Dick Morris saw a Chris Matthews-Politico debate conspiracy to "hurt Rudy"
SUMMARY: On Hannity & Colmes, Dick Morris claimed that "MSNBC biased [the Republican candidates] debate against" Rudy Giuliani, and that Chris Matthews, who was one of the debate's moderators, had participated in "a deliberate act by Politico.com and MSNBC ... to hurt Rudy." Morris also stated that Matthews "decided to gut Rudy Giuliani because he's the one that can most likely beat the Republicans." At no point did Morris mention that Matthews has previously showered praise on Giuliani and other Republican presidential hopefuls.
While discussing the May 3 Republican presidential candidates debate on the May 7 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, syndicated columnist Dick Morris said: "I don't think that Chris Matthews wanted to elect [former Massachusetts Gov.] Mitt Romney or [Arizona Sen.] John McCain, but I do think that this former staffer to [former House Speaker] Tip O'Neill [D-MA] decided to gut [former New York City Mayor] Rudy Giuliani, because he's the one that can most likely beat the Republicans." Morris also claimed that "MSNBC biased that debate against" Giuliani, and that Matthews, who moderated the debate along with The Politico's executive editor Jim VandeHei and editor in chief John Harris, had participated in "a deliberate act by Politico.com and MSNBC ... to hurt Rudy." At no point did Morris mention that Matthews has previously showered praise on several of the Republican presidential hopefuls, including Giuliani.
As Media Matters for America has documented, Matthews has said that Giuliani "may well be the perfect candidate to replace" President Bush. Matthews has also claimed that Giuliani "has street cred" on the issue of "protect[ing] this country against the bad guys." Matthews has touted Giuliani as a "hero" and praised him as "the one tough cop who was standing on the beat when we got hit last time and stood up and took it." Additionally, as Media Matters has noted, Matthews continues to praise Giuliani's purported elimination of the "pee smell" in New York subways.
Matthews has also asserted that McCain "deserves" the presidency. On the March 29 edition of Hardball, Matthews stated: "John McCain certainly deserves to be president, based on his contribution to this country over the years." Matthews has also lauded McCain as a "maverick," "kind of a party renegade," and a "lone gun." On the January 19 edition of Hardball, Matthews said of Romney: "He has the perfect chin, the perfect hair, he looks right. He looks like a Mountie. He looks like from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police."
Morris' comments echo CNN and Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz who asked on the May 6 edition of CNN's Reliable Sources: "Republicans were willing to participate in an MSNBC debate with a guy who used to work for [former President] Jimmy Carter and Tip O'Neill. Should Democrats be refusing to debate on Fox News?"
From the May 7 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:
MORRIS: But you mentioned the debate. MSNBC biased that debate against Rudy Giuliani.
HANNITY: Why do you say that?
MORRIS: Because Rudy got 1,600 words, McCain got 2,000 words, and Mitt Romney got 2,300 words. Now, when you give one candidate 44 percent more air time than the other candidate --
HANNITY: Right.
MORRIS: -- you're biasing it against the other candidate. And I don't think that Chris Matthews wanted to elect Mitt Romney or John McCain, but I do think that this former staffer to Tip O'Neill decided to gut Rudy Giuliani, because he's the one that can most likely beat the Republicans.
HANNITY: That's interesting.
ALAN COLMES (co-host): By the way, you know, Dick, this is --
MORRIS: And I think it was a deliberate act by Politico.com and MSNBC, to [inaudible] --
HANNITY: To hurt Rudy?
MORRIS: -- Democratic organs to hurt Rudy.
COLMES: Dick, let me point out to you, Dick, that Politico has actually been accused of being conservative-owned and -run, and not exactly something with a liberal bias. The Politico is --
MORRIS: It's headed by a wonderful man who is a brilliant journalist --
COLMES: Yeah. Right.
MORRIS: -- but whose previous job was with The Washington Post.
COLMES: Right.
MORRIS: And he makes the -- and he was the one who was on the stage that night.
COLMES: But it's owned by Allbritton, who's conservative.
Colmes was referring to Politico publisher Robert L. Allbritton, whose family has ties to Bush's. Allbritton's father, Joe L. Allbritton, serves on the board of trustees of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, and Jonathan J. Bush, George H.W. Bush's brother, was a top executive at the Allbritton-controlled Riggs National Corp., which was bought by PNC Financial Services Group Inc. in 2005.
