Matthews: "They're the working-class white voters ... the regular folks"
On the June 30 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews teased an upcoming segment by saying: "Up next: They're the working-class white voters Hillary won and Barack didn't. Can Obama win over the regular folks against John McCain?" During the following segment, which he started by asking "who will win the working-class vote this election, Barack Obama or John McCain," Matthews said to Reihan Salam, associate editor of The Atlantic, "I want you to tell me how the Republican Party can win the working stiff, the regular person who makes a regular income."
Matthews has previously asked if Obama was "too University of Chicago or too South Side Chicago" for working-class voters. Matthews posed the question after MSNBC senior campaign correspondent Tucker Carlson asserted that "the working-class voters of West Virginia and Kentucky, and their counterparts in a bunch of states, including Ohio and Pennsylvania" are "the voters you need to watch and he [Obama] needs to win." Matthews also previously questioned whether Obama can "connect with regular people" or if he appeals "only" to African-Americans and the well-educated. Talking with Obama supporter Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) on the April 1 edition of Hardball, Matthews said: "Let me ask you about how he -- how's he connect with regular people? Does he? Or does he only appeal to people who come from the African-American community and from the people who have college or advanced degrees?"
From the June 30 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: Up next: They're the working-class white voters Hillary won and Barack didn't. Can Obama win over the regular folks against John McCain? You're watching Hardball, only on MSNBC.
[...]
MATTHEWS: Welcome back to Hardball. So, who will win the working-class vote this election, Barack Obama or John McCain? Mike Barnicle is an MSNBC political analyst, and Reihan Salam is the associate editor at The Atlantic and author of the great new book Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream.
Reihan, I want you to tell me how the Republican Party can win the working stiff, the regular person who makes a regular income.
SALAM: Well, what you need to do is address the anxieties, the cost of living, and particularly with regard to health care. Republicans are always trying to talk about the issues where they're strong -- national security, terrorism -- and they try to pretend like other issues don't exist. And that's a big, big mistake. They need to talk about them, and they need to offer serious comprehensive answers to those needs.
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Media personalities are not supposed to make news, or drive the news in any certain direction, or give us their biased version of what they think is the news of the day.
Chris Matthews regularly fails at that task.
He's buying into the false meme from the conservatives that they run every other day - that Obama is an elite who is out of touch with the working class.
Compare him to McCain -
the son and grandson of Navy Admirals,
graduate of a military academy (yeah, 3rd from the bottom, but still hard to get into one of them),
married to a millionaire he met at a cocktail party and dated while still married to his first wife.
Then consider Obama -
married to a middle class woman,
raised by a single mom much of his life and by his grandparents at other times,
born to a black African father who was only in the USA because of a college scholarship, a father he only saw once after early childhood.
Yeah, that Obama guy is a real elite who can't associate with the working man and can't get their vote because those voters more closely align themselves and think themselves more similar to John McCain.
How did those voters get the crazy idea that McCain was more like them than Obama? From people in the media like Chris Matthews, that's how.
Wasn't it you who linked to this story about McCain's first wife? He was a serial adulterer it seems who married up to his benefit.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html
While Obama will surely press his credentials as the embodiment of the American dream – a handsome, charismatic young black man who was raised on food stamps by a single mother and who represents his country’s future – McCain will present himself as a selfless, principled war hero whose campaign represents not so much a battle for the presidency of the United States, but a crusade to rescue the nation’s tarnished reputation.
If only McCain were truly selfless, he wouldn't have cheated on his wife and married a millionaire heiress. He wouldn't have the gall to call her a C***, and wouldn't twist Clark's comments if he were principled. And he would truly be looking to polish the tarnished reputation if he didn't use SwiftBoat Vet liars to bolster his campaign and use surrogates to slam Obama for, you guessed it, supposedly using surrogates himself. If he had moral fiber, he wouldn't have wanted to act like a 25 yr old when he was 40, which is what his first wife says was the deathknell of their marriage.
Obama has character earned from a less than cushy childhood. McCain has contrived character bestowed upon him by an adoring media but not substantiated by the facts of his life and his behavior.
I too am concerned that John McCain called his a wife a C*nt.
