MSNBC's Matthews still obsessed with Clinton's "Chinese" clapping
SUMMARY: On MSNBC's Hardball, discussing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chris Matthews noted, "[W]ell, there she is clapping again," and asked, "[W]ould somebody please tell me why she claps every time she goes somewhere?" Similarly, the next day on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Matthews said that Clinton is "usually standing in front of the camera, and she's clapping, like she's Chinese. I know the Chinese clap at each other, but what is she clapping at?" These recent comments continue a pattern for Matthews, who has repeatedly highlighted Clinton's clapping, and has previously characterized it as "Chinese."
On the November 6 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, discussing presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), host Chris Matthews said, "[W]ell, there she is clapping again," and asked his panel of Washington Post editorial writer Jonathan Capehart, Houston Chronicle White House correspondent Julie Mason, and Weekly Standard staff writer Matthew Continetti, "[W]ould somebody please tell me why she claps every time she goes somewhere?" Capehart postulated that Clinton was "responding to the crowd," and Mason speculated that "[i]t's an affirmation," to which Matthews replied: "No, I think it's bizarre behavior. Anyway, I think it has something to do with -- men don't know what to do with their hands. I guess she's like us. Anyway, we'll be right back with more of the roundtable. I want an answer. Why is she clapping?"
Similarly, the next day on the November 7 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, co-host Willie Geist said to Matthews, "I gotta ask you about, I was watching yesterday, you had this thing about Hillary and the clapping, you were caught up with her." Matthews replied that Clinton is "usually standing in front of the camera, and she's clapping, like she's Chinese. I know the Chinese clap at each other, but what is she clapping at?":
MATTHEWS: Yeah, would you explain that to me, what they're - every time you see a Republican they're looking for a leader, every time you see a Democrat, they're at a meeting. They love these lunchtime meetings. And they're always at -- she's usually standing in front of the camera, and she's clapping, like she's Chinese. I know the Chinese clap at each other, but what is she clapping at? I mean, it's like one of these wind-up things. Every time you see -- and now she rolls around the room, and sort of, it's like dances with the clapping while she's there. And every once in a while she shoots that pointed finger at somebody, she multi-tasks, she claps and points. But the clapping is just, it's so - Mika [Brzezinski, co host], is this the triumph of modern women? Is this some new level of greatness we've all achieved here? I don't know what it is.
Brzezinski later told Matthews, "[T]his is just like a man, or any of you people picking on Hillary Clinton for things like clapping! I mean, come on, are you going to talk about her clothes too?" Matthews replied: "Mika, you're unconvincing at the ramparts here. 'I Am Woman' time, jeez."
During the Morning Joe discussion of Clinton's clapping, MSNBC aired a video clip that appeared to have been taken during the 2006 New York State Democratic Convention. In the clip, Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton applaud as Elliot Spitzer (then running for New York governor) joins them on a stage. Spitzer and the Clintons then applaud as David A. Paterson, Spitzer's running mate, joins them on the stage.
From Morning Joe:
The following photograph accompanied a May 31, 2006, New York Times article discussing Clinton's appearance at the New York convention, with the caption, "Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and husband, President Bill Clinton, are joined on stage by the state Democratic ticket during the State Democratic Convention in Buffalo, N.Y.":
Matthews has repeatedly highlighted Hillary Clinton's clapping, and has previously characterized it as "Chinese":
- On the October 26 edition of Hardball, Matthews asked Sally Bedell Smith, author of For Love of Politics: Bill and Hillary Clinton: The White House Years (Random House, 2007): "What's with [Clinton's] clapping? Why is she always clapping? There we see her -- I don't know any -- is this a Chinese thing? What is this clapping? She doesn't clap like you do at a movie you like or something. She claps when she meets people." Smith asserted that "the wonderful subtext" of Bill and Hillary Clinton clapping together "is they're clapping, but they're not really paying attention. She's whispering something to him and he's listening intently." During the segment, MSNBC aired the same footage of the Clintons and Spitzer applauding during the 2006 New York State Democratic Convention it would later air during the November 7 segment on Morning Joe.
- As Media Matters for America noted, in a conversation with co-anchor Keith Olbermann during MSNBC's coverage of the November 7, 2006, midterm elections, while a clip of Clinton's Senate victory event played in the background, Matthews asserted: "[A]nd that clapping. I just don't get it. It's not appealing. It's Chinese or something. I mean, what is this applauding-yourself thing all about?"
- On the June 1, 2006, edition of Hardball, during a discussion of "Hillary Clinton's performance yesterday in her speech announcing her run for renomination for the Senate," Matthews asked Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen, "What's all the dancing and clapping about? Why'd she come to the platform clapping and dancing? What's the celebration about?"
- On the February 7, 2000, edition of Hardball, during a discussion of Clinton's performance during her February 6, 2000, announcement that she would be running for Senate, jury consultant Jo-Ellan Demetrius asserted that Clinton was "trying to include the audience and it's just, you know, it's just not going off well at all. You know, this is a person that, I think, most people would feel very uncomfortable sitting next to because she's so robotic-like." Matthews replied: "Well, I think she spent too much time watching Richard Nixon in the Great Hall of the People there because she's running around clapping hands like I don't know what."
