Ignoring his previous comments, Matthews claimed "men don't knock Hillary"
On the March 26 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews asserted that "[i]t's the women" who criticize Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and that the men he talks to "don't knock Hillary." Matthews added, "[T]he crowd I hang out with don't want to be caught knocking her, because it's sexist." However, Media Matters for America has noted numerous examples of Matthews himself making remarks about Clinton that could be construed as sexist:
- On the January 29 edition of Hardball, Matthews asked how former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) could "go into a debate with Hillary Clinton and land a punch against a woman." Matthews continued: "Isn't that going to be tricky for somebody like Rudy, who knows how to land a punch, to go up ... against a woman?"
- During MSNBC's election coverage on November 7, 2006, Matthews said: "We were watching Hillary Clinton earlier tonight; she was giving a campaign barn-burner speech, which is harder to give for a woman; it can grate on some men when they listen to it -- fingernails on a blackboard, perhaps."
- On the September 19, 2006, edition of Hardball, Matthews stated that Clinton "may not want to risk being another Dukakis -- this time in a dress." Later, Matthews declared, "[G]o see Deer Hunter if you think [Clinton] can get elected president," adding that "Midwest guys" whose "idea of heaven is out hunting with the beer cans and shooting a pheasant or a bear" are "not up to modern women as president."
- On the December 19, 2006, edition of Hardball, Matthews compared Clinton to a "strip-teaser," said "her hair looked ... great," and wondered if Clinton is "a convincing mom."
- On the July 11, 2005, edition of Hardball, Matthews said Clinton "looked more witchy" because she criticized the Bush administration's homeland security spending priorities on July 8, a day after the London bombings.
- On the April 24, 2005, edition of the NBC-syndicated Chris Matthews Show, Matthews referred Clinton as "sort of a Madame Defarge of the left," a characterization he repeated on the March 25, 2007, edition of the show.
Later on the March 26 edition of Hardball, as noted (subscription required) by the National Journal's Hotline's Wake-up Call, Matthews asked, "Is there out in the country, or out in the Atlantic Ocean, some gigantic monster, big, green, horny-headed -- all kinds of horns coming out, big aggressive monster of anti-Hillaryism that hasn't shown itself"?
From the March 26 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: You know, I love the -- Dee Dee [Myers, former Clinton White House press secretary], you know as much about politics as I do. Let me ask you this question. The latest polling from Zogby says that 51 percent of American men of all ethnic groups, all racial groups -- I hate that term -- but ethnic groups, basically say they'll never vote for Hillary under any circumstance. That's a slight absolute majority. Fifty-one percent will never vote for Hillary, they say right now, no matter what she does, no matter what happens, no matter who she's running against. Forty-two percent of women say that, which is a very high number.
Is there, out there in the country or out in the Atlantic Ocean, some gigantic monster -- big, green, horny-headed, all kinds of horns coming out, big, aggressive monster of anti-Hillaryism that hasn't shown itself: it's based upon gender, the fact that she's a liberal, that she's Bill, what -- and that hasn't shown itself, because people are being so nice in the polling, they are saying all the correct things?
Is there an anti-Hillary monster waiting out there that could deliver this nomination, or this election, to someone else?
MYERS: Boy, you know, I -- I certainly don't think the anti-Hillary sentiment is a secret. There is a large and strong feeling in certain segments of the country. They just don't like her.
At the same time, I think it's interesting that we've gotten this far in her candidacy, which is to say that she's been the most-talked about presidential candidate for going on two years, and there's been very little discussion, I think, about what effect the fact that she's a woman will have.
It's all about the fact that she's a Clinton at this point.
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
MYERS: It's very little about the fact that she's a woman.
MATTHEWS: Well, therefore, does that silence tell you that there's something hidden out there in terms of animosity?
MYERS: Yeah. I mean, we've all seen the polling that says -- you ask people -- 90 percent of Americans will say, oh, sure, I'd vote for a qualified woman; and then you ask them, what about your next-door neighbor? You know, would he or she vote for a woman? And the number --
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
MYERS: -- drops dramatically into the 50s. So, I think that certainly suggests there is a hidden reluctance.
MATTHEWS: So, that monster may be out there in the Atlantic. That monster may be out there.
MYERS: I think the monster's already shown its head in many ways. It hasn't shown its whole body.
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
MYERS: To torture the analogy.
MATTHEWS: Tony [Blankley, Washington Times editorial page editor], do you think so?
BLANKLEY: No --
MATTHEWS: You know, men don't knock Hillary that I talk to; it's the women. For some reason, men are being politically careful. They don't want to be caught being --
MYERS: I wouldn't go that far, Chris.
