Chris Matthews Humiliates State Senator Kirk Watson On MSNBC

Texas State Senator Kirk Watson (D-TX) learned a lesson in preparedness Tuesday night when he was humiliated on MSNBC. Watson was on to talk about his support of Senator Obama alongside Representative Stephanie Tubbs (D-OH), who backs Senator Clinton. Watson has endorsed Obama and writes glowingly of all the things Obama will do for the country, if elected.

But he was unable to answer Chris Matthews most basic demand: "Name some of his legislative accomplishments... name any..." A fantastically awkward mix of dead air, stuttering, laughter and repetition ensued, as Watson could not name a single one. Matthews laid off part way through, it seems at the demand of his producers, but came back around to lay a final blow at the end.

Watch what must be the most awkward clip of the night's coverage:

Kirk Watson, stumping for Obama, was unable to answer Chris Matthews most basic demand, "name some of his legislative accomplishments." A fantastically awkward mix of dead air, awkward laughter and repetition ensued, as Watson could not name one. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1422253679http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

Update: Kirk Watson has written about last night's interview on his website:

So . . . That really happened.

On Tuesday night, after an important and historic victory in the Wisconsin Presidential Primary by Senator Barack Obama, I appeared on the MSNBC post-election program. "Hardball" host Chris Matthews (who is, it turns out, as ferocious as they say), began grilling me on Senator Obama's legislative record.

And my mind went blank. I expected to be asked about the primary that night, or the big one coming up in Texas on March 4, or just about anything else in the news. When the subject changed so emphatically, I reached for information that millions of my fellow Obama supporters could recite by heart, and I couldn't summon it.

My most unfortunate gaffe is not, in any way, a comment on Senator Obama, his substantial record, or the great opportunity we all share to elect him President of the United States.

Read his entire commentary here.

Comments

[BOfever]

All this proves is that you don't need to know anything about a candidate to endorse him.

It also proves the everyone at MSNBC watches Fox News, we Olbermann watches Billo daily and now Matthews has stolen a bit from Hannity when he asks focus groups to name a single accomplishment.

[fourex]

BOfever)
"All this proves is that you don't need to know anything about a candidate to endorse him."

No it proves that BOever supports bigotry and racism as a tool for political gain.

[sandiegoconservative]

So because he points out a fairly obvious point that is racism and bigotry? You are a fool!

[MrWhiskers]

I have to say this really surprised me. Kirk Watson is one of the smartest democrats in Texas, a wildly popular former mayor, now senator from Austin, former nominee for AG and probable nominee for something nicer down the road.

He's not perfect by any means--he's a bit corporate friendly, and he acted like the internet bubble would never burst. But his political touch has always been golden; he's like a man among boys. And now this. My God, it was horrible. I couldn't watch more than a few seconds. Anyway, I hope this doesn't kill him as a future candidate; Texas needs help.

[BOfever]

If he is one of the smartest Democrats in Texas you should really question the Democrats in Texas.

[NewRiver]

Absolutely 100% correct. If this doofus is the best TX has got, the TX Demos are in deep doo-doo.

[oropesav]

If obama is the Dem nominee, I will do what he is best at when it's time to vote. I will write in Present and for "Present".

[Hako]

Chris Matthews isn't my hero now that he has finally put Obama under the microscope. He should have been doing it all along. As regards Obama's record: I am still waiting to know what, if anything, he has authored and passed in the U.S. Senate. Usually I am treated to a list the bills he co-sponsed in Illinois. Apparently some Obama backers are banking on the fact that most Americans won't notice the difference between being in the Illinois state senate and the U.S. Senate. Hillary has authored twenty pieces of legislation that has passed into law....in the United
States Senate. Not co-sponsered.... authored. Obama's legislative record is very thin, by any standard, and Chris had every right to point that out. If we shouldn't care about the resume of a man that would be President, who's resume should we care about? Not that I think any of this will cause any Obama supporter to think twice. They reject the idea that they are "cultish". Strange, since they demonstrate slavish devotion to Obama and are impervious to arguments based on reason and common sense. "Change" and "hope" are held up as cure-alls. Objectivity is treated like Krytonite. I say if it walks like a duck, walks like a duck....

[OneAmerica]

Reading is fundamental you should try it sometime.

Go the Library of Congress, you will get very tired and surprise at the volume of legislation sponsored and passed. In addition, he has authored and passed more bills his two year than his opponent has done in her 8.

[novatom]

What is the average number of bills that are sponsored or co-sponsored by freshman senators in their first two years in the Senate?

It takes time to make an impact in the Senate. I don't begrudge O for that.

[RobMcC]

Last night on Countdown Keith Olbermann promoted MSNBC's post-debate special tonight - 10 pm eastern. As he listed the planned participants, I didn't hear Chris Matthews' name.

Now, on his 5 pm eastern Hardball, Chris Matthews just promoted a special post-debate live edition of Hardball tonight at *11* pm eastern.

Given the reaction of Olbermann, the studio crew, and the net posters to Matthews' treatment of Kirk Watson, is it possible that Matthews has finally been given the time-out from the grown-ups table he so richly deserves?

[sarajohns]

Hi,
I usually never blog, but with family and friends in the military, the comment by michelle obama recently offends me deeply. I am pretty much an independent leaning democrat , and have not voted in Texas yet. This reveling freudian slip made me
curious what else is hiding behind the Obamas.

And GUESS WHAT, I found that Mrs. Obama's thesis at Princeston Univeristy titled: "Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community" is blocked till Nov. 5, 2008....(after the election)

source: http://libweb5.princeton.edu/theses/thesesid.asp?ID=9867

tax records are one thing, but as an American voter I have a right to KNOW what the presidential candidate's wife thinks!

I used to admire Sen. Obama, but no more, I will not be voting for Sen. Obama on March 4th!!! And may be voting Republican for the first time. Thank you.

[inthemachine]

you clearly have a very illogical decision making process, so yes I presume you would vote republican.
If you can't figure out what she was talking about you've been living under a rock for the past 26 years. We're setting records here not only in turn out but in PARTICIPATION. If you're not proud of that you don't understand the meaning of democracy.

[uheardme]

You are a republican, troll. Don't let the door hit you.

[GeoLee]

Yes, making the spouse's records public for one person and not for another is interesting. During the 90's the wife who was not in an elected life had papers that are now being demanded but NIMBY applies for the new spouse on the scene. I wonder how strong Princeton will be at holding the administration back from seeing those papers and handing them to McCain for the general. Get ready for a race card because I bet it is coming. And, no I have never voted for a Republican president, one time for a republican senator in 40 years (learned my lesson that time) and never a republican rep. so don't bother with the troll stuff.

[TellingTruth2Kooks]

Hey Barack, Need some more political catchphrases? Please feel free to plagarize these, as they come from a proven Orator that Moved the MASSES!!!

"Words build bridges into unexplored regions."

"Even today I am not ashamed to say that, overpowered by stormy enthusiasm, I fell down on my knees and thanked Heaven from an overflowing heart for granting me the good fortune of being permitted to live at this time."

"The doom of a nation can be averted only by a storm of flowing passion, but only those who are passionate themselves can arouse passion in others."

"Man has become great through struggle"

"The broad masses of a population are more amenable to the appeal of rhetoric than to any other force."

"The efficiency of the truly national leader consists primarily in preventing the division of the attention of a people, and always in concentrating it on a single enemy."

"If you wish the sympathy of the broad masses, you must tell them the crudest and most stupid things."

"Faith is harder to shake than knowledge, love succumbs less to change than respect, hate is more enduring than aversion, and the impetus to the mightiest upheavals on this earth has at all times consisted less in a scientific knowledge dominating the masses than in a fanaticism which inspired them and sometimes in a hysteria which drove them forward."

"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."

"The man who lives in communion with nature necessarily finds himself in opposition to the Churches. And that is why they are heading for ruin - for science is bound to win."

"The great masses of people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one. Especially if it is repeated over and over."


http://hitlernews.cloudworth.com/quotations-of-adolf-hitler.php

[JackW]

I didn't realize that Mtthews finally asking a tough question to an Obama supporter was cause for standing in the corner. It's his first one. It's about time Matthews stopped pandering to Obama and show he can tell both sides fairly. We'll see if he keeps it up. Keith O on the other hand seems to be getting a big head. He's not particularly good at doing the debate stuff. He should stick to his own show.
Russert and Todd show way too much bias to be balanced, so the simple solution is to bring in Tom Brokaw to lead and moderate the coverage. The folks on MSNBC are just a left version of FOX! Bill O & Hannity are the voice of FOX, Olberman & Matthews are the same for MSNBC.

[RobMcC]

Last night on Countdown Keith Olbermann promoted MSNBC's post-debate special tonight - 10 pm eastern. As he listed the planned participants, I didn't hear Chris Matthews' name.

Now, on his 5 pm eastern Hardball, Chris Matthews just promoted a special post-debate live edition of Hardball tonight at *11* pm eastern.

Given the reaction of Olbermann, the studio crew, and the net posters to Matthews' treatment of Kirk Watson, is it possible that Matthews has finally been given the time-out from the grown-ups table he so richly deserves?

[Ono4Hoopono]

This says more about Chris Matthews bloviating unpreparedness and the hot air nature of his commentary than it does about Texas State Senator Watson, who was plucked from the ether of relative anonymity to give what he thought were his views on the election results, being that it was election night. It was a cheap move on Matthews' part.


To MSNBC's credit, they had Claire McKaskill on yesterday to set the record straight and give the list of Obama's considerable accomplishments that Matthews himself didn't bother to bone up on before asking his question. Here's a link to a Hardball transcript [a quote from the show follows]:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23275784/



"MATTHEWS: And so now the same question to one of Senator Barack Obama‘s colleagues, you. Senator McCaskill, what has Senator Obama accomplished as a colleague of yours in the U.S. Senate?



"SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D), MISSOURI, OBAMA SUPPORTER: Well, he‘s accomplished a great deal in a very short period of time, whether it was working with Senator Lugar in terms of securing loose nukes, loose nuclear weapons, around the world, whether it was his efforts with Senator Coburn to open up the records of spending of government to the people on the Internet.



"Obviously, one that I cared very much about, he was the first senator to effectively go after the wounded warriors disgrace at the Walter Reed Hospital and got a great deal of his initial legislation, the first senator to file that legislation, got most of that passed into law within a matter of months. And then obviously, the one that‘s right in Senator McCain‘s back yard, earmark reform.



"I think that if we‘re going to talk about who is capable of bringing people together—even though Senator McCain has a good record in terms of looking down his nose at earmarks, he was not able to accomplish the kind of reform on transparency that Senator Obama was able to accomplish in a very short period of time after he arrived in the Senate.



"MATTHEWS: OK. That‘s over with. Let‘s talk politics, Senator.


(LAUGHTER)"



Nobody can possibly know everything about their candidate or even any subject, so anyone could get caught in that game of "gotcha" that Matthews went off topic to play for his own self-aggrandizement.

[jb245]

My God! One had to dig real deep, search frantically to find what should be OH so obvious!!! WHAT IS THIS BLOWHARDS's RECORD?
Oh my God, people, let us not commit collective suicide....let's stop making Sunday the most segregated day in the USA. Please visit the Black churches....you'll understand WHY black folks stay in church for hours, why we are still so upbeat in spite of the many atrocities and injustices we are confronted with!
Our preachers are mersmerising, their messages make us feel good, we give them the rent money, the college money, the gas money, the mortgage money....because they give us hope. But it stops there, we continue in our misery; and sooner or later they start driving expensive cars, building huge houses, and sleeping with our wives and daughters.
Grow up...learn...the power of a sweet tongue....it makes you feel good, but does NOTHING to solve your problems.
Don't say I did not tell you, and there is none as black at heart than I am.

[nomobull]

you really need help

[inthemachine]

yeah seriously...none as black? give me a break did you measure it?

[hoodrat]

At the half-century mark in my life, a Black, former Marine/son of a 3 war Army lifer - I am amazed we are at a point in this country where we are even discussing the relevency of ANY minority(including women), for POTUS. Sen. Watson is all that is wrong with the government now. Upsetting to me how the general assumption of everyone - how the "Black" vote is like some massive "Negro mind meld". Being of mixed heritage - I am reminded of the fact that Sen. Obama wasn"t "Black enough", that is before he spoke....also remember those who wanted to emphasize Barack Hussein Obamas' name, as if he chose it as a monicker - for his "grand islamofascist scheme":) Now it's experience in D.C. that counts - from day one. For myself that's exactly what I want to see - a true departure from the "whole" mindset that has the country at it's present predicaments. But since I'm not like Sen. Obama - I think eloquence is reserved for the deserved, instead I will offer insight from an old "ground pounder". Those that didn't serve with "lamprey" lips attached to whatever anus - it considered pertinent to their "advancement" of self(like Watson?), will understand what I mean. There are those you serve, in the military, that you obey, because it's the correct course of action, sometimes with a little "tweaking" of order, but the result is the same - it doesn't mean the leader is a good one - or one worthy of respect. Every once in awhile, an officer will step up to command, and the pessimist in you will observe his moves...and you just KNOW, that this one will be good, worthy of respect, confident that if he lives, he(or she), is worthy to lead, and bring you and your boys home in one piece. To make the right decisions in the tough times, for the betterment of ALL.

