Chris Matthews Apologizes Again – This Time For Obama/Osama Error

Last night on Hardball, Chris Matthews promoted the show's lineup, which would include discussion of Barack Obama's plagiarism of Deval Patrick's speeches. In doing so, however, he showed an unfortunate graphic: one of Osama bin Laden. The Obama-Osama error has been particularly prevalent over the last year, though typically not from someone like Chris Matthews, who has been reduced to tears by Obama's speeches and admitted last week that he felt a thrill go up his leg as Obama spoke.

Watch:

Later in the broadcast, Matthews – who was forced to apologize to Hillary Clinton after what some perceived as sexist remarks against her – apologized for the slip-up. Watch:

Comments

[candybar]

I would like to see someone interview matthews and not give him a chance to speak...he does best when he asks and answers his own questions..except for pat his other buddies rarely dispute his ignorant conclusions..its like they are afraid to be asked back..they include andrea mitchell, barnacle, shuster etc. I now watch PBS at 7 oclock really the best place for news

[pieceotoast]

I like Chris Matthews. Point in case was on Tuesday when he pushed Obama's representative to prove why he was supporting Obama. He couldn't, and when he tried to dodge it, Matthews wouldn't let up. I'm not saying Obama doesn't have any legislative acomplishments, I'm saying his supporters didn't know any.

Matthews doesn't throw up the graphics, and some times people fuck things up. We all make mistakes, and we need to admit we aren't perfect.

[Crozier]

This story no longer has legs. Chris Matthews is the tolerated arsehole of MSNBC. That MSM network has tried to run a via media between centre and centre right. After all, General Electric owns the company and they are major global MIC.

CNN has long been a shill for the reich wing and global corporate interests. They have now used CNN Headline news to shill Mormon Beck and his right wing show after the other was too obvious.

[undrgrndgirl]

once again, for the edification of those "reporters" who have trouble distinguishing Obama from Osama...the easy answer is to us either their FIRST names - "Barak" and "Osama" or their last names "Obama" and "bin Laden" (usual journalistic practice is to use LAST names only). to otherwise confuse the two speaks more about the "journalist" than it does about either Sen. Obama or Mr. bin Laden.

[Cougarkj]

Wow, the apology to Clinton was a monologue of epic proportions, but was that really supposed to look like an apology for such an egregious error??? Not that he'd want to draw attention to the mistake if we'd missed it, but I certainly hope he had the grace to contact Barack Obama personally and offer a much more sincere apology for the error. If not, I suppose there's always an opening for that type of broadcasting at Fox News.

[Anitra]

I despise Chris Mathews myself, but I have to point out that he doesn't feed the video that displays behind him. Which means that more people are involved in this "mistake" than just him. Since this is not the first time such a "mixup" has occurred, we should certainly hold MSNBC to disclosing how it happened and what they will do to make sure it doesn't happen again. I've personally witnessed the kind of mindless hatred fueled by these "slipups" in the media. Hasn't everyone seen the "Obama is a radical Muslim" email? Or the "Osama/Obama" cartoons? It isn't going to lose Obama the election; it might get even more votes for him from the moderates and independents who are sick of this garbage. But it is harmful to our country to have this poisoning the public discourse.

[mack200]

The show is called "Hardball" and any guest should expect tough questions. I want reporters to ask the tough questions. If you think asking about Obama's Senate contributions is a tough question.. Wait until the general election and the REAL tough questions are asked. What a bunch of naive nimrods.

[Independent_voter]

Mathews has been a clinton toe sucker ever since the clintons wrote letters to MSNBC complaining about him.

This guy should get canned for a startling lack of objectivity and fairness.

[dajay]

And he has been an OBama ass kisser for more months that that, buddy.

[3443649]

Wake up MSNBC! This troll, Chris Matthews has got to go! By some strech of the imagination,He thinks he is gods gift to the media, and has no respect or consideration for anyone. He is the ultimate meat head! Dump him!

[PACRAT]

Dump the Lump!

Chris Matthews is not only a MCP he is also a CR (chauvinist racist). It's time for MSNCB to release him so that he can take the job that is open for him at Fox Noise.

Hey, this so called news commentator has an impressive resume, but has anyone checked it or made a few reference calls? Guys like this don't just spring up!

[Witchitalineman]

Why doesn't MSNBC have the balls to fire Chris Matthews. I can't stand to watch him. I definitely like Keith Olbermann and right now is the only reason I turn it to MSNBC to watch Countdown. However, I can't stomach to watch the voting returns that Keith has to co-host with Matthews because of Matthews. What does it take to get this guy of the air!

[VivaZapata]

Funny how Matthews can demand on the spot precise answers from a set up Texas state senator, but he can make these supposedly slip of the tongue mistakes. NBC should have fired this dick-cheney-head when he unfairly skewered front runner Hillary. Now he's doing all he can to skewer front runner obama. I'd be lying if I said, "I wonder why?" It's pretty clear that he's doing the republican dirty work for his bosses at general electric and/or his own inclinations.

[anons]

What i wanna know is why did the graphic with Osama's image say "words about words"???

Exactly what story was that graphic meant to be for???

C'mon, at best this was a graphic they made as a joke that wasn't intended to go on air...but this was beyond inappropriate, and what explanation could they possibly give, not for the mistake, but for the grpahic itself

[americanwhocares]

When is Chris Matthews going to be fired for incompetence?

[anewdaypostdotcom]

During the very first minuet of (2/18/08) MSNBC"s Hardball with Chris Matthews, he mentioned the current back and forth about Sen. Obama"s use of words that were taken from a speech his supporter Gov. Deval Patrick had given earlier. The subject of the comment was Senator Barrack Obama, but the picture beside Mathew"s head was of Osama bin Laden.
Concerning MSNBC"s inadequate response to the Osama/Obama moment, viewers deserve to know how and why this mistake was made. Presumably, graphics of the terrorist leader have some kind of OBL (Osama bin Laden) demarcation vs. graphic for the Senator, which one imagines might have a more formal title, maybe US Sen. Barack Obama. The standard here is full discloser about who made the mistake and what MSNBC (212 664 4444) is doing about it. You would think the network of the Don Imus and David Schuster scandals would know how to handle these things by now.
Given the fact that serious journalist and pundits and even candidates can"t keep the words Osama and Obama separate, and in light of the heat Sen. Obama took over his statement that he would go after bin Laden inside of Pakistan, I say "if you want to catch Osama you"ve gotta vote Obama". Well, that"s what my bumper sticker says. Want one? Just email me at [e-mail].

[dam1r]

Asshole Matthews did it on purpose, so we would talk about this/him.

He did everything to demolish Hillary, and now just wait to see him calling Obama, "Ossama" and referring to him as to "Hussain".

Rush Limbaugh is far more respectable person than this piece of drooling shit.

Sorry for my bad language. Hard feelings :( He's far meaner and more disgusting than Bill O'Reilly.