BLANKLEY: But you --
MATTHEWS: The crowd I hang with don't want to be caught knocking her, because it sounds sexist, but women are so tough on Hillary.
BLANKLEY: I -- but I don't -- I don't take that number terribly seriously for her or anyone else, because, ultimately -- people may say that, but, ultimately, it's a binary choice at some point.
MYERS: That's right, Tony.
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
BLANKLEY: And they've got to pick either her or someone else. Now, if it's her or Bob Dole, then, a lot of Democrats --
MATTHEWS: Hah!
BLANKLEY: A lot of Democrats --
MATTHEWS: You're cruel. You're so cruel.
BLANKLEY: A lot of Democrats will say --
MATTHEWS: How about -- how about Rudy Giuliani?
BLANKLEY: Yeah, even -- I mean, whoever it is --
MATTHEWS: All right. Yeah.
BLANKLEY: -- they're going to say, well, no, I can't vote for him. So -- so, I --
MATTHEWS: They're not telling -- they're not telling the truth to themselves?
BLANKLEY: They don't know yet, because they haven't seen --
MATTHEWS: OK.
BLANKLEY: They haven't seen the choice.
MATTHEWS: OK. Let me ask you, is there a horny-headed green monster out in that ocean that's anti-Hillary or anti-woman that's just hiding down there, waiting for the race to get interesting?
BLANKLEY: Well, Dee Dee's right. Obviously, a good percentage of the country -- 40, 45 percent -- say they don't like her. I think she's not only viable for the nomination, I think it's -- I wouldn't say it's hers to lose, but it's pretty close to hers to lose.
Ok Matthews then I guess you are not a man? I know you are a hater and bombthrower.
Darn you - stole my thought, as well as the ranking (first to post)!
I kept it short, and simple, so that I wouldn't get caught composing while some latecomer posted, but to no avail.
Chrissy finally got one right - men don't knock Hillary - although (he?) continues to do so.
Although there's a bit of bloviating going on here, it seems like the dislike and almost downright hatred of Hillary is almost palpable in some places.
That's why I personally don't think it's a good idea for her to be in the race. We don't need someone who is going to foment such divisiveness.
I also don't think attacks on her character are fair either. I know, it sounds weird because I think she is a competent person, its just that sooo many people hate her..
It's sad.
I agree completely. It is sad. But, when you are in politics, you have to know how you play with America. If she doesn't know she is divisive, then she's just lying to herself. I have no problem with her personally (except that she's too centrist for my tastes), but a lot of people do and she's not going to get elected. She needs to put the party ahead of herself. In fact, she needs to put the country ahead of herself. Obama is a bit centrist for me, too, but we need someone who can heal this huge division which erupted post-Nixon, post-Monica, post-Iraq. We are in bad shape as a nation. I don't agree with everything Obama says (or doesn't say, which is more accurate), but I think we need someone from a new generation to take the country in a new, 21st century direction. You boomers have had your chance; it's our turn now.
She doesn't create the divisiveness. The media whores do.
Why yes, Chris. There is a big green monster out there that's just waiting to trash Clinton. It's called the punditocrisy, and you're the troll king that feeds it.
Not only is that horny headed green monster anti-hillary, but it hid the WMD's and causes global warming too!
That was a good one Bruce
Yikes! I had only suspected it, but now I know for sure: This hack matthews gets all his political 'insights' by sitting in the dark, staring at a flickering light...
He not only draws his 'insights' from movies, but I swear, he thinks he's in a movie himself!
This hack is trying to make a reference to the national electorate, specifically (I guess) to rural males aged 19 to 45... ...and then blurts out where his 'insights' into that demographic comes from:
The movie 'The Deerhunter'!
Holy cow chris, that's your source on this matter, that movie?
Gee, what are your 'insights' on Vietnamese men, aged 19 to 45...
...that they love to play 'Russian roulette' with POWs?
the dem guest need to call chris matthews on what he is doing. instead they let him get away with it. they need to fight back against his rants . he love guliani and mccain . he does not know hilary most of these haters dont. they hate her because hannity limbaugh and colter told them to. what is the raeson no one ask. one day someone should say chris why do u hate her so much and not let him get away with a no answer.
That 51% figure sounds wrong, signifigantly too high. If true, it would disqualify her as a viable candidate in the general election. ( Mr. Zogby playing games?)
Where that sentiment skews strongest in fact is in the Anti-Bill radicalized red states, especially the South. She doesn't need to win those states.
will some right winger out there please please tell me why you hate hillary. so much.
no on hates bush they hate his war policy. they are not anti war they are anti bush war policy in iraq. as long as you let hannity limbaugh orilley do this u will win every argument awke up guset on these shows. challenge this people on what they are saying.
