Matthews flip-flop on Sen. Allen's presidential chances: One day "he's one of the two top guys," and the next, he's a "stretch"
SUMMARY: On March 30, Chris Matthews said of the presidential chances of Sen. George Allen (R-VA), "I think George Allen might be a stretch." But a day earlier, after interviewing Allen, Matthews said, "I say he's running, I say he's one of the two top guys to watch, he and [Sen. John] McCain [R-AZ]."
On consecutive nights, MSNBC host Chris Matthews made inconsistent statements on the prospects of a presidential run by Sen. George Allen (R-VA). On the March 29 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, Matthews followed an interview with Allen by stating: "I say he's running, I say he's one of the two top guys to watch, he and [Sen. John] McCain [R-AZ]." Yet on the March 30 edition of Hardball, Matthews questioned former recording industry lobbyist Hillary Rosen's suggestion that Allen is "making some progress" in his bid for the presidency, stating that "I think George Allen might be a stretch."
From the March 29 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: Welcome back to Hardball. We just heard from Virginia Senator George Allen. He's a conservative Republican who is up for re-election this year and is testing the waters for a presidential bid in 2008. I say he's running, I say he's one of the two top guys to watch, he and McCain.
From the March 30 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: Who is the most probable Republican [to be nominated for president]?
HOWARD FINEMAN (Newsweek chief political correspondent): Well, John McCain right now.
MATTHEWS: Do you agree?
ROSEN: No.
FINEMAN: Name somebody else. Who else would you name, that's the problem?
ROSEN: Well that's the problem, but I, you know --
MATTHEWS: Do you ever think about the Republicans? Let's take a look at one who --
ROSEN: I think George Allen and [former Massachusetts Gov.] Mitt Romney are making some progress.
MATTHEWS: No, I think George Allen might be a stretch.
Mathews has no real opinion of his own... which, for an 'opinion-maker' is pretty lame...
He probably misread the email from Karl Rove.
I think Matthews was just pandering to Allen the previous day, i.e., a thank you for the interview.
I think you're attributing way too much meaning to Mathew's method. He's a GOP prostitute. Whoever's in front of him -- if they're GOP -- he'll fawn and giggle... And, it's gotten much worse over the past 6mos or so.
Verb 1. pander - yield (to); give satisfaction to gratify, indulge humor, humour - put into a good mood spree - engage withour restraint in an activity and indulge, as when shopping cater, ply, provide, supply - provide what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests" sow one's oats, sow one's wild oats - live promiscuously and self-indulgently
Matthews said, "I agree. I think George Allen might be a star."
I'm no fan of Matthews, but I don't think you're right on this one.
MATTHEWS: Do you ever think about the Republicans? Let‘s take a look at one who...
ROSEN: ... I think George Allen and Mitt Romney are making some progress.
MATTHEWS: I think George Allen might be a stretch. Let‘s take a look here at John McCain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
"Stretch" makes more sense in that context than do "star" or other similar possibilities.
I'm sorry but I don't think Mr. Matthews said that Allen is a stretch. It is almost impossible to hear what he said and as I watch his show every night I know he has repeatedly mentioned Allen as a possibility for candidacy. He could as easily has said "George Allen might be a START" or "George Allen might be a STORY". In fact, having played the clip numerous times I am almost certain he did not say stretch as the vowels in the word he used were more of an 'art" then 'ech' sound. I don't know if you got this from the transcripts on MSNBC.com but it is possible they are inaccurate. I certainly hope you didn't just watch this clip and conclude that he said Stretch as it is certainly not conclusive. Might I recommend calling the program to ask?
Matthews has always been quite fair and his opinions rarely waiver so I am shocked that so many of my fellow liberals are so outraged by him. He is on our team, we need log try and focus our hate on the enemy (like FOX NEWS) not on a real fair and balanced pundit. If anything Mr Matthews is leaning towards the left not the right.
