Olbermann to Matthews: "[E]specially you" should "[d]istance yourself as far as you can from" the word “bitch”

Written by Ryan Chiachiere

Published

During MSNBC's coverage of the Democratic presidential primaries, referring to Tina Fey's statement on the February 23 edition of Saturday Night Live that " 'bitch' is the new black," Chris Matthews asked: “Dare we repeat what Tina Fey said was the new black?” Keith Olbermann responded: “There's another word that begins with the same letter as 'black' does. Let's distance ourselves -- especially you. Distance yourself as far as you can from that.”

During MSNBC's March 5 coverage of the March 4 Democratic presidential primaries and caucus, NBC News anchor Brian Williams and MSNBC hosts Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann discussed Sen. Hillary Clinton's March 1 appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live. Referring to former SNL head writer Tina Fey's statement on the February 23 edition of SNL that " 'bitch' is the new black," Matthews asked: “Dare we repeat what Tina Fey said was the new black?” Olbermann responded: “There's another word that begins with the same letter as ”black" does. Let's distance ourselves -- especially you. Distance yourself as far as you can from that." Matthews said, “No, anyone I think would be fair, from that regard.”

On the January 17 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, Matthews addressed the firestorm sparked by his comment about Clinton that “the reason she's a U.S. senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around. That's how she got to be senator from New York. We keep forgetting it. She didn't win there on her merit.” Matthews said of the comments that it was not “fair” of him “to imply that Hillary's whole career depended on being a victim of an unfaithful husband.”

Media Matters for America has noted that, while Matthews has an extensive history of attacking Clinton, his sexist commentary has hardly been limited to her. Additionally, a Media Matters review of Matthews' MSNBC commentary found that, in particular, Matthews frequently comments on the physical appearances of his female guests and of other women on his program.

From MSNBC's March 5 coverage of the Democratic presidential primaries and caucus:

WILLIAMS: Senator Clinton -- who had been invited on before, by the way, and had turned down previously this season a Saturday Night Live appearance -- accepted and came on when she needed the bump this past week for Ohio. So, just throwing it out there like red meat.

OLBERMANN: Yeah, with that Will guy --

MATTHEWS: Dare we repeat what Tina Fey said was the new black?

OLBERMANN: There's another word that begins with the same letter as “black” does. Let's distance ourselves -- especially you. Distance yourself as far as you can from that.

MATTHEWS: No, anyone I think would be fair, from that regard. But I thought it was interesting that Tina Fey and [Saturday Night Live cast member] Amy Poehler did offer something of a help to her.