Of course, the corporate media won't touch this. If this was a Democrat, we'd be talking about this for weeks. But since it's a Con, they won't touch it.
"At least I don't pile on the makeup like a trollop, you C*nt." This is what Sen. McCain said to his wife, in front of many members of his campaign staff.
I think the American people need to know about this.
Actually, I think we DON'T need to know about that.
I don't give a rat's ass about McCain's personal life, and I hope it doesn't become a campaign issue.
The only sad thing is that if it was a Democrat, the press would already be all over it.
"I don't give a rat's ass about McCain's personal life, and I hope it doesn't become a campaign issue.
The only sad thing is that if it was a Democrat, the press would already be all over it."
Exactly, but when it's a Republican, the corporate conservative Republican news media either covers it up, or they attack any person or group who mentions the items about McCain's life.
The California Tax Auditor who mentioned Liar McCain's tax cheating will likely be destroyed and/or Swift Boated by Liar McCain's Corporate Conservative Media.
"I too am concerned that John McCain called his a wife a C*nt."
"Of course, the corporate media won't touch this. If this was a Democrat, we'd be talking about this for weeks. But since it's a Con, they won't touch it."
Or if they were talking about it or started to, the corporate conservative news media would attack, smear, lie about, and destroy the person, people, or group that pointed out this negative indictment against Liar McCain. Jamison Foser said that the corporate conservative news media is placing a protective media barrier around Liar McCain to protect him against any criticism on any issue from anyone.
Looks like you need to read my response again.
Obama is the candidate who is most closely aligned with working-class voters, not McCain.
When Matthews suggests that those voters can't or shouldn't feel a kinship with Obama, when the alternative is McCain, he's forwarding the conservative agenda that likes to pretend that Obama's a member of the elite.
I'm surprised that Matthews is not privy to all the polls that contradict him:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html
When Matthews suggests that those voters can't or shouldn't feel a kinship with Obama, when the alternative is McCain, he's forwarding the conservative agenda that likes to pretend that Obama's a member of the elite.
Asking the questions Matthews did is not suggesting that voters can't or shouldn't feel a kinship with Obama. It's simply asking the question based on the facts we have, which show Obama struggled with this demographic in this geographic region. Do you dispute the numbers? Matthews is not forwarding any conservative agenda, that's a delusional statement based on...welll....your delusions.
The delusion would be that of Media Matters. Have you told them that they're delusional?
And did you really try to excuse his behavior by saying that he was just asking a question?
BottleBlonde, since I posted, we have yet to hear AChris' answer to your question.
If he left color out of it completely the term would be fine. The issue is that he has habitually drawn a specific equivalence between white working class and regular folks. It's not that he doesn't specifically include non-whites among regular folks. He uses working-class whites interchangeably with regular folks.
I could easily blow it off as a little verbal carelessness if it were one isolated incident, but it's not. That seems to indicate a problem with his mindset.
So were you equally offended when Hillary Clinton said the same thing to USA Today this past May?
"I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on," she said in an interview with USA TODAY. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article "that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me."
Sounds kinda like Matthews was paraphrasing Hillary.
AChris, the first problem with Matthews' ludicrous question, although not the most important, is:
1. The University of Chicago IS on the South Side of Chicago. Either Matthews didn't know this when he asked the question, or when he did, Matthews knowingly spouted a LIE in an effort to help Liar McCain's chances...AGAIN.
2. Matthews is advancing Karl Goebbels Rove's lie about Obama being an elitist either before or after Liar Rove said his lie about Obama being a country club elitist, even though most country clubs still refuse to admit members that are African-American, and the South Side of Chicago is FAR from being elite, and Liar McCain married into Hate Hag Cindy's rich family and CONTINUES to benefit from that marriage.
3. Matthews' comments are racist (Matthews himself is racist also) because he's telling people that Obama in particular, and all African-Americans overall, are abnormal and/or dangerous because they are not white Anglo-Saxon Eurpoeans, and that all black experiences, all aspects of African-American life, are abnormal or dangerous or some other racist comment that Matthews was pushing because Matthews is being the good Republican seeking to get Liar McCain elected.