Please! CM has a huge Man crush on Rudy. It's not his fault that Rudy can't really elaborate on answers that can't be related to 9/11.
Exactly. If there is any conspiracy to hurt a specific candidate, the target is Ron Paul. Just look at the response to MSNBC's own "Rate the Candidates" survey. It's very telling when a no-name like Paul handily beats out the favorites. Yet, there's absolutely no mention of this news by anyone.
Further, that survey is in stark contrast to the many polls released this week. All of these polls were taken prior to the debate and only included about 1000 participants each. Whereas, the MSNBC survey, unscientific though it may be, involved more than 86,000 participants. That's a much more accurate representation of voter preference than a mere 1000 people, and it judged the response after the debate was over.
In addition, it indicates that not only were many people impressed by Ron Paul, they also want to hear more about him. How does the media respond? I wouldn't be surprised if they're banned from mentioning Ron Paul's name except in conjunction with "wacko", "kook", or "crazy", obvious baseless ad hominem attacks and attempts at character defamation. If they want to criticize Dr. Paul, they need to be respectful and attack his principles and policies. Examining his policies would certainly do the trick without sacrificing their own integrity.
Paul is anti-establishment, like Kucinich. Neither gets press in the establishment media. The voters MUST be sold only the establishment-sanctioned vote-for-the-rich-screw-the-poor candidates, ya know.
..ABSOLUTELY! Chris M adores Rudy Guliani, he's his new heart throb. Hell he would have let him talk all night if he could have.
I know there's probably some computer generated word scorecard out there, but really - who cares how many words each candidate had at a primary debate nine months away from even the first vote being cast?
Apparently, Dick Morris cares very much about how many words each candidate was able to squeeze into his time, how they relate as percentages to each of the other candidates word count, and, most importantly, how Chris Matthews was able to control the number of syllables in those words and the candidates speech patterns to manipulate the number of words spoken according to his agenda.
Yikes.
I tend to think the opposite anyway, the less the candidates open their mouths and pander for votes, the better they look to me. Shut up and just do it.
Shut up and do what, Tommy? How do you propose that candidates campaign? Mime?
Geez Val, it was slightly tongue in cheek, obviously.....cool it.
Sorry, Tommy, I missed the obvious tongue-in-cheek font.
I thought "mime" was a clever riposte on my part, but go ahead and ruin my fun.
I suggest they all log on here and have it with our esteemed panel.
;-)
Pretty good val. Maybe Dick Morris should stick to sucking toes. I'm dead certain tht they will find him engaged in a toe sucking session with Hannity and Oreilly.
Since when does "number of words" equal "air time"? So it's Matthews/MSNBC's fault that Giuliani can't gather his thoughts quickly enough or speak fast enough to rack up a higher word count during the response time allotted?!?!?!
I thhink they are trying deflect attention away from the recent news about Guiliani donating to planned parenthood and his apparent flip flopping. Poor Rudy, boo hoo.
Let me get this straight. Morris, who is frequently introduced to the Faux News audience as "Former Clinton Aide" is suggesting that Tweety's past affilliation somehow makes him a (OMG!) Democrat? Is he a Democrat in the same way that prostitute toe-sucker Dick Morris is a Democrat? You know, the biased against Republicans kind?
And why would he suggest that someone who has a liberal bent (which he obviously doesn't, btw) would want to help someone who lacks conservative bona fides. If he hurts Julie-Annie, it only helps the cons. If he's trying to help the cons, how can he be a liberal?
Hah! Julie Annie!
Don't know about all that, but if my name was Dick I wouldn't be talking about Democrats' organs.
I've heard they lean to the left.
I'ver heard that they're srivelled up to the point of virtual non-existence - just like many other conservative Republicans.
Why do you think he was sucking on that prostitute's TOE????
Those DC types are all sexual weirdos. That madam that was just busted revealed she had 15,000!!! customers in Washington, DC. And none of her services were considered "vanilla". It's always the "respectable" ones that harbour the weirdest sexual practices. But then what can one expect from people who like to wear nooses around their necks?
Somehow, some way, George Soros is behind all of this. Bill O'Reilly is probably putting together the flow charts as I type.
That will most likely be tonights "Talking Point".
...and a new chart. I just love charts. Or maybe Bill might do an animated power point presentation, now that would really be cool.
Guiliani is too liberal on social issues to be the Republican nominee. No conspiracy necessary. He doesn't fit the mold.
