matthews_vs_clinton/2008/01/12/63861.html

>

>Chris Matthews a Target for Clinton Fans

>

>Saturday, January 12, 2008

>

>NEW YORK -- He's become the target for critics who think a backlash against

>the media played a part in Hillary Clinton's surprise win in New Hampshire.

>Chris Matthews laughs off that idea, and insists he has a lot of respect for

>her.

>

>The MSNBC "Hardball" host had more explaining to do after Clinton's victory

>when he said that the reason Clinton is a candidate for president "is that

>her husband messed around."

>

Amazing. The media seldom tells the truth when it comes to the Clintons and when

someone does he is denigrated. Only in America.....AAC

What is Clinton's experience? Will someone ever detail the cases

she worked on as an attorney, what organizations she provided services

for, what she did without a security clearance in the White House?

I realize that my inquiry is comparable to noting that the emperor has

no clothes on, but this constant refrain about Clinton's purported

experience makes this old feminist's blood boil. I thought we were

supposed to be assessed on our own strengths and weaknesses, not those

of our spouses......Becky Mocciaro