Let's note that Matthews isn't scheduling any interviews with African-American Newspapers or African-American Magazines, or scheduling any appearances to appear on black talk radio programs on black talk radio stations, to repeat these obviously racist and ignorant and stupid and stereotypical comments.
Blondie posted;
"graduate of a military academy (yeah, 3rd from the bottom, but still hard to get into one of them),"
I'll put a third from the bottom (or dead last) academy grad against any state school party hound any day.
The men and women who are fortunate enough to serve their country (yes SERVE their country) under strict discipline rules, mandatory drills, and sports activities not to mention their scholastic endeavors are working twice as hard to complete their degree.
In fact, West Point and Princeton University are the only academic institutions in the nation that rank in the top four in both Rhodes and Hertz Scholarships awarded for excellence in undergraduate study.
I think your tired left wing talking point is moot. There will be valedictorians and someone has to finish last. If that person finished the race under the scrutiny that cadets face then I think a little respect is in order.
The world's dumbest man pushes his own hot button again. In more high-profile professions, like middle management in a two-bit trinket-selling business, it's possible to get demoted for being stupid.
MATTHEWS: Up next: They're the working-class white voters Hillary won and Barack didn't. Can Obama win over the regular folks against John McCain? You're watching Hardball, only on MSNBC.
Ok Matthews lets discuss this. When you say "regular folks" , you mean that minorities including African Americans are not regular folks? Do you really feel this way? I remember your insane argument last fall about how regular New Yorkers loved how Rudy got rid of the "pee smell". The only pee smell I smell now is you Chris. This comment is one of the top 10 most insane from Chris Matthews. I really now feel this man has brain damage, something is just not right.
Matthews is not working class, so I guess that means he's not counted amongst the "regular" people.
If he is not "regular", that must mean he is constipated. If he is constipated, that means he's full of...
Look what telling America that black people are not regular gets you:
http://www.washingtonlife.com/issues/october_2005/inside_homes/images/inside_homes_03.jpg
More people would rather barbecue with Obama than McCain.
Not that liberals think that's meaningful, but now that your candidate is winning the "regular guy" category maybe you will.
Just off the AP and Yahoo...
"People would rather barbecue burgers with Barack Obama than with John McCain." 52% to 45%.
Is he a "man of the people" yet? Matthews you piece of ......
Sorry Bruce1Ace did not see your comment before I posted. Did not mean to step on your line.
Well, Julia, we know that Liar McCain calls his wife and other women the "C" word, and we know that Liar McCain skips on his property taxes, and Liar McCain's Trophy Hate Hag loves to charge 3/4 of a million on her charge cards, and Cindy's beer business also lobbies against drunk driving laws.
Not that any of this matters to Racist White Supremacist Republican Chris Matthews or any of the rest of the nation's right wing racist white supremacists. For them, since McCain is a white man, that makes everything he does riight.
Race...
The new wedge in politics. Same as the old wedge.
They are different somehow -- fear them.
Hello All -
It's important not to lose sight of why Chris Matthews' words are problematic, especially because of how he uses them.
Every time Matthews speaks of the "regular" guy or the "blue collar" guy, he is clearly referring to "white" voters within this demographic. The problem? Every time he makes this idiotic reference, especially when he says, "regular guy," he is effectively painting non-white people as "other" and "not like us."
In addition, his comments about the "hardworking" stiff (which he always uses simultaneously with his "blue collar" or "regular" guy comments) reinforces the age-old stereotype that black people and other persons of color are not "hardworking" people!! This is what is so offensive!! I know many of us (people of color) are sick and tired of hearing the discussion framed this way. Not only is it wrong (Obama has the support of various demographics), it moves the race debate and racial understanding backwards rather than forwards.
- The Sauda Voice (Google Me)
So working people of color are not 'regular folks"? How could any one who works for a living support John Mc Cain, a man who cheated on his wife with his current beer heiress, who lies about everything, who has at leat 13 mansions, who supports tax cuts only for the wealthy, who will continue an illegal and immoral war which has destroyed our economy and our standing in the world? Mc Cain will be a bigger disaster than Bush!