[hoodrat]

At the half-century mark in my life, a Black, former Marine/son of a 3 war Army lifer - I am amazed we are at a point in this country where we are even discussing the relevency of ANY minority(including women), for POTUS. Sen. Watson is all that is wrong with the government now. Upsetting to me how the general assumption of everyone - how the "Black" vote is like some massive "Negro mind meld". Being of mixed heritage - I am reminded of the fact that Sen. Obama wasn"t "Black enough", that is before he spoke....also remember those who wanted to emphasize Barack Hussein Obamas' name, as if he chose it as a monicker - for his "grand islamofascist scheme":) Now it's experience in D.C. that counts - from day one. For myself that's exactly what I want to see - a true departure from the "whole" mindset that has the country at it's present predicaments. But since I'm not like Sen. Obama - I think eloquence is reserved for the deserved, instead I will offer insight from an old "ground pounder". Those that didn't serve with "lamprey" lips attached to whatever anus - it considered pertinent to their "advancement" of self(like Watson?), will understand what I mean. There are those you serve, in the military, that you obey, because it's the correct course of action, sometimes with a little "tweaking" of order, but the result is the same - it doesn't mean the leader is a good one - or one worthy of respect. Every once in awhile, an officer will step up to command, and the pessimist in you will observe his moves...and you just KNOW, that this one will be good, worthy of respect, confident that if he lives, he(or she), is worthy to lead, and bring you and your boys home in one piece. To make the right decisions in the tough times, for the betterment of ALL.

[StephenDedalus82]

Haha, looks like both parties are going to have a bout of buyer's remorse as this election moves on.

[mike53]

Exactly. I don't want to vote for McCain but I just know the dems will make me mad enough to do it.

[abuttah]

It always amazes me when i read some of these posts about Barack and his power of the spoken word. The all talk no substance argument that is being championed by all this opposition.

To quote Hillary he's not being attacked because of his substance, he's being attacked because he's ahead. To be Barack Obama and to be ahead is an extraordinary in itself, but to answer this ridiculous Chris Matthews event and to all you ignorant bigots saying that he is all talk and especially the one Idiot who claims it's like listening to hitler in the 30's I say this,

This government is for the people by the people. it is not Barack who needs to mobilize himself. It is up to the leader of this nation to mobilize us. We are the government. We need a leader who inspires us to get off our rear ends and reclaim our country and government. It's about us. we've been so snowed by the Bush administration looking out for himself and his subjects that we were lulled in to a state of government for it's own self interest. Barack excites us because he wakes us up from this state and reminds us that we are in power. This is not a monarchy or dictator ship. That's whats so important about him, and that's why people who can't list his accomplishments can enthusiastically support him.

The good thing about this hardBall Chris Matthews attack is, now people will say, "hey what has Barack accomplished?" they will then seek out the information, and when they find it, Barack will Look more and more right for the future of this nation, and the world. Thanks Chris! you have just made sure that no one who supports Barack will ever make Watson's mistake again.

To the rest of the anti Obama's out there, and especially the slow dimwitted backwards neanderthal who made the hitler comment, educate yourself about the candidate. Answer the questions for yourself, and grow a pair. don't let Chris Matthews fight your battles for you. Evolve!!!

[Ono4Hoopono]

In regards to your comment: "The good thing about this hardBall Chris Matthews attack is, now people will say, "hey what has Barack accomplished?" they will then seek out the information..."

I think you're right about this. I'd read Obama's accomplishments several times and after this hubbub found I couldn't recite them all either, but now I sure as hell can!

Great point.

[Dulce]

All Partisan Hackery aside, it's clear, as many people have pointed it out already, that the significance of the Chris-Matthews/Kirk Watson exchange is more relevant of the role of the media in general than it has really been of anything else spinsters have been trying to make of it, one way or another, with regards to the respective merits (or lack thereof) of either candidate.

There is a reason that people like Chris Matthews behave the way they do: they get rewarded for it. This thread is a good example. The Hillary campaign which had been bitterly critical of Chris Matthews for a long time (and for good reasons), is now putting their former nemesis on a pedestal for his treatment of senator Kirk Watson which video clip they have been forwarding to reporters, and all around, as "proof" that anyone choosing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton must be part of some vast "cult."

I don't know. I personally find it a great thing that people can be energized by politics again. It is something I would have expected the Democratic party - any party - to feel excited about, instead of making that new-found energy the target of infighting attacks. It doesn't seem to me that calling your political base names can be a sound strategy in the long term, but I am no political consultant and I am no brilliant Karl-Rovian strategist either, so what do I know?

As for the media, well, as someone recently commented on a related thread:

"The media gets very freaked when they're no longer the high priests that pour into our heads what we ought to think. This isn't just about Democrats, either - look at how Fox's backing of Rudy Guiliani was fairly much ignored by Republican voters.

What I am thinking is that what we're seeing is the first genuine (as opposed to generated by party and corporate bosses) enthusiasm for a political campaign in many, many years. Call it what you want, I call it democracy."

[ntmessage]

I think that the Hillary supporters were just happy that there was a hard question put to an Obama surrogate.

[PioneerKing]

How about a dose of original thought? Are you capable of stepping outside the bounds of talk radio rhetoric? LETS GET REAL HERE - Tailgate, Laxault, Keating, Abramoff, Iseman, Enron, EchoStar, shady campaign fund bank loans ...! the list goes on, and on for Senator McCain. Regrettably, your comment only emphasizes the lack of accomplishments of Senator McCain. However, at a minimum the democratic candidates have a valid excuse for their inability to procedurally, get legislation through the Senate. While Sen. McCain does not have any excuse for his ineffectiveness. Except, Tailgate, Laxault, Keating, Abramoff, Iseman, Enron, EchoStar, shady campaign fund bank loans ...! Sen. McCain has been in Washington for nearly 30 years and has authored/sponsored less than 10 pieces of legislation that have passed; although he has been part of the majority republican congress throughout most of his career. McCain has been asleep at the wheel or should one say asleep in the corporate jets of his lobbyist friends. How does it feel being duped by "St. McCain," whose, flipped flopped clad, feet of clay are mired in the muck of corporate greed and, whose shoulders are shrouded in a pallium of say anything, do anything meaningless tautology. Let's watch the republicans make fools of those "good morals, family values," conservatives once again. GET REAL! St. McCain is a phoney just like to other republicans. They will all say anything to get elected

[elleanee]

Kirk Watson is your typical slimy politician. He's one of those guys who professes to the people that he's against toll roads and that he's fighting hard with the ledge to prevent them. meanwhile, he working with the toll people to inflict them on the people in Austin. I used to think he was slick, now I see that he's really just stupid.

[dukeman]

What are Hillary Clinton's legislative accomplishments "all over the world"?

[Dulce]

All Partisan Hackery aside, it's clear, as many people have pointed it out already, that the significance of the Chris-Matthews/Kirk Watson exchange is more relevant of the role of the media in general than it has really been of anything else spinsters have been trying to make of it, one way or another, with regards to the respective merits (or lack thereof) of either candidate.

There is a reason that people like Chris Matthews behave the way they do: they get rewarded for it. This thread is a good example. The Hillary campaign which had been bitterly critical of Chris Matthews for a long time (and for good reasons), is now putting their former nemesis on a pedestal for his treatment of senator Kirk Watson which video clip they have been forwarding to reporters, and all around, as "proof" that anyone choosing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton is part of some vast "cult."

I don't know. I personally find it a great thing that people can be energized by politics again. It is something I would have expected the Democratic party - any party - to feel excited about, instead of making that new-found energy the target of infighting attacks. It doesn't seem to me that calling your political base names can be a sound strategy in the long term, but I am no political consultant and I am no brilliant Karl-Rovian strategist either, so what do I know?

As for the media, well, as someone recently commented on a related thread:

"The media gets very freaked when they're no longer the high priests that pour into our heads what we ought to think. This isn't just about Democrats, either - look at how Fox's backing of Rudy Guiliani was fairly much ignored by Republican voters.

What I am thinking is that what we're seeing is the first genuine (as opposed to generated by party and corporate bosses) enthusiasm for a political campaign in many, many years. Call it what you want, I call it democracy."

[Ono4Hoopono]

Interesting analysis of the event, Dulce. It hit me more like a media issue, too, as in Marshall McLuhan's famous quote, "The medium is the message." You expanded on the idea nicely. I googled McLuhan and found his website, which is interesting in this context. The link is provided below.

Here's another quote of his from his website that is appropo with regard to the TV talking head culture:

"Mud sometimes gives the illusion of depth."- Marshall McCluhan

http://www.marshallmcluhan.com/main.html