I love what Media Matters does but this one is off base. Double check.
Yes, if you pay attention just to that one word, he could have been trying to say "star" or "start" or "stretch" or "starch" or "stooge". But if you listen to the whole sentence, it's hard to miss how he says it. "Star" or "start" just don't jibe with the dismissive tone he's using. "Stretch" does.
Even so, I'm with the people who think that this is much ado about nothing. Yes, Matthews has said something silly and inconsistent. It's doesn't seem (to me, at least) to rise to the level of "conservative misinformation".
star.
Come on! The guy fawns all over the GOP folk. You've got to be kidding... He flies where the corporate cash tells him to...and it's RIGHT.
I just heard the clip and Mathews says: "I agree...I think Allen might be a star".
Mathews is still a putz though. You got that right.
tell me that you are joking, or being sarcastic. Chris could bat Cleanup for Fox News!
MMFA posts a point about Matthews flip-flopping on Allen which is true but not significant. He really made a throwaway comment there on the 30th because he obviously has supported McCain for a long time.
The transcript of the entire show was a good read, you have Matthews giving a suckathon interview with Joe Biden, and later challenging Hewitt on his opinions about immigration policy. That Matthews is some conservative rube.
Politics is often called a "Horse Race", because the situation and the "odds" change second to second.
The difference is, horse race announcers report what they are seeing take place in front of their eyes. Political "horse race" prognosticators are calling a race that's happening MONTHS in the future.
In neither instance does the announcer know the outcome.
Matthews, "Here in the Iowa Stakes, Prisoner O'War is leading by 2 lengths, followed by Big Apple Paison. In the rear, trailing by 8 lengths, it's Lady Hillary, responding slower to the mud track than predicted. Now in the turn, Lady Hillary gains ground fast, as Prisoner O'War reverses direction every other step, and now it's neck and neck! Video Doc is trailing by 13 lengths, threatening to fall, and Gore's Revenge seeks to slip by on the inside rail. WHAT A RACE! And down the stretch they come! It's Prisoner O'War's to lose, as Lady Hillary is only 5 lengths ahead." and so on...
It's all so exciting ... and nobody knows the outcome.
...and yeah he is just throwing out filler comments here.
But speaking as a Virginian after seeing the relative incompetence of both the Allen and Gilmore governorships pray that for the sake of the nation that Allen is kept far from the Whitehouse. Especially, so soon after our present President and previous incompetent governor of Texas.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows".
Unless your Matthews that is and then you blow which way the GOP goes.
Ole motor mouth is at it again. In the meantime, delivered on slow Sunday news that the iranians developed a 200 + mph underwater torpedo that works. Hey guys, this thing can sink the newest carrier.
MATTEHWS WILL BE FLIP FLOPING MORE, LIKE ALL THE REST OF THE REPUBLICANS TONIGHT ON HIS SHOW WITH THE IMMIGRATION BILL. I JUST LOVE HOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY , MSNBC, NBC, CNN, AND MOSTLY FOX NEWS ARE RUNNING AWAY FROM THIS IMMIGRATION BILL NOW THAT THE POLLS AND THOSE BIG PROTEST ARE MAKEING THEM SCARED BECAUSE THEY NEED THOSE VOTES IN NOV. AND 08.
i'm no fan of Matthews either, but MMFA has the transcript wrong. not only does he not appear to say "stretch" (maybe "star"?), but the trasncript also fails to include the part where Matthews says "I agree, Allen is a s[...]".
if he "agrees" with Rosen, then presumably he can't be saying that Allen is a "stretch". the context suggests that it must be a postive predicate, if anything.
He said "I agree, George Allen might be a star."
100% positive. The "I agree" is especially clear.
I listened again and you're absolutely right. I didn't catch the "I agree" before, but it's certainly there. In that case the last word must be "star".
Whatever he said, though, tell me again why MM cares?
the more i listen the more i'm convinced he is saying star.
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