MyDD :: Apologize, Chris Matthews

Apologize, Chris Matthews

by Matt Stoller, Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 11:01:30 AM EST

Georgia10 has a great piece out today on the language of treason.

Darksyde wrote yesterday about Chris Matthews who stated bin Laden "sounds like an over the top Michael Moore here, if not a Michael Moore." And Joe Scarborough had an orgasmic experience with Tucker Carlson yesterday: they gushed over clips juxtaposing statements of John Kerry, Howard Dean, John Murtha, and Ted Kennedy with bin Laden's words. The GOP talking point saturated the air waves: bin Laden and liberals are on the same side, ergo, liberals are aiding the terrorists.

Peter Daou, Crooks and Liars, John Aravosis, Digby, and Jane Hamsher rounded up the coverage so far.

And John Kerry has stepped in:

You'd think the only focus tonight would be on destroying Osama Bin Laden, not comparing him to an American who opposes the war whether you like him or not. You want a real debate that America needs? Here goes: If the administration had done the job right in Tora Bora we might not be having discussions on Hardball about a new Bin Laden tape. How dare Scott McClellan tell America that this Administration puts terrorists out of business when had they put Osama Bin Laden out of business in Afghanistan when our troops wanted to, we wouldn't have to hear this barbarian's voice on tape. That's what we should be talking about in America." -- John Kerry

This is not about Michael Moore, this is about what it means to be an American. Are we a country of strongmen who thrive on bullying and accusations of treason, or can we tolerate divergent views? Is the media about raw power and shouting ability, or is it about journalism? That's the question that Matthews must answer. Calling Americans treasonous murderers because of their political views has no place in American politics or journalism. Chris Matthews needs to apologize, now.

UPDATE: Add your comments at this blog, which was set up to get feedback on Chris Matthews. Since MSNBC doesn't have a place for open viewer feedback on their web site, this will serve as a substitute. So go say hi and comment on Chris Matthews and his latest outrage. MSNBC will be listening.

Tags: Media (all tags)

Permalink :: 19 Comments :: Post a Comment

Not to be a conspiracy nut, but . . , (none / 0)

Only two things explain bin Laden's remarks:

It is a pale attempt at psychological warfare, trying to create a political wedge in the U.S.
It is being directed by someone who wants the American left to look like allies of bin Laden.

Now, for those of us who aren't sold that the American intelligence apparatus is clean, option two is worth considering seriously before being dismissed.

Osama says some awfully convenient things that help the right in America maintain its core arguments about the left and terrorism.

by jcjcjc on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 11:13:13 AM EST

Re: Not to be a conspiracy nut, but . . , (none / 0)

If it indeed was Osama Bin Laden? How do we know?

by thinkforyourself on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 02:54:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Not to be a conspiracy nut, but . . , (none / 0)

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by soulina1 on Sun Sep 17, 2006 at 09:30:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

What a great slam by Kerry. (none / 0)

What an excellent comeback. Very well done and thought out.

The problem is, though, is we should probably be ignoring this sort of crap. It's preposterous and doesn't get us anywhere. Maybe we should keep some facts handy, though, so when it comes up it can be quickly squashed. Like "I think your comparison of (person x) to Osama bin Laden (or Hilter or person y) is absurd. I could also point out that the two of the most common words that bin Laden and Bush use are "Freedom and Liberty" but I don't think that it matters and I really don't think they believe the same things or are even talking about the same things. This way we can quickly dismiss and diffuse the outrage.

"Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil."... Plato

by Spartacus on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 11:13:35 AM EST

Re: What a great slam by Kerry. (none / 0)

For me, its all about who can get the work done. Kerry is the man. He said he would be a strong voice in the senate, and he is.

I don't care about the debate otherwise. Kerry's right. Whats his name, over at hardballs or whatever the show is - can go pound sunshine up his arse as far as I'm concerned. I don't get into political theatre, whether its chriss matthews or Osama Bin Laden.

by turnerbroadcasting on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 12:51:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

contacting idiots like Matthews (none / 0)

Apologies if this has been addressed recently, but has anyone compiled a master list of contact information for these buffoons? Email, fax, phone...anything.

by timraines on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 11:50:55 AM EST

Let's play Hardball (none / 0)

with the bitch:

(202) 824-6707.

by zappatero on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 11:52:13 AM EST

Tweety has always been a wrongnut sockpuppet (none / 0)

Somerby has a partial transcript of Tweety's humilating command performance on the Imus show.

Somerby's Daily Howler archives on Tweety contain pages of links to his journalistic malpractice. What boggles the mind is how this type of journalistic bottom feeding can slip under the radar of all of the self appointed M$M ethics nazis who whine about the ethics of bloggers.

Who's kidding who? Tweety and Michael Savage are ideological brothers by different mothers. They pollute America's airwaves with toxic waste and should be fined by the FCC for violations of public indecency. How is some poor schmuck saying "Fuck" more offensive than what Tweety and Savage put on the airwaves on a daily basis?

by Gary Boatwright on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 12:10:07 PM EST

Bring Back Phil Donahue (none / 0)

Screw an apology. MSNBC should cancel Whiffleball and bring back Phil Donahue.

A special blog has been set up that MSNBC will be monitoring. Visit An Open Letter To Chris Matthews and let MSNBC execs know how you feel.

by Gary Boatwright on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 01:03:24 PM EST

Here's what I wrote: (none / 0)

Mr. Matthews,

Your comments sounded better in the original Russian when they were uttered by Stalin.

When did you give up on American ideals? Our country is based on individual liberty, a tolerance for dissenting views, and an accountable system of government with three coequal branches. If this system served us well during the Cold War, why should we abandon it now every time some desperate radical issues a video tape?

Our struggle against radical Islam is as much a battle of ideas as it is one of guns or secret intelligence. The president claims Osama bin Laden hates our freedom, and yet you and other cowards in the media applaud when those very same freedoms are stifled here at home?

If we truly believe that American-style democracy is a superior form of government, than the right to air our differences and hold our leaders accountable should be proudly exercised.

By branding Administration critics "traitors" or applauding the executive branch when it willfully oversteps it's bounds, you tell the world that America has given up on democracy. I thought I'd write to let you know that not all of us have.

by danielj on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 01:51:09 PM EST

Some blog (none / 0)

I go through all the trouble to craft a good letter about my outrage at what he said, and then I go back and see it has been removed. Free speech? Just what kind of remarks are you looking for? And who is running this blog? There is no contact on it. And where is Michael Moore? Why isn't he calling for an apology himself? I sure as hell would be. I'm still waiting for one for 2000 from all of those who told us that there was no difference between Gore and Bush, which helped in part to bring us here in the first place.

by thinkforyourself on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 02:47:38 PM EST

Re: Some blog (none / 0)

Funny... Now it's back again.

by thinkforyourself on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 02:50:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Some blog (none / 0)

Blogger sucks

by Matt Stoller on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 03:24:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Totally Inappropriate (none / 0)

Matthews owes both Michael Moore and his audience an apology. This is a Republican game he fell into. Bin Laden is the "can't agree with him on anything" boogeyman. If OBL says his favorite color is blue, suddenly the Repubs will say if you like blue you hate America because you agree with Bin Laden.

by BringtheFight on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 05:05:23 PM EST

uggabugga! (none / 0)

Hat tip to digby: