Matthews lauded McCain's "maverick reputation," "jib"; admired Romney's chin
On the February 13 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, during a discussion of the Michigan Republican presidential primary, host Chris Matthews said that "there are a lot of people there ... who like the cut of [Sen.] John McCain's [AZ] jib, his independence, his maverick reputation."
Media Matters for America has documented numerous examples of the media referring to McCain as a "maverick," in addition to noting numerous reasons why that is not an apt descriptor for the senator.
Matthews also stated of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), "[H]e's got a great chin, I've noticed." MSNBC political analyst and former Reagan communications director Pat Buchanan similarly described Romney as "an extremely handsome man." As Media Matters has noted, Matthews has previously said that Romney "has the perfect chin, the perfect hair."
From the February 13 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: John McCain won that big fight up there in Michigan back in 2000 against President Bush. Does John McCain still have the power up there that this guy has to take down? There's a lot of Catholics in Michigan. A lot of people there are sort of Reagan Republicans, who like the cut of John McCain's jib, his independence, his maverick reputation. How does Mitt Romney -- the straight arrow -- cut into that?
[...]
BUCHANAN: Everything I know about Romney speaks very well about him. I've got a lot of friends who say he lights up a room when he comes in; he's got a fine personality; he's friendly; he's an extremely handsome man, as his father was; and he's always got a big smile. I think in the personality contest, he's all over Hillary.
MATTHEWS: Well, can he -- he's got a great chin, I've noticed. Does that mean -- is he going to be -- does that mean he might not have a glass jaw, is what I'm asking. Let's take a look here.
BUCHANAN: I'm afraid his dad did.
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We just cannot have political commentators/pundits admiring candidate's chins. This slanted misinforming of the public has to stop. This is a slippery slope, next it's gonna be their buttocks.......time to nip this in the bud.
You may say that in jest, but I think it's important to point it out when gay messages, intended or not, are forwarded by authority figures. Young people get enough of the pro homosexual lifestyle stuff in the more frivolous media without it also popping up on the political talkshows.
Tel. why is it important to point out gay messages?
Don't look now, but the Homersexuals are sending out Homo Gamma Rays as we speak. Once exposed, even the most macho 4-year-old boy will suddenly be drawn to anything in lavender.
Watch for it.
HUH??
You are kidding right?
Are you trying to win today's wingnut award?
You're in contention, but you have a lot of competition and the day is still young.
McCain cheats and cheats - he's a "maverick."
Clinton gets a BJ - he's a disgrace.
No double standard there, right?
If it is any consultation Bill Clinton is not a disgrace in my eye. He was the best President this county ever had.
Oh, there's been better. A handful of presidents went their entire terms without killing anyone. Hard to think of who they were though.
I take some consolation in the fact that Clinton was a very successful two-term president, and John McCain never will be.
Double standard, absolutely. McCain was a hero at one time and let politics ( Bush 2000 campaign ) derails his ethics and honor he exhibited so long ago.
"The cut of his jib"?
Is Tweety living some lame 1940's seafaring adventure?
You're going to have to make a choice Chris, John or Mitt.
People are still going to think you're promiscuous though. After all, you've been gushing about sooooo many other men lately.
I hope it's a nautical metaphor, King. For a minute, I thought we were off on another circumcision thread.
What's a jib?
I believe it is a type of sail like on a yacht
Not a schlub, right?
cut of one's jib, one's general appearance, mien, or manner
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/jib
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May I ask what the big deal is here? Matthews mentions how a lot of Reagan Republican's like "the cut of John McCain's jib, his independence, his maverick reputation"
So?
Moving on....
Matthews is making a kind of joke about Romney's chin not being a "glass jaw" and Buchanan quips that Romney's Dad had a glass jaw.
Again...so?
Do any of you even watch Hardball? Or do you simply rely on MMFA to cherry-pick what they define as bias or mis-information for you? BTW nothing here Matthews said rises to either of those terms.
Matthews jives about Republicans & Democrats. He compliments both Republicans & Democrats. AND he knocks both Republicans & Democrats.
THIS particular thread is much ado about nothing...
Jeter, I disagree. This thread is here for one sole transparent purpose.......to take a jab at Matthews, pure and simple, even if it's one of the silliest topics to date.
Jeter,Until recently I was a regular Hardball viewer. Chris’ hyperness and inability to let his guest give a complete answer to question before he interrupts them get's on my nerves now and I can't take him everyday, so I catch a portion of his show maybe a couple of times a week if I get home before 8. I've noticed an obvious change in Matthews over the ten plus years he's been on air. He was furious at Bill Clinton during the Monica scandal and seemed to project that fury at Clinton onto to all Democrats after that. He doesn’t give anyone an outright pass when they screw up, but I've noticed he's much harder on Dems and his favorite politicos are always tough talking guys from the Republican ranks. By the way Chris once interviewed his wife Kathleen on his show. She had done some kind of media study and was reporting the results. She's a very beautiful, elegant, and calm woman. Chris was as calm as he could be during the interview and never interrupted her once when she was answering his questions. He should have his wife on the show everyday, she seems to have a calming effect on him.
Hey Lynn,
I agree that Matthews is hyper & has a tendency to interrupt his guests. I find it a tad annoying at times as well. But the thing I like about his show is that it's pure politics. No missing White girls--no cheerleaders gone wild--no talentless sleazy woman found dead stories.
Watching his show at times reminds me of a bunch of friends sitting in a booth at some bar having a few beers and talking down 'n dirty politics.
I think Matthews is coming down hard on the Bush administration and his coverage of the Libby Trial has been excellent. I honestly believe he's pretty fair in his criticism & praise of both parties.
The guy is a political junkie and I find his enthusiasm for the subject contagious.
He's still just a shallow idiot that wants to hang around political celebrities, talking fashionable inanities. He wouldn't be on US tv if he wasn't.
Matthews is a weird dude... Folks around here have often commented on his 'man-crushes'... Case in point.
You're so right - Tweety is constantly "drooling" like that... he made some odd comments about Scooter Libby's name... sometimes ya just gotta wonder. :)
Romney also complimented Matthews' chin, calling it "comfortable".
ziiiiiiiiing
Comfortable where?
As a resting place. If you know what I mean.
Thanks, Rusty. If not for you, I'd be explaining my jokes like El Rushbo. Now I know it's just the subtlety and sophistication of my humor .
For anyone else, I could have added that Romney said Matthews looks quite dashing with a mustache.
Rusty, don't explain that one! I mean, please...
Ugh. Tha's what I thought. ;-)
What is so comfortable about someones "Chin"?
I am wondering if it is some sort of Sexual fetish?
Doris, I think it goes to a little good natured peck on one's behind....
That depends which direction Matthews is facing. Turns out this is a multi-layered joke, open to interpretation.
Facing up
Speaking so someone who alternates between Wonkette and here, I approve of the drift that comments are taking today!
"there are a lot of people there ... who like the cut of [Sen.] John McCain's [AZ] jib"
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That's a phrase used almost exclusively by elitists, isn't it? Wasn't Tweety railing against them earlier this week?
At least Matthews didn't have to cast his gaze as far down as the codpiece before he found something he liked about McCain, unlike G Gordon Liddy with W.
Sorry, that should have been "about Romney."
Matthews has got to knock it off
His admiration for these Republican candidates is getting scary, I wonder if Matthews is a stalker?
Doris everything seems to scare you lately ;-)
Jeter
We live in scary times right now, and we have a scary administration and it is being supported by our main stream media.
HEY, MATTHEWS!!!! Sorry- all the open seats in the republicant's party are taken- you missed out...better luck next time around...
Matthews has always worked for Democratic campaigns.
The issue is not who Matthews used to work for, in that case as you probably know his brother ran as the Republican candidate in PA along with Lynn Swann. So obviously he was biased toward Republicans in that race. The issue is how he discusses , and is biased toward Republicans vs. Democrats on his show. Democratic Candidates are talked as being "calculating", "not authentic" but Repubs are said to have "nice Jaws" and helped "clean pee from NYC Streets'.
Absolutely Doris,
Usually when he starts gushing you can be sure that the person is a Republican. The only exception I can think of is Jim Webb, although he does admit that Barak Obama has that certain something that John Kennedy had. But his ovious preference is a hunk of a macho Republican Man.
Lynn
I have seen his love for Webb but overall he loves Republicans and will go gaga over them more than the Democratic candidates and leaders.
"Matthews has always worked for Democratic campaigns."
But Matthews voted for Bush over Gore in '00 (plus he grew up as a "Goldwater Republican"):
"Despite having worked for Democrats, Matthews has said, "I'm more conservative than people think I am. ... I voted for George W. Bush in 2000."
([link to en.wikipedia.org]
I'm pretty sure he voted for Bush in the 2000 election. People are known to change their political affiliations over time. Remember Ronald Regan used to be a Democrat. I read an interview with Matthews and he said he grew up in a Republican household. John Kennedy inspired him to become a Democrat. Now I don't know what his political affilliation is now, he's probably an independent. I understand that many "journalist" register as independents. That said, after watching Hardball for many years and watching his many crushes CM obviously has a preference for tough talking macho Republican men. George Bush, Rudy Juliani, John McCain, Bohner, Trent Lott, Tom Delay, and now that hunky Mitt Romeny has caught his eye.
Matthews' fawning and skewering have no allegiance to any political affilation. Only half of his stuff gets highlighted here.
You're right about the fawning and skewering, Tommy. He does do it more evenly.
What concerns me most is the drooling. He drools only for the manly, Republican types.
Tommy,Name a Democrat that he fawns over. There are none. He hated Bill Clinton, Gore, Kerry, and Hilary Clinton. I can't think of one nationally known Democrat that he fawns over. He does seem to like Jim Webb but his adoration of him doesn't compare to the long list of Republican politicians that he thinks are the cat's pajamas. John Boehner once passed out checks from tobacco lobbyists to Republican house members on the house floor. Someone on Chris' show had the audacity to mention this and Chris Matthews clearly became upset that he mentioned that. I think he said something like oh that were ages ago. He fawns and defends Republicans and chastises Democrats at every turn. George Bush started a war based on cherry picked intelligence, yet most of his ire about the Iraq war is aimed at congress for voting for the war and not Bush who did the cherry picking and relentless war selling to the war to the American people based on erroneous information.
You just did. Obama and Jim Webb. I have seen him "fawn" over Harold Ford, Jr. before too. His preference at the moment for fawning over Republicans is subjective.
Tommy there is a big difference between saying an occasional nice remark about an odd DEM here and there, and the hero worship that he does with his Republican macho men.
absolutely. he just drools over his gop boys.
All that's needed now is for Matthews to move to Fox News, and the transformation of Chris' ever-more right-wing-slanted "jib" will be complete.
Dave, you obviously don't watch Hardball.
Matthews coverage of the Libby Trial, as well as his skewing of Cheney [well deserved!] and his tough criticism of the Bush administration's handling of Iraq would make him ineligible for Fox News.
Matthews has shilled for the Republican party for quite some time. I watch his show regularly and it would fit nicely into the Fox news schedule regardless of what any apologist wants to assert.
"regardless of what any apologist wants to assert."
You don't get it. The right-wing apologist doesn't need actual evidence, just the assertion.
I get it, especially with Matthews and some of the posters here, they do ass ert alot.
I would really like it if there would be some way of encouraging our news organizations to do more... you know... news. I mean, does it really seem likely that this People magazine crap boosts viewership for news programs?
I don't like time being wasted on Romney's chin any more thanon Obama's pecs. A little bit of this "colour commentary" is fine, but really, this is pretty much all we get!
Have you seen Scarborough lately? If he keeps it up they are going to have to transfer his show to the E channel.
Or just get every channel covering Anna Nicole Smith's paternity mystery. Oh, wait, that's already happened.
Lou Dobbs won't touch it.
I'm the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby.
No Jeter I am the father...........
I sure will be glad when they resolve the mystery. I don't ever want to hear "who da baby daddy" jokes coming from the Fox folks again. They showed some clips on Jon Stewart the other night.
Yeah I know what your talking about Lynn
I mean the politics in his has been reduced to like 5 minutes and the rest is fluff tabloid stuff, or what Scarborough likes to call "HollyWEIRD." It is gettin pretty boring...
Lynn, I wish they would transfer Scarborough to E.
If I here more "analysis" of Anna's baby, Paula's drinking and Idol's judging I'll slit my own throat
That's why I never watch the stuff. I want real news, I want to know what's going on out there. Turn on the TV and all we get is celebrity worship. How American, eh?
Tweety Matthews Man-Crush Theater Presents:
"Torn between two opportunists"
In this episode, Tweety finds himself on the horns of a dilemma (and liking it maybe a little too much)
Does he return to his position of knee-padded loyalty to the 'Lincolnesque" George W. Bush?
Does he declare his fealty and love to the man who eradicate "the pee smell" from the New York Subways?
or does he follow in the opportunistic and ho-ish footsteps of finger-in-the-wind flip-flopper Saint John the Maverick, whose jib is cut in such a way that Tweety finds himself powerless to resist?
All of these questions will be softballed and evaded in the next episode of TWEETY MATTHEWS MAN-CRUSH THEATER!!! [dun-dun-dunnn!]
I wait for the day when Matthews says somethng like "That Mitt Romney. I'll bet he's got a big schlong."
PJ, what's a schlong? Is that like a jib?
Either way, I like the cut of yer schlong!