DR,
I disagree. There are people who hate Bush, as well as those who hate Hillary.
I will never vote for Hillary because of her positions, not her voice. Being a Dem, she is not the choice of most Conservatives.
Exactly, yet you will hear countless liberals complaining that the reason people don't like Hillary, or if she loses the election, is because she was the victim of so much negativity regarding every aspect of her - except her liberal positions on issues.
Which will be the reason she wins or loses, not because Chris Matthews says she's shrill, or some blogger says she's "eerily loud".
10% will examine the issues.
10% will examine the character of the candidate(s).
20% will vote the party, without consideration of issues or character.
50% will vote the media narrative without consideration of party, issues, or character.
10% will stay home, due to the ugly nature of the campaign.
"10% will stay home, due to the ugly nature of the campaign."
More like half, actually. Lucky for the cons. Otherwise, they'd be in even a bigger hole politically then they are now.
Ya got me - I needed 10% in order to show those who vote any aspect of the candidates, would nonetheless be overwhelmed by those who vote the media narrative. Shoulda recognized that 50% stay home even in clean campaigns.
"Her liberal positions on issues?"
She voted for the war. She is anti-withdrawal, anti-timetable. She wants permanent bases in Iraq.She is bellicose and threatening to Iran. Anti flag-burning. Pro-Israel.
Hillary is only liberal in the weird spectrum of US politics. In Europe she'd be just this side of the neo-Nazis...
That's what I was gonna say. What liberal positions? She's a "conservative" through and through.
She wants permanent bases? Be careful, you are treading on "refuted" MMFA thread material...
The mantra that Senator Clinton "voted for the war" is simply a falsehood. She voted to authorize the use of force if necessary. This might have been a simple surgical missile strike like that launched by President Clinton, or similar small-scale operation. On the floor of the Senate prior to the vote she spoke out <B>AGAINST</B> going to war, and throughout the debate has called for reason, calm, dilberation, and restraint. ([link to drillingcompany.blogspot.com] />
It is the media "script" to talk her up as a "hawk" when she's not. Just as they talked up President's "support" for Bush's war when he said over and over he disagreed with Bush'sdecision to rush war ( [link to drillingcompany.blogspot.com] To borrow from a catch-phrase slogan from 1992, "It's the media, stupid."
Tommy why do you support and defend trash journalism?
Multiple posters have told you why non-issues like this bother them, yet you continue to frame this argument in a disingenuous manner. We want more substance and less fluff.
Funny how Tweety...
...is so friggin' focused on everything but Hillary's positions on important issues.
Unless it's a position that he pulls outta his ass.
They can't focus on her issues. It would prove she's Bush in a dress. All her policies are the same as his. That's why this mud-slinging is all about superficialities, looks, speech, etc. The main Dem contenders are all right-wingers with the same policies as the Repubs, so that's all they got to argue over.
The worst part is that we got to put up with a full 2 years of this shallow garbage. The best we can hope the American voter is so burnt out and angry by election time that they all rush out and vote minor party just to end it.
ok some will hate him personally but no one hates bush like they hated linto and its funny to hear the right wing say it bush most hated..
what is her psition. you should not hate somone for a position unless it harms somone. the right wing hope somthing bad would happen to clinto for 8 years . you know the rush limbaugh types as rush did the other day with the edwards. he is a pathetick bigoted man. and sometimes i aggree with rush untill he gets pathetic. i would love to debate him. but he like orielly hide behind a microphone.
If you can find where anyone except maybe Coulter wished harm on Clinton, I'd love to see it. As far as Hillary's positions go, they do harm to people financially. Her national health care policy alone will raise the taxes on the already insured.
"Her national health care policy alone will raise the taxes on the already insured."
Not necessarily. If you consider the amount you are paying your employer to cover you will go away. For some, there will be no difference. For the rich, they will finally have to be partially their brother's keeper. And that as it should be.
You are correct. The issue is, the VERY rich ponying up some of their dough... the average Joe (like me, like DAVE) is led to believe that those Dems just want to spend all of our tax dollars willy-nilly, raise the deficit, waste our Nat'l Treasury... Oh wait. That IS the Republicans.
The rules have changes. The old rhetoric doesn't hold any more (if it ever did). The VERY rich pay for their candidates out of pocket and demand services in kind. That is the major problem with our current political climate. The last 6 years of Republican rule have proven that this people cannot be trusted. Yet, we continue to so rigorously question and deny the Democrats? I smell a little brainwashing here...
By the way DAVE, you "listen to Rush daily"? Nuff' said.
For the rich, they will finally have to be partially their brother's keeper. And that as it should be.
Spoken like a true Liberal. You really don't have a problem spending other people's money, do you?
The money in the Nat'l treasure is - last I checked - supposed to be our money. Now, that these neocon creeps have redistributed it back into the coffers of their rich buddies... yeah, they should pony up some of that dough. Tally it up. We had a surplus when Bush began... Did they make their cash the 'old fashioned way'... from a Republican standpoint? Sure... war profiteering, no bid contracts, cronyism. Sounds about right.
What does your money have printed on it? "Dave" or "United States of America"?
You are victim of disorganized thinking.
You say that the rich should be their 'brother's keeprer', yet what you propose is that Caesar sieze the assets of the rich and redistribute them to the poor. This does not make the rich their brother's keeper. It instead confers upon the state the power to sieze any man's assets it wishes for any purpose that awards some part of the siezed assets to a man of lesser wealth by merely declaring that an "unjust" disribution of wealth exists. I should think the imperious conduct of the government in the Kelo case would have been a warning to you about this kind of government supremacy over private property.
What national health care policy? I didn't know she had one. She certainly hasn't campaigned on it. This is her third election run and it hasn't come up once. I don't see a health care policy. Kucinich has one, Nader has one, the Greens have one...Hillary's? Where?!?!
rush limabugh, sean hannity.rev farwell,michell malkin-
as rush would say they dont say it but this is what they mean. he has spent 20 years telling his cult members what people mean when they say somthing why cant i. also has anyone ever checked to see if rush father and grandfather who the named a courthouse for in missouri were they in favor of the civil right act to alloww blacks to vote. he says he leauned all fro father and grandfather can one of his cult members tell me please.
DR,
I would love to respond but I have no idea what you are talking about.
What in the world is Matthews thinking? EVERYONE knocks Hillary, men, women and children included. And 50% of Americans would NEVER vote for her.
The're really knocking Bill. She had no constitutional office when Bill was president or govenor. She's only held office herself for a short time. I think it's wrong to expect her to be a close copy of her husband---good, bad or indifferent. It seems Bush2 has consciously avoided being like his father.
No, we're knocking her, not Bill. We see her right-wing voting record and failure to champion any liberal causes. We see her pro-Israel, pro-corporate, anti-peace, anti-working class platform. Has nothing to do with Bill, all to do with Hillary herself.
Is Matthews the spittin' image of Barney Rubble or what???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Rubble
its simple rush always says this is what clinton said and this is what he meant why cant i do the same with rush . he hated clinton and wished him dead every day of his program. how is that so hard to figure out.
also what is rush opinion on civil rights of 1964 his father and grandfather then i can understand his hatred of people.is it so hard to see reality on rush limbaugh. i see people everyday on this sight complainign but the never deal with his history to understand his present
I would love for you to provide a link to where Rush wished Clinton dead. I listen to Rush daily. He wished him out of office, impeached, and even wished he'd never been elected, but never as I recall, bodily harm. Prove I'm wrong.
Start with this. Took me about 30 seconds.
What do you expect? The guy listens to Rush 'daily' ... he's used to tailoring bs 'facts' to his own agenda and ignoring reality. Nice work though.
Nice work! I was gonna do that . . . sometime . . . soon . . . but now I don't hafta! Thanks!
It is not sexist, it is because HC can knock you on your cans, publicly.
No kidding. She knocked the tar out of Bill more than once!
I would have paid to have seen that one. Or been a fly on the wall .
Me too. I wonder if that lamp broke when it hit Bill on his head. What a couple!
dave thanks give me a few days and i will . since u listen to rush everyday what is his opinion on civil rights law 1964 and his daddy and grandaddy.
i assure u i will provide a link in the next few days.before making that statemnet i should have had my fax ready.
do u think that rush is happy that tiger is doing so well in golf. has he ever said it since u are one of his cult
thanks valentinion for ur help
so what do u say now dave about ur hero
dave
dave where are u
ha ha ha VALENTIONION THANKS AGAIN FOR UR HELP
another limbaugh cult member who cant face the truth
I'm a man from the midwest, and not only is my idea of heaven decidedly not "out hunting with the beer cans and shooting a pheasant or a bear," I openly champion any "modern woman" for a run at the Oval Office. You know, whatever the hell "modern woman" actually means. This guy is supposed to be a professional, and he is allowed to use a pedestrian phrase such as "modern woman?" My, oh my, how telejournalism has fallen...
What the hell does Tweety know about shooting bears?
He grew up in Philadelphia.
And how many in "the crowd" that he hangs with, would ever bring up shooting bears in any conversation?
Not that I know anything about shooting bears.
I'm surprised that Colbert hasn't covered this.
Yeah King, should have been on Steven's 'Threatdown" segment! Ha.