Matthews falsely asserted the Clinton campaign made "three mentions of Obama's cocaine use"
SUMMARY: On Hardball, Chris Matthews asserted that there have been "three mentions of Obama's cocaine use for political gain" by the presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, citing former Clinton co-chair Billy Shaheen, chief strategist Mark Penn, and BET founder Bob Johnson as examples. But in only one of those cases -- Penn in an appearance on Hardball -- was the word "cocaine" used, and Penn was not the one who brought up the issue.
On the January 14 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, in introducing the program's "Big Number" segment, host Chris Matthews said: "[Sen.] Barack Obama [D-IL] admits in his own memoir that he used cocaine when he was growing up. Even if you haven't read the book, you probably know about it from all kinds of sources, like the [Sen. Hillary Rodham] Clinton [D-NY] campaign." He later asserted: "Three -- three mentions of Obama's cocaine use for political gain. Three: tonight's 'Big Number.' " But in only one of the three cases Matthews mentioned was the word "cocaine" used -- during a December 13 appearance on Hardball by Clinton chief strategist Mark Penn -- and in that case, as Media Matters for America documented, Penn was not the one to bring up Obama's drug use.
The entire December 13 Hardball segment was devoted to controversial comments about Obama's past drug use by then-Clinton campaign co-chair Billy Shaheen. Shaheen had resigned earlier that day in the ensuing controversy. Matthews explicitly asked Penn at least three distinct questions about the topic, two of which directly referenced "drugs" or "drug use," and Penn offered at least two specific responses before he said "cocaine," which he said in direct response to Matthews' question about whether "going after his [Obama's] perhaps youthful drug use" is an "appropriate shot[] at the opponent or ... below the belt." Indeed, prior to using the word "cocaine," Penn had disavowed Shaheen's comments.
From the January 14 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: And, finally, it's time for the Hardball "Big Number" tonight. It's been coming all through this show. As you know by now, Barack Obama admits in his own memoir that he used cocaine when he was growing up. Even if you haven't read the book, you probably know about it from all kinds of sources, like the Clinton campaign.
Well, first, it was Billy Shaheen, Clinton's national co-chair, who brought up the cocaine issue. He resigned from the campaign afterward, but not before the damage had been done. Then it was campaign adviser Mark Penn who brought up the cocaine issue right here on Hardball.
Now, as we mentioned earlier in the show, it's influential Clinton backer and BET founder Bob Johnson who brought it up yet again. How many times is that in total? Three -- three mentions of Obama's cocaine use for political gain. Three: tonight's "Big Number." Will we hear four?
On the other hand given their insistence that Dennis K. will not be allowed into a serious debate (Nevada), I'm about ready to boycott them. Dispite the local afilliate being pretty good.
Interesting. It seems like the only defense here is that bringing up the generalized drug use is the same as bringing up cocaine use specifically. I would find that understandable, and if that's the case then this post is more of a semantic argument than anything.
But if that's the case, then there's no way for Matthews to say that Penn brought up cocaine use. If the two things are distinct, then Matthews is wrong when he says Shaheen and Johnson brought up "cocaine". If they're interchangeable, then he brought up the subject before Penn did. Either way, he's wrong somewhere.
How come the media never brought up Bubba's well-documented cocaine habit?
Dr. Sam Houston, a respected Little Rock physician and once a doctor for Hillary's father, Hugh Rodham, says it is well known in Little Rock medical circles that Clinton was brought to a Little Rock hospital for emergency treatment for an apparent cocaine overdose.
Gee..I wonder why to this day Bubba refuses to release his medical records....
....and as an aside...why hasn't Kerry released his military records?...the Swift Boaters know why
I wonder why Bush's alleged cocaine habit isn't big news. Gee, I wonder why the gap in Bush's National Guard service isn't a big story (Rather became the story, and we still don't know about George). Gee, I wonder why the SEC's still open case against the President isn't a big story.
See Stranger, I could hijack the thread too! The point here is that Clinton's camp didn't do what Matthews said it did. Any comment on that?
Oh I don't know... Because it's another right-wing smear that has no basis in fact? (Just speculating...)
I still find it absolutely disgusting that you people still choose to slander Kerry's service record. The man is a hero, and what you are doing is the same as what the Vietnam troops went through when they came home.
For shame.