Its the economy, stupid, and the Republicans have destroyed it to a point of possible no return> Everyday I read how the value of my home is dropping, I can't afford gasoline, food or anything special for my family and Chris Matthews only cares to denigrate Obama in such a ridiculous way. Get off of the public airwaves!
It's hard for those penalized by affirmative action to cozy up to any bigoted candidate supporting black preferences/white discrimination, regardless of his/her color. Especially when those bigots insist that all whites, including cancer patients, auto accident victims, victims of crime, of floods and fires, ect. ect. are ALL historically privileged and can ALL afford such penalties, with no personal problems or diminished opportunities, whatsoever.
Obama's presidency will fully support black preferences and the INEVITABLE corollary, white discrimination...the idea that his superficial skin color is attracting black voters and repelling white ones is ludicrous...it's his racist politics, which appeal to those expecting to profit from racial preferences and repulse REAL civil rights activists, who understand that not even ObamaMessiah can omnisciently determine every single American's economic circumstances with a simpleminded glance at color differences. A little fact that irrefutably INVALIDATES any attempt to produce "equality" with income redistribution based on color differences.
But what do liberal bigots care about facts...especially when they interfere with the ego enhancement they get from kowtowing to the politically correct racial preferences du jour. The same kind of stereotype-driven mind supported segregation with equal fervor and with just as much pride, and certainly with every bit of the stupidity that perennially declares that color differences are always relevant, indeed, politically and socially vital. Note today's black self-segregation championed by the same kind of mind that once championed white self-segregation, creating a color coded double standard in both eras. Liberals need to grow a brain.
What about the "rich people" who used to be working-class? Are they no longer the "regular people"? If, by the next election cycle, any of these "regular people" become wealthier through hard work or whatever, are they no longer "regular people"? Why are wealthy always demonized and stereotyped as a bunch of snobs? What about rich country stars or ahletes who just a few years ago might have been working-class? Are they now snobs as well? You can be one of the "regular people" even if you are a rich person.
THANK YOU.
njguy93@yahoo.com
He is one of the "good ol white boys" who have figured it out that you cant be overtly racist or perhaps one might say a bit "overly ethnocentric" and stay on the TV screen. He has learned that you can send out these phrases carefully disguised as this is. He clearly believes that "working class white voters" are the real "regular folks".
JLYONS is absolutely right on. Maybe that simpering ass does have a brain tumor or something.
Joseph
I am a 67 yr. old lifelong Dem. Although I was to young to vote at the time, the Eisenhour yr's in the 50's were some of the best. Had I been able to vote at the time he would have been the only republican I could have voted for. If one stopped at five different places looking for a job they had their choice at which job they wanted. Since then the republican party have been the party of the rich as is obvious.
Through the yr.s I have raised five children, four girl's and a boy, one of which is in her 30's the rest in their 40's. All the girl's and their husbands voted for the bush administration both times, sorry folk's but its true, and they have been voting republican in the past. Now the good new's I have recently heard from the last of them who has informed me that they will be voting for Obama for president, and for a democratic majority in the house and senate in the next election. So you see chris matthews your deceptive doublespeak is not going to work this time, the people are on to you and the rest of your minions at msnbc and fox. Dont you realize how desperate you all look trying to save your asses from the eventual thuth which you wont be able to hide from after the next election. It is going to be obvious to the American people that you and the rest of your kind never had Americas best interest at heart, for all that you have championed in the past 8 yr's is what has brought America to its knee's.
How can you all face your children and your loved ones knowing you sold out America for a paycheck. Heres to carma and conscience chris.
I challenge Matthews to appear on black talk radio and repeat what he said about working class whites being regular folks.
Then we can hear the working class blacks all verbally barbecue Matthews big time!
I really use to like Matthews when it was the primaries. I thought he liked Obama. Trust me I soon found out it was not about him liking Obama. It was about his dislike (hate) of Hillary. At this point, every questions he ask I put it on my suspect list. I am sick of him and other MSM giving Obama's every victory a slanted story. Obama does not have a problem with the middle class working average job or most of Americans. The real issue Obama has is with the MSM telling the truth and how he can work around their lies.