From the November 7 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:
GEIST: I gotta ask you about -- I was watching yesterday -- you had this thing about Hillary and the clapping. You were caught up with her -- what --
MATTHEWS: Willie, would you explain that to me, what their --
BRZEZINSKI (co-host): Well --
MATTHEWS: Every time you see a Republican, they're looking for a leader. Every time you see a Democrat, they're at a meeting. They love these lunchtime meetings, and they're always at -- she's usually standing in front of the camera, and she's clapping, like she's Chinese.
I know the Chinese clap at each other, but what is she clapping at? I mean, it's like one of these wind-up things. Every time you see -- and she's -- now she rolls around the room, and sort of -- it's like dances with the clapping while she stands. And every once in a while, she shoots that pointed finger at somebody. She multitasks. She claps and points. But the clapping is just, it's so -- I mean, is this -- Mika, is this the triumph of modern women? Is this some new level of greatness we've all achieved here? I don't know what it is.
GEIST: I don't know.
BRZEZINSKI: OK, that's an interesting question. It sort of reminds me of Paula Abdul's clap for the contestants during American Idol. She's very supportive.
SCARBOROUGH: OK. OK, we better cut it there, because you just compared Hillary Clinton --
BRZEZINSKI: Oh, God!
SCARBOROUGH: -- possibly the next president of the United States -- to a woman that's have -- has a lot of issues. Chris has compared Giuliani with Gadhafi --
BRZEZINSKI: Chris started it! I mean, what are we --
SCARBOROUGH: We're in great shape.
BRZEZINSKI: See, but Chris, this is just like a man, or any of you people during this campaign --
SCARBOROUGH: Just like a man.
BRZEZINSKI: --picking on Hillary Clinton --
SCARBOROUGH: Ah, you know what?
GEIST: It's a fair question.
BRZEZINSKI: -- for things like clapping!
SCARBOROUGH: We're not picking on Hillary Clinton.
BRZEZINSKI: I mean, come on! Should we talk about her clothes, too?
SCARBOROUGH: I used to make fun of --
MATTHEWS: Mika, you're unconvincing at the ramparts here.
SCARBOROUGH: All right. Thank you so much.
BRZEZINSKI: Wrrr!
MATTHEWS: "I Am Woman" time, jeez.
From the November 6 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: Do you know that she is still, Julie, still waffling on this hot potato issue of driver's licenses for illegal people in the country?
MASON: Right, it's true. It's true, 'cause I still --
MATTHEWS: She did a Candy Crowley interview and when you read the text here, it's like blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I don't want to -- you know, she doesn't want to answer the question --
MASON: I still don't know --
MATTHEWS: -- because she doesn't want to offend the Latino groups. She doesn't want to offend them, and yet, at the same time, she sees the poll numbers that show that that's a very unpopular view, so she's waffling.
MASON: It's true, Chris. I --
MATTHEWS: That's not what leaders do.
MASON: I still don't know where she stands on that issue. Do you? I have no idea.
MATTHEWS: No, I don't know. I know that she sympathizes with -- well, there she is clapping again. I don't whether she's clapping -- would somebody please tell me why she claps every time she goes somewhere?
CAPEHART: Maybe she's just responding to the crowd, Chris.
MATTHEWS: She's clapping for them.
MASON: We should clap more.
MATTHEWS: No, I think it's bizarre behavior. Anyway, I think it has something to do with - you know, men don't know what to do with their hands. I guess she's like us.
Anyway, we'll be right back with more of the round table. I want an answer. Why is she clapping? Matt, please. Tell me. Why does she clap all the time?
CONTINETTI: She's happy, Chris.
MATTHEWS: Well, that's a good answer. We'll be right back.
From the October 26 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: What's with her clapping? Why is she always clapping? There we see her clap. I don't know any -- is this a Chinese thing? What is this clapping? She doesn't clap like you do at a movie you like or something. She claps when she meets people. And she claps -- is that with Tom Friedman? I mean, she claps when she stands at a luncheon. What is all the clapping about?
BEDELL SMITH: Well, it's -- it's funny you should say that because that's the image on the cover of the book, of the two of them clapping, but --
MATTHEWS: What?
BEDELL SMITH: But it's -- but the wonderful subtext of that is they're clapping, but they're not really paying attention. She's whispering something to him --
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
BEDELL SMITH: -- and he's listening intently. And it's just another sort of visual --
MATTHEWS: Is this a --
BEDELL SMITH: -- image of --
MATTHEWS: I know. Look. Is this show business, this thing we're watching?
BEDELL SMITH: [Former Clinton press secretary] Mike McCurry said one thing to me that I thought was fascinating, which is that they have mastered the science of public interaction. So, when they're out there, they know exactly what to do and what plays.
MATTHEWS: Is it for show?
BEDELL SMITH: Well, they're performing.
From the June 1, 2006, edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: Welcome back to Hardball. Election Day 2006 is now just five months away, it's in November of course. Have Republicans lost their confidence? Sounds like it. Are Democrats sounding too confident? We'll talk about it with Hilary Rosen, Democratic strategist, and Ed Rollins, the Republican strategist. He's also advising KT McFarland, one of the Republicans hoping to beat Hillary Clinton this fall in New York.
Ed Rollins, you're a tough guy. Assess Hillary Clinton's performance yesterday in her speech announcing her run for re-nomination for the Senate.
ROLLINS: Incredible. I mean, she's a great talent. She obviously has this state, the Democratic Party, 100 percent behind her.
MATTHEWS: How good a speech did she give? Did you think her performance was good?
ROLLINS: I thought it was a good performance. I mean, I think that she is getting to be a much better performer and I think the critical thing is, you know, we don't underestimate her. We're going to have a tough primary on our side, and, at the end of the day, these people pay attention to us. I think she'll have a formidable opponent, particularly if my candidate gets the nomination. And I think the reality is, you know, we'll have to see.
We have to bring Republicans back into the fold to be viable, but she is as -- she's as good a candidate as I have seen. She's not quite as good as her husband, but she's as good a candidate as I've seen at the Senate level in a long, long time.
MATTHEWS: You're not just pumping her up because you're running against her, are you?
ROLLINS: It wouldn't matter whether I was running against her not. She's, you know -- there's a talent there, and, obviously, her husband's the best political strategist in America, bar none. Bar none.
MATTHEWS: I agree with that. I agree. Let's go to Hilary Rosen. Hilary, I thought her speech wasn't too good yesterday. She was unsure how to use whatever notes she had. She was looking down. It just seemed to be an odd day not to be prepared if it was such a big hype.
ROSEN: Well, I actually agree with Ed. I think that she put some things out there that people wanted to hear and, you know, I think, in some respects, she's so comfortable in that environment, that she felt like she could really just say some off the cuff and some prepared, and, sometimes, you go back and forth. But the things she said I think were important. She talked about how --
MATTHEWS: What's all the dancing and clapping about? Why'd she come to the platform clapping and dancing? What's the celebration about?
ROSEN: OK, this is the classic politician's problem, right? You look at political conventions throughout history, they never really know what to do when the crowd is on their feet, the music is blaring.
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
ROSEN: Nobody's quieted down yet. You know, what she's doing -- she's got some rhythm and she's excited about what she's doing, and that crowd loved her and she loves them -- a lot of friends in the audience. I thought it was a good day for her.
From the February 7, 2000, edition of Hardball:
MATTHEWS: We can't forget that the initial appeal of Hillary Clinton in New York to those voters up there was that she was the woman scorned, the woman abused by Bill Clinton. People rooted for her because she was the survivor of the president, not his friend, and now the president was on stage yesterday.
Jo-Ellan, that's a strange conflict. She has to sort of -- she was initially popular in New York because she was sort of running against Bill. Now she's got him on the platform with her. What's that say to you, the way she handled this?
DEMETRIUS: Well, I think that's what's expected of her. You know, it's interesting to note here when you first saw her leave the podium, she extended her cheek to [Rep.] Charles Rangel [D-NY], you know, again, it wasn't a warm, you know, going up and hugging as she is to her own family as she is right here. She's just not a person that you could feel, you know -- I love the -- just a little handshake to [former Sen. Patrick] Moynihan [D-NY], as well --
MATTHEWS: I'm sure he was thrilled by this whole moment.
DEMETRIUS: -- and clapping for herself.
MATTHEWS: I'm sure Pat Moynihan is thrilled by the idea of her being senator from New York, the state he grew up in and spent his whole life in.
DEMETRIUS: She's trying to include the audience, and it's just, you know, it's just not going off well at all. You know, this is a person that, I think, most people would feel very uncomfortable sitting next to because she's so robotic-like.
MATTHEWS: Well, I think she spent too much time watching Richard Nixon in the Great Hall of the People there because she's running around clapping hands like I don't know what. How do you explain that?
DEMETRIUS: Well, you know, the other thing that was very funny, and I don't know that we got to it on that particular segment, was, at the end, when the whole family came out, she was holding the president's hand and she started swinging the hand. It was almost as though someone in a professional situation -- there you go, they start swinging.
MATTHEWS: Right.
DEMETRIUS: It was like seeing a professional woman going skipping out of a board meeting.
MATTHEWS: Right.
DEMETRIUS: I thought it was horribly inappropriate.
MATTHEWS: OK, we've got to go. Jo-Ellan Demetrius, thanks for joining us.
More proof that Mathews is more republican than democrat. Only the republicans have proven themselves to be more concerned about appearance than substance.
"Only the republicans have proven themselves to be more concerned about appearance than substance."--Snoopy
That's because they have no chance to win any debate if they rely on substance.
I agree with your point of view it seems that Matthews goes out of his way to show Republicans in a good light. Never pointing out that his favorite Rudy has been married three times? Let his 2nd wife learn of their divorce from a news conference. Had a crook as Chief of Police?? But yet Matthews his so concered about Hillary clapping. Sad to say but Matthews best days have past him by when he use to be a good reporter. That was before in sign up with the Right Wing. Nevber letting others know that McCain that critized Hillary for the woodstock bill yet he never showed up to vote. In fact mcCain beside Obama has the worst voting record of all. Yet Matthews never questioned McCain on this.
A Ret Mairine point of view
you forgot he also had a crook as a partner in business...hmmm
which partner had to decline an appointment by bush to a gov. position because of such alledged crimes.
Just when we thought Chris could not be more vaccuous....
The noise machine is about in full swing, and she isn't even the nominee. But the filly is only toying with these "colts." And they'll need to re-load their pea-shooters with something that stings a little worse than this.
His favorite pasttime is sniffing zippers.
"His favorite pasttime is sniffing zippers."--Easygoer
...on shoes
Just one more reason to not watch Matthews
exactly ... and write MSNBC asking for his removal. Jon Stewart accused him [about Matthews book] of fascistic thinking. That night there was a news bliurb that Matthews had stood up against the VP's office when they asked him to back off of a story. What a hero ... NOT!!! He is a fascist.
That is right he has never stood up to the VP or any republican for that matter he has rolled over like a pet dog
I watch him because it gives me a chance to see how much he can lie to the public.
dean screams, kerry flip flops, hillary claps. good thing there's nothing to worry about....like $100 a barrel oil, huge deficits, the dollar isn't worth a dime... could i get the egg roll with that?
Chinese Clap? That's something I'd worry about.More than the Asian Flu, anyway.
I can't stand Chris Matthews. He's an idiot and a republican shill as well as being a tired old queen.
To me this almost sounds racist and prejudice against Chinese people. Am I wrong?
I don't think it's racist.
This is just Matthews making some veiled innuendo about Hillary & her *Chinese* connection or something along those lines.
Red China's Mao Zedong & his crew were always seen clapping in footage, even North Korea's Kim Jong-il seems to clap a lot...
It's just some silly observation on Matthews part. One of those things that just flies out of his mouth before his brain can compute it. Then if he likes what he said, he'll say it again next chance he gets.
Let's just call it a Matthewsism ;-)
And in China there was a newsperson complaining that Mao was clapping like an American. :-)
Thank you for noticing these things about Chris Matthews, I thought I was the only one!! I even called the Hillary campaign the other day and begged them to watch Hardball so they could see for themselves what Matthews is trying to do. Its Deja Vu for me, I remember Matthews doing this to Al Gore and John Kerry. It worked to. Matthews wants Giuliani to win the election in 2008 and its so obvious to me. He should just wear a big sign on his big head that reads I AM A REPUBLIQUEEN JUST LIKE MY BROTHER AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY!!!! And if the stupid democrats don't stop attacking each other and giving the republiQUEENS ammunition, Chris Matthews will get his wish. They always get intimidated by Matthews and the rest of the commentators and do exactly what they shouldn't do. They should stick together like the republicans do. Thats why the republicans win elections and the democrats loose elections. The democrats should have NEVER listened to the commentators(i.e.Chris Matthews) and started personally attacking Hillary, it was wrong. Its what Matthews(and the others) wants, because they want the democrats to loose! And their they went, like a bunch of fools!! If they don't get a grip and stop immediately, say hello to 8 more years of a republican administration!!
Justice and Truth in the USA - Fact Check:
The Chinese-Clinton connection is well known. Obviously, HRC thinks that it's something to 'clap' about.
"The Chinese-Clinton connection is well known. Obviously, HRC thinks that it's something to 'clap' about."--JuTru
I've heard this about the Clintons. But why hold it against them for eating Chinese, I agree, clapping is a bit much, unless it's real good.
Now that was funny! ;-)
therick is not only very funny, but shows remarkable restraint. I would have killed it by adding something about having to clap again an hour later, or the Republicans clap connection to Sum Yung Gai.
and then there was republican party chairman haley barbour, sitting on a yacht in hong kong harbor, getting two million in laundered money from a hong kong businessman.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/campaign/july97/hearing_7-24.html
Oh, the brutality of truth.
Ask Fred Thompson who shut down his campaign finance investigation before Democrats could introduce evidence linking Congressional Repuclians to Triad Management Services, Inc. Wow I wonder what he knew.
INteresting link, Mefirst, but I was a little disappointed that the Barber/harbor rhyme didn't continue past your first two lines. I thought you had some poetry firing up there.
Republican chair Haley Barbour
Sat in a yacht in the harbour
Hong Kong business deluxe
Chinese take-out with bucks
Giving greed a bad name in his ardour.
Dang...couldn't rhyme the last line very well. HBL, why don't you have a go?
I can't believe with all of the major crisis going on in the world people are criticising Hilliary for the way she claps. This is so elementary school picking on. Come on grow up and report things that really matter.
I don't give a @#%$ how she claps. So what!
It is funny that you are so upset about Hillary's clapping but you are not upset that Rudy 2nd wife heard about her divorce at a new conference. Surprise that you are not upset that Rudy would have a crook as his chief of police. Not concerned that Rudy might have a problem with picking the right people to be around. You are not concerned that McCain which put Hillary down for the Woodstock item. Yet Mr. McCain never voted on this bill?? Might one ask why not since he was so concerned. In Fact beside Obama, McCain has the worst voting record do you think us lowly peasant might want to heard this news.
A Ret Marines point of view
What concerns and upsets me is that someone claiming to be a retired Marine can't write a proper sentence.
Go back to school, Devil Dog!
I think he writes just fine. He certainly thinks better than you do, as well.
Last bastion of the weak minded is berating someone's writing style, and or spelling on an internet chat board such as this.
When you have nothing else to say, or make a response, bring up their writing style and typos. That's good debating right there. In other words taking a normal republican tactic of attacking the messenger instead of the message.
Do you have any thought out words about what the former Devil Dog wrote?
We all make typos and grammatical errors, Magnolia, but is just one correct sentence too much to ask for?
That's not the point. You attacked the writer's writing ability which has zip to do with the discussion. How about addressing the writer's ideas?
Once again, if you resort to personal shots then you either have an invalid argument or none at all.
MATTHEWS GIVES CLINTON ALOT OF PLAY AND I BELIEVES THE SOFTBALL NEGATIVES AND SOME HARDBALL QUESTIONS HE ASK ABOUT HER HELPS HER BID TO BE PRESIDENT . WITH SOME PEOPLE EVERY KNOCK IS A BOOST. SHE IS ONE OF THEM / JOE CAPRIO CITYLIFE PRODUCTIONS
I'll take Chinese clapping over German goose stepping... but that just must be my leftist tendancies.
Matthews is starting to remind me of the pigs in Animal Farm. I can see him morphing into a fat-republican right before my eyes.
"Animal Farm" is a portrayal of communism, Eddie. Communists, national socialists, leftists - there's not much difference. That's why the Hildabeast's clap and that of the Chinese commies is so similar. Comrade Hildabeast is playing the part of Comrade Napoleon and all you whacked out leftists on MMFA want to play the part of Squealer.
That's one interpretation. It was really Orwell's crtitique of Stalin, who corrupted the ideals of communism for his own personal power. And saying that Hillary is no different form Stalin is as absurd as saying Bush is just like Hitler. Both are hyperbole, and equally absurd. (But let's be honest here - Bush is far more facist than Hillary is communist.)
My interpretation of the broader message of Animal Farm is that power corrupts. Left or Right... that doesn't really matter. Power currupts, and ideals will lost if the power of those in charge is not kept in check.
I only use the metaphor for Matthews because, like I said, I see the one time democrat starting to morph into the very thing he once (supposedly) stood against.
And your going out on a limb to call me a "whacked out leftist." I have my MBA. I understand why communism dosen't work. I also, however, understand the limitations of the free market. And what is required (that our economy doesn't have) to even have a truly free market. These are things most of the more small-minded on he right don't understand, as they chant FREE-TRADE slogans and continue to vote againt their own economic interests.
“Animal Farm” was not just a critique of Stalin. Orwell, like anyone with a brain, knew that in the real world socialism and communism can not work. The sheep are too easily convinced that those like the Hildabeast are taking more control of their lives for their own good.For those of you leftists who claim to understand that power corrupts, and that Bush or any republican is like Hitler, it is beyond my comprehension as to why you insist on giving more power to the federal government – and thus to “Hitler” if that’s what you think of him. And where did you get your MBA, the Lou Dobbs University of Protectionism? Without free trade there is no freedom. Who are you and the rest of the protectionists to tell me from whom I am allowed to buy my shirts or cars or anything else that is legal to own?
Having the government address a social problem is not the same as "giving more power to the governement." Nor is "big government" synonymous with this.
Bush has proven himself to the type of leader who can resist accumulating power. He's used 9/11 and the boogeyman or terrorsim to attmept gut the constitution, and destroy civil liberty. (Expecting u to trade freedom for security. No thanks.) He has moved to marginalize the checks on his power, and the power of the executive branch. He doesn't really support the constitution, and never has. He sees it as an inconvienience rather than a necessity.
Power in the hands of a beurocracy is frustrating. The same power in the hands of a few individuals is frightening.
And BTW - I stronly support Sen. Obama over Sen. Clinton. Hopefully that will come to pass, becuase you're not totally off base when saying that Clinton appears a bit power-hungry. But hey: Live in a glass house, don't throw stones, right? (Or walk around naked.)
“Having the government address a social problem is not the same as "giving more power to the governement." Nor is "big government" synonymous with this.”
Yes it is Eddie, especially at the federal level. What “social problem” would be better handled by the federal government than the states or communities in which they exist? What “fix” to any “social problem” ever in the history of our country has not resulted in bigger government, with more money (power) flowing through the politicians hands?
Interesting that you take issue with the FEDERAL government tackling social issues but you seem to have no issue with STATE/LOCAL government doing it. Lemme guess... has to do with TAXES, right?
Interesting...
It has to do with accountability and the proper role of the various levels of govt.
The same thing can be said for state/local government. Or are you just singling out the Feds because the psycho talkers do so too?
Replicans never wanted to give the fed any power. That is until 1994, when they took control of congress.
And BTW Brute... your interpretaion of Orwell's work was one of the thinest, most right-wing biased I'v e ever seen. Orwell was a lefty, you realize? Labor Party? National Solcialist? I hope your lit teacher was lenient on your essay.
I just love the cute names you guys come up with for Hillary. I guess name calling is much easier than debating substance, isn't it?
Now let's take another stroll down the right wing freeway to see how deranged they are getting about Hillary. Ordering "hits" on cats now? C'mon...
If you can prove that the Hildabeast had anything to do with the disappearing cats, then I might have a little more respect for her.
Boy are you an idiot!
The burden of proof is on Fux News... not on Hillary.
It's a JOKE, Rabbit.
Whatever... seems that everything is a 'joke' to you clowns.
Let me 'splain it to you Rabbit - I am suggesting, in my witty post, that if the Hildabeast DID have something to do with the offing of the cats that I would find that admirable. Do you get it?
Tell that to Colbert, Stewart, and Maher. Jerk.
If anyone can prove Brutallymoronic has two functioning brain cells I will give you a standing ovation.
Your stupidity is impressive Brutallyignorant. You NEVER know what you are talking about but proudly parade your ignorance like a preening peacock. Orwell WAS a socialist you moron. Get back to us if you EVER have the slightest idea what you are talking about. The only thing you bring to the table is ignorance. You really are a moron.
http://www.k-1.com/Orwell/site/opinion/essays/storgaard1.html
"One has to be actively a Socialist, not merely sympathetic to Socialism, or one plays into the hands of our always-active enemies." [CEJL vol. 1 p. 374]
Please feel free to continue making a fool out of yourself
Wow, you really are clueless. Orwell was a Socialist who even fought side by side with Russian Communists during the Spanish Civil War (read Homage to Catalonia.) What he hated was the way Socialism and Communism had been Corrupted by people like Stalin.
I love the way people always point at Stalin and Mao's corruption of Communism as proof that Communism "doesn't work," but never accept the billions of starving people on Earth surrounded by the plenty being hoarded by the few as evidence that CAPITALISM doesn't work. Ah, the power of brainwashing when it's started early in life..
That's interesting. Many of those "billions" you mention live in countries ruled by tyrants (some of whom rule under the guise of communism). Skew much?
The reason people argue that communism doesn't work with those conditions is because people who assume power are corrupted--just as Orwell showed in Animal Farm. Yes, Orwell was a democratic socialist, but stop trying to paint him as an ideologue who believed in that inherently broken system of communism.
The scary part about it is that some of you people still believe others can control totalitarian regimes without becoming corrupted. The end goal of communism is a state without government where everyone lives in harmony. However, to get there, you need people wielding total power after a violent revolution against the capitalist state. Anyone who disagrees with the ideology or vision is a threat--thus totalitarianism. If this doesn't seem just as much of a "New World Order" as anything those evil "neocons" supposedly want to throw at you, I'm speechless. As they say, when everyone is free, everyone is equal.
I think the proletariats will continue to vote against their own good......
Matthews is a Racist thug, who belongs in the same arena as David Duke, Tom Tancredo, et al. The only difference is that he is the master of the swallowed word, sort blathers rather than expresses himself in an honorable manner. During one of his "shows" he slapped down , Gov. Richardson for bringing up his diplomatic roles, yet He seems to be tongue tied hen Rudy, or Freddie, orJohnny Mac, or Romney, or even the other non-Hilary Dem candidates wax lyrical about their shallow creds.
Now, get the truth about Matthews and his bitterness towards Hillary Clinton. Read The New York Times Tuesday, November 6, secton C, page 8 (MEDIA)
In an interview Friday, Mr. Matthews, who was once an aide to Thomas P. O’Neill Jr., the former Democratic speaker of the House, recalled that his criticisms of the Clintons in the mid-to-late 1990s made him an outcast within the party, and are still echoed in his skepticism about Mrs. Clinton today.
“I really do take on people with power,” he said. “Deceit is what drives me crazy, either by Bill Clinton or the hawks in this administration.”
Excerpt from The Times
Oh no! Hillary claps! This is it, this is really it. This has GOT to be the end of her candidacy. First, there was the cleavage. Then, there was the laugh. And now, the end to it all. The clapping! No! No! NO! Not that clapping!