Bruce,
I think you fiscal conservatives/social moderates are going to have to start your own party, you'll never be able to get a social moderate pass the Republican gate keepers.
Lynn, you might be right. Fiscal conservative, social moderate sounds like mainstream America to me but nobody is stepping up to govern that way. But I will keep believing in it anyway just on the off chance.
Poor Dicky
The only thing that hurts Rudy is the truth. He is a moderate Republican who will never win the nomination. Contributions to Plan Parenthood and supporting a woman's right to choose will never make it with the Falwell's and Dobson's who now run the party. He can't keep changing his mind like Romney or he becomes a flip flopper and we know how Republicans hate flip floppers.
Wait I forgot they only hate flip floppers who aren't Republicans. When you flip flop as a Republican it's called changing your mind.
You've just presented the great conundrum - for these right wingers to change their mind assumes they have one to begin with. We know differently, don't we?
You bring up some good points. Both Guliani and Romney have their issues relating to abortion. Lets see if they will avoid the embarrassment of saying the were for it before they were against it, like our friend Kerry.
Has Kerry changed his position on abortion?
Hahahaha.. I'm surprised you'd even ask? Does the sun rise in the East? Just a quick google search using "Kerry" and "abortion" brought this.
Democratic candidate for President John Kerry recently announced that he was a person who believed human life begins at conception. This was a surprise considering that finding a Liberal anywhere who will admit human lives do begin at conception is about as rare as Jesse Jackson shying away from publicity. There was no real surprise though when Kerry managed to do a flip-flop immediately following his announcement though. Kerry the Senator who would be President reversed himself and his beliefs by saying although he thinks human life begins at conception, he still supports a woman's right to choose.
Doug Hagin July 11, 2004
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/hagin/040711
So he said that he still believes life begins at conception, and that he still supports the right to choose. Where's the flip-flop?
He has a stated personal belief , but he doesn't feel the need to have the government force it on those who don't share his belief.
I guess that's a "flip-flop" in wingnutville.
Oh yeah, hahahahahahahaha.
BTW, AnotherAmerican, thanks for the link to Doug Hagin. I can't get enough free on-line comedy.
"Doug Hagin ... is 38, single, loves outdoors, and dreams of having a political column nationally syndicated."
Not the grandest dream for most, but if your excerpt is indicative of the quality of his stuff, I wish him good luck.
I'll have you know Junior went to Yale and they gave and I mean literally gave him a "C". Impressive huh
They would have flunked him but Daddy was too much of a VIP.
Rudy's flip-floppy razor's edge stance on abortion is all that is required to undermine his campaign and his chances for being elected either as the GOP contender or as president.
Such a flagrant unwillingness to pick a damn side is off-putting to the conservative base, who loathe the insinuation of a pro-choice president, and liberal leaning independents, who loathe the insinuation of a yet another pro-life president.
Chris Mathews needn't take an active role in his self-destruction. That's why it's called self-destruction.
Randy
I can't believe MMFA is harping on this when this is far from the worst thing Morris said on this same broadcast of H&C. But I guess that wouldn't really be misinformation, when all he's doing is revealing the rightwing agenda.
Oh that stuff was just the rants of a nutjob who has digested too much toe nail paint.
MMFA gets caught up in its own hype too often tomake rational decisions. QUICK, find a soundbite that can be posted and called misinformation.
And why does anyone care about Dick Morris? He dragged Clinton down the toilet with his 'triangulation' brainwashing... he was synoymous with the Clinton adminsitration's later years. Now he's spewing out crap statistics like word counts? Puh-lease... Maybe he should do a reverse Olbermann and get into sports broadcasting. He might be able to contribute in that arena.
They gotta find something to write about to justify their salaries, ya know. Too bad it's usually nothing substantive.
KO nailed the little weasel on it last night, as "Worst Person." I usually enjoy that segment because it's light-hearted, if mean-spirited fun, but this too serious. The son-of-a-buck was actually endorsing human sacrifice. Send the jihadists a few of our young people in the hopes that they'll be satisfied and not come after us.
My question, since I didn't see the broadcast, is what was the response of "support-the-troops" pHannity? Did he cut the ever-more-blimplike rodent a new one, or did he let that cowardly obscenity pass?
I SEE. So Bush, the metaphorical native ruler on Skull Island, is presenting the frightening Al Quada "King Kong" with offerings of our G.I.'s in the form of Fay Wray, a "sacrifice" to prevent the big monkey from beating down the wall and coming after the villagers.
As long as we keep shoveling soldiers for the "turrists" to pick off, then they'll be too busy to arrange their passports to come to the USA?
"CYNICAL" doesn't cover this notion ... in fact, it is way too likely to be TRUE to be the mere rantings of a deranged pundit. To Bush, his HIDE is tied up in NOT saying he has lost in Iraq, and made a big mistake. So the loss of mere soldiers is the least of his worries.
Something is very wrong here. Little Dickie Morris didn't blame the Clinton's...YET.
No doubt that it will be proved in the next flow chart by O'Reilly that Soros is behind all of this with the complicity of the Clinton's. :)
Morris and Stephanapolos are both the same in the way they say whatever they want, regardless of sounding reasonable... they are the sorcerers in the castle who pander to whomever is the king or queen...
I wonder why Stephanopoulos isn't highlighted here more often. I count one time this calender year. Compared to seven for Tim Russert on the NBC Sunday mornings. I would think it might be the reverse.
Must have something to do with personal vendettas and party ties.
I think Dick and Fox got the wrong day's Murdoch script for their soap opera of a show, As the faux turns.... Morris' comments don't make any sense and it is CLEAR the Matthew's LOVES the Republicant's, especially Rudy...
I'd say it's a toss up between Rudy & McCain.
Matthews is a man Torn Between Two Lovers ;-)
Dickie obviously doesn't watch Hardball or he'd know that.
Torn between two Lovers and acting like a fool!
A man loving two men is definitely breaking all the rules.
:-)
I think it is simply amazing that the right in this country feels that Chris Mattews is a devout liberal and wants to hurt Republicans especially Rudy. Matthews has been in bed with Rudy for many many months, from his disgusting urine comments, the discussion with Imus a few months ago when he used the F word on national TV. Get real Dick Morris.
Dorris, by my reading, the only one who feels that way is Morris.
But thanks for lumping us all together. :-)
Hannity also feels this way.
MRC also
http://www.mrc.org/realitycheck/2007/fax20070507.asp
I haven't listened to Hannity but I see your point. I have heard criticism that the Dems were lobbed softballs and the right asked embarrassing questions like, "What do you hate about America". (Maybe it was when I was driving over to Walmart and caught a few minutes of Rush?)
Pretty silly if you ask me. But then I didn't watch either.
Actually, it gets repeated over and over by various cons that Matthews is a liberal. People on this page have also been ranting this, on the basis that he worked with Carter. But, you know, Nixon was in FDRs admin, and look how he turned out!
Having worked for Tip O'Neil might predjudice the Republicans against him as much if not more. They really hated O'Neil for putting the brakes on Reagan.
" Morris also stated that Matthews "decided to gut Rudy Giuliani because he's the one that can most likely beat the Republicans."
I know they appeared to be the College of Cardinals but aren't they the Republican candidates (as of today); so how can Rudy be the one to beat them, if he is one of them.
The hero of 9/11 can do anything, he stopped those terrorists from ....oh wait...he didn't.
Dick Morris and David Brock represent both sides of the sleaze coin.
Really, what makes you think that? The way I see it, Brock has a logical explanation for all he says. The burden of proof is on you!
sleazy and un-sleazy would be opposite sides of the coin, I guess.
I guess in the same way YOU represent the one side of the moron coin.
Hey, Solon ! Stop it!
Matthews begins to salivate and gain an erection whenever he talks about his man Rudy. The only time in his entire life that he was more excited was when Fighter Pilot Bush landed on the aircraft carrier. Matthews went on to wax poetically on how much of a man that Bush looked in his flight suit, especially the crotch shots. I think that Matthews had to change his pants and underwear during the commercial. He is now shilling for Rudy incessantly on his show, commenting on how tough and manly Rudy is and how he single-handedly cleaned the city of crime and corruption. Rudy is right on one thing. Elect a Republican and we will never suffer a horrific terrorist attack. What!!! OOOHHHHHH Never mind.
In the interest of giving the devil his due, I heard him a while ago actually chastise Sean Hannity for being "disengenuous" on something or other. Interestingly, Hannity took it with just a slight pause, but no protest.
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!
Being a co-host with Dick Morris must be much like it was to be Hueng Cho's roommate!
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady