Obama Jokes About The Comedic Value Of Cable News

Barack Obama was the special guest on the Hardball College Tour with Chris Matthews on Wednesday. When Matthews asked the Democratic frontrunner when the last time was that he heard something so crazy that he just went to bed laughing about it, Obama decided it was time to have a little fun at the Hardball host's expense. Watch the clip:

Related: Obama On Hardball: Watch The Highlights

Comments

[jinjinpinti]

What is outrageous is the alternate reality that the Republicons, their supporters, most of the main stream media and particularly cable tv news is trying to shove down our throats hour by hour, day by day. As if evil and greed and the crimewave of the present administration and its operatives constitute an acceptable geshtalt if only enough of them believe it and/or promote it successfully among the ignorant, uninformed or politcally challenged. My Gawd, people wake up; we have supposedly decent, respectable news anchors, pundits and reporters, politicians and elected/appointed officials going to work everyday in this country and doing their business either in total denial of truth, honor and goodness or sold out so totally to greed and corruption that they have no conscience as they sit and spew untruths, falsehoods and outright LIES day in and day out. STOP TUNING IN THEIR PROGRAMS, people, as their version of reality is our downfall.

[mamamay]

Obama was right. joke or not. MSNBC,CNN, FOX, etc, are not just reporting news, they are trying to persuade the voters and tilt the votes in this election process. Many of the reporters appear angry as they look back over their own struggles to get through the elected in the process, Pat B, Joe S, Tucker C, et al on MSNBC keep arrogance stirred up daily against Obama. Lou D, Rick S on CNN, OR vs Wallace on Fox., then Russ L et al on radio they seem to have it in for the Black man. Some of these angry men need to be fired if they dont resigned and lets get a younger more compassionate group. What happened to Walter Cronkites, Hunkley- Brinckly Dan Rather type Reporters. These men are angry because they give the female reporters same shows, same Stations, Holy H when & if they disagree with these angry folks. What's up with this. Obama was not expected to succeed by anyones standards and now folks dont know how to deal with him.. No he stays, He's earned the nominee too.

[UrbanInterloper]

The best humor always speaks of terrible truths.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Chris asked Obama about Reverend Wright for the 1000th time and Obama responded to it for 1000th time, and than his response was analyzed for the 1000th time. Chris is going to be interviewing McCain in 2 weeks, I would like him to ask McCain about the crazy pastors whom he has been seeking endorsements from, like John Hagee, who is about as lunatic fringe as one can get, especially when Hagee’s end of days bullshit can be directly linked to “bomb bomb” Iran. There is video of McCain, Liberman and Delay pandering to Hagee’s merry little band of ant-Catholic, pro-Israel, anti Jewish cult head cases in Washington DC, yet that video is not being shown continuously on the MSM.

There are 60 million Catholics in this country and I’m one of them. My church is not perfect and I do not care for the current Pope, but I am not very comfortable with some snake oil salesman from Texas calling Roman Catholics the “whores from Babylon”. I’ve heard Jerry Falwell blame the Pagans, the gays and everyone else under the sun for 9-11, except the Saudis who actually did it and Pat Roberson agreed with him. Since Pagan and Papist are code words for Roman Catholic, I think that’s a fair question to asked McCain to explain? Because if he loses the Catholic vote, he is TOAST.

[truthbrigade]

If he's fighting with Obama, I hope he loses the Catholic vote. And you guys would be wimps if you don't sink old scar face.

[mamamay]

I agree with y ou on all of this. However, the standard is twisted,If Chris will ask JMcC anything about the Pastors, will be a surprise. Obama gave good answers, but these reporters are trying to break down Obama to say that he will lv the church. This may not happen. I wouldn't either. The good thats done by the churches far out weigh the bad & ugly of some of the Pastors. We'll just have to carry on and hope for Obama.

[Amberlass]

That was a great show with Chris Matthews and Barack Obama. I noticed that Matthews had to keep his hands in his lap most of the time. I guess that was to cover up the ripple in his pants he gets when he listens to Obama speak.

Chris Matthews is such a joke - I don't know why they even let him have a television show.

[JackW]

Amberlass, your answer made my day! ROFL!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

[mojomagic]

Chris Matthews changed the name of his show last night from Hardball to Softball and No balls.
I think Matthews was scripted, and what I mean by that was he asked Obama a list of questions submitted to him by Obama himself. Questions like what does it feel like to have a black father and a white mother, who raised you as a single parent? We know from 20 debates that Obama doesn't think well on his feet. When Hillary asked in the last debate on NBC why she was always asked the first question, she wasn't referring to the 1st question in each debate.....she was referring to being the 1st question relating to each new topic. After she had given her answer, Obama would parrot her answer.....saying "I agree with what Hillary said, and then add a little more to make it seem like he was original in his thinking. His policies usually have been released after Hillary states hers, and he varies her policy statement a little to make it sound like his original plan. I first heard the term Doppelganger used to describe Bush in the 2000 debates, and Obama appears to be another just another Doppelganger. In other words, an empty suit smart enough to know a good idea when he hears.

doppelganger DOP-uhl-gang-uhr, noun:
1. A ghostly double or counterpart of a living person.
2. Alter ego; double.

Doppelganger is from the German doppel, "double" + Gänger, "goer."

[nickthegreek27]

I'm sure Mathews legs were thrilled last night,but what a crime that a major cable news outlet doesn't play Hardball when it has the chance.Mathews you are pathetic!!­!Rezko,Wri­ght,Selma,­Barry Dunham,where were the questions?I used to enjoy watching Hardball because I thought they were pretty fair and balanced.Now I turn to Pat Buchanan and O'reilly if you can believe that.Boy,imangine if that was Sen Clinton last night

[4wehttam]

Closet racists and bigots Buchanan and O'reilly? Nuff said about your JUDGMENT level,

[lafcadio]

Closet? Buchanan and O'reilly are out and proud racists.

[mamamay]

For C.M to ask Obama about Rezko, Wright, et al, he will have to ask HRC the same questions. After all these were the Clinton' ;White House FRIENDS. It appears the association with these SAME strange folks were closer than guilt to the Clintons than to Obama. What's up with that? Pictures don't lie

[Mark701]

Touche!

[jsar70]

Chris Matthews is such a weirdo. I remember watching an episode of "Real Time" when Maher went into the audience to oust some annoying "9/11-conspiracy theory" protesters, and Matthews laughed awkwardly at the notion. It was like that scene in "Goodfellas" when Joe Pesci cracks a beer bottle over a guys head, and Henry