Seriously though, criticize her because you don't like her policies, or her plans. Criticize her because you don't think she's right for the country. But stop with all of this stupid stuff. Come up with something of substance for crying out loud. Clapping is bad now? WTF!?!?!
Matthews is obsessed with Hillary period. I have got to where I can't watch MSNBC with him & Tucker back to back which is back to back constant bashing and attacks on Hillary.
Hey, some criticism is ok for all the candidates but these two characters are obsessed with her for some reason. I hope she gets a shot at them some time and for sure, she is way above those two neanderthals in intelligence.
Why does Matthews - and his comrades - continue to focus on utterly worthless trash such as this? Why would any intelligent person even care about how Hillary claps anyway?
This bit indicates why I continue to believe that most people are fundamentally stupid. They focus in on the most inane things that have zero relevance to a candidate's qualifications.
The reason that these guys are picking on Sen Clinton's laughing and clapping is that they have been reduced to grasping at straws.
If they had anything of substance to talk about, you know they would. In fact, this type of smear reflects more on Chris' inner values than it ever would on Hillary's, and like flies on poop the most ridiculous of Republican partisan apologists jump on the bandwagon and only wind up with cr@p on their hands.
It won't be long before the right-wing fanatics start trying to track her menstrual cycle on the news crawl....
And btw it could have gone:
Republican party chairman Haley Barbour,
sitting on a yacht in Hong Kong harbor
getting two million in laundered money
from a quite partisan Hong Kong honey.
I want an answer. Why is this guy hosting a TV show?
This amounts to incisive analysis? The cleavage, the cackle, the clap (sorry).
Is there any wonder why network "news" and mass media "analysis" are losing their relevance and why major telecommunications companies want to eliminate net neutrality? Get rid of the blogger competition and it's back to the cozy dollars in, dollars out lobbyist/representative mess we've had to endure for so long.
I agree with many of the posts. I would like to say that if you have not addressed your displeasure with Chris Matthews and MSNBC concerning their biased reporting that I believe it would be appropriate to do so; they certainly are not going to read our posts.
I am posting my e-mail to them.
hardball@msnbc.comviewerservices@msnbc.com
November 8, 2007
Dear Chris Matthews and MSNBC:
With all due respect, I am most disappointed in your claiming that it is not your job to sell anybody when is clear that you are. What Hilary's clapping has to do with her qualifications is totally beyond me, and comparing her with the Chinese is beyond comment.I have watched you for a long time and thought that you were a credible source. I shall now listen more carefully to what you say, as well as others on MSNBC.
It would seem that you and MSNBC are no longer interested in reporting news fairly. It would seem that you are trying to influence the 2008 Presidential election.
It would seem that you are in favor of having a “gunslinger” as our next President. I am honestly perplexed as to why you would want this. This country needs a leader who advocates peace and not war.
I can only speculate as to your motives; therefore, I will refrain from addressing what I think they might be. Whatever your motives are, I wish to say that I think you and MSNBC are engaged in biased and unfair reporting in an attempt to influence who our next President will be. I believe that to be sad and irresponsible. In fact I find it reprehensible. This country needs and deserves better.Jo Anne Retchless
Plymouth, MA
http://mediamatters.org/items/200711080001?src=otherMatthews said, "It's not my job to sell anybody" -- then hailed Giuliani as "a tough, kick-butt policeman"On the November 6 edition of Hardball, Chris Matthews asserted, "I'm not going to sell Rudy [Giuliani]. It's not my job to sell anybody." But Matthews declared Giuliani "the person with the best shot to win the Republican nomination," and he and his panelists called Giuilani a "a gunslinger," "a straight-talker," "a quick draw," "a tough, kick-butt policeman," and "this tough, kick-butt cop from New York." Matthews has a history of gushing over Giuliani.
MSNBC's Matthews still obsessed with Clinton's "Chinese" clappingSummary: On MSNBC's Hardball, discussing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chris Matthews noted, "[W]ell, there she is clapping again," and asked, "[W]ould somebody please tell me why she claps every time she goes somewhere?" Similarly, the next day on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Matthews said that Clinton is "usually standing in front of the camera, and she's clapping, like she's Chinese. I know the Chinese clap at each other, but what is she clapping at?" These recent comments continue a pattern for Matthews, who has repeatedly highlighted Clinton's clapping, and has previously characterized it as "Chinese."...comparing her with the Chinese is beyond comment.
So then why did you comment? I hope you at least proofread it before you actually sent it in.
Brutusmaximus or whatever your name is you are so back ward and outdated and no nothing of communism and fascism. But that is not the subject of this blog nor is the discussion of"free " trade which there hasn't been in the world since before the first world war. The Federal govt had to step in in the south during the civil rights struggle. Your insane to think that leaving the demonstrators to the mercy of the Klan and white citizens councils would have solve the problem is just plain stupid. The removal of Federal troops from the South in 1877 after the Hayes-Tilden agreement left a legacy of slaughter, and disenfranchisement that this country and the south particularly is still suffering from. Your support for states right is a code word for backwardness and racism. I didn't want to stray from the matter of this blog,but I watched you attack a blogger with some bogus criticisms about sentence structure then after some prodding you rant ignorantly about socialism and "free"trade exposing your real intent. No more of your "red" baiting. Stick to the issues and not some backward ideological rant that has nothing to do with the subject at hand. Excuse me for venting ya'll but I couldn't let this go.
Calm down, Congor. You're going to blow a gasket. Now, see if you can calmly explain to me what it means to "no nothing of communism...". Is that some sort of a double negative? Maybe you meant "know nothing..." And "your insane to think". I don't think that I'm in possession of an "insane to think". Did you mean "you're insane to think'? Your brilliant essay raises many such questions, but I'm especially curious as to how believing in the Constitution of the United States, and the limited power that it grants to the federal government makes me a racist.
Brutusmaximus I think i explained myself and i used examples to highlight my point. Hayes-Tilden agreement look it up and the effects it had on reconstruction. Heard of "states rights" surely you heard of the States Right Pary that Strom Thurmond ran as President from and was highlighted in Trent Lotts laudatory speech that cost him his job as speaker of the house. Since you know so much about english how about studying a little history. Communism and Fascism are not the same things and your connecting them together again highlights your understanding or lack of of history and politics. If the Federal government had not stepped in by sending troops into stop the injustices taking place during the civil rights struggle more beatings and deaths would have occured. Since you refused to respond to the examples I gave earlier i assume you disagreed and supported local control or states rights in these instances, and as such i say your position was no different than the white citizens councils and the KKK,they tout the constitution too but nobody not even them would deny their racist.
"Chinese Clapping," what does that sound like? Like the sound of one hand clapping perhaps?" The posts from the trolls on this topic only help to prove how shallow their pool of cogent arguments is.
What tripe! Such piffle!
Spoon-fed talking points = reality in republican-world. Substance and real issues mean nothing...instead, stress the topical. It is no wonder at all how after six years of republican rule this nation is in such a mess, and our standing and influence in the world has been so diminished.
That any serious commentator would even take up such a superfluous and inconsequential subject for discourse on a nationally aired television show speaks volumes about the MSM, Chris Matthews, and his producers.
Make no mistake though, republicans LOVE such insignificant reporting...it keeps real news stories off the air. These are the same people who wore purple band-aids at the 2004 Republican convention. In an attempt to insult John Kerry, in reality they insulted every person who has ever served in our Armed Forces. But they thought it was really funny.
Lights on - evil-doers at home.
"Harball" with Chris Matthews--I think when he was in Little League he got hit in the head with one of those. It is only now that the damage is beginning to manifest.
Chinese clap? Sounds like a new hip-hop dance or something. I wonder if Hillary's next criticism will be that she's too blonde. You know what they say about blondes.
These attacks are so elementary. Why is Matthews is allowed to come on my T.V. every night with this buffoonery?
I've written to Mr.Matthews on a number of discrepencies I see in his show Hardball(Spitball)when it comes to how he characterizes Democratic canidates and Rebublican canidates. We all see his obvious bias,you would need to be deaf,dumb and blind not to. Hillary to him is "wierd", "phony" and " practiced", "Ghouliani" despite 3 marriages,1 to his cousin,his speech about then Mayor Dinkins when he had police jumping on cars in a racist frenzy as he called Dinkins "that washroom attendant",his lies about his role in during 9/11, his lies in his healthcare ads, his mockery of torture and its victims et.al., gets labeled as the tough cop you'd want with you on the subway at 3am. His lies are not even analzed but are contexted as how will theu play to middle America. We should write him and MSNBC everytime we see him distort and abuse the public trust to be fair,accurate, and responsible. Anything else would be to continue to let him disrespect us by denying our ability to reason!
This man was at it again tonight. Another round with pundits discussing why Sen. Clinton claps her hands during campaign stops. Matthews is off his rocker! BTW, he has yet to ask the same about Sen. Obama. If you have seen many of his campaing stops, you'll notice that he also claps his hands when he walks down stairs or walks the stage. Why doesn't Matthews ask that? He really is a troubling presence. The female pundit tonite wasn't playing the game and did politely try to set him straight about it. Then Matthews got all defensive. He even asked her to email him a list of topics he should talk about.
Matthews' snide remarks about Hillary's clapping are uncalled for but typical for Republican loving commentators who know their side can't win when they discuss the real issues. Since Matthews seem obsessed with people who clap, maybe people who clap should slap him instead of clapping. I'll bet that would shut him up.
Mathews . GET SOME SUNSHINE , you look so pale and white , you make Casper look like he's from Compton .
Here's a possible explanation to Matthews' obsession...
One can only conclude that Matthews has heard clapping so rarely, certainly rarely directed at himself that it must be as alien a concept to him as Chinese.
Could that be it?
===(((TIPPING AND CLAPPING)))===
America demands answers from Hillary on these critical issues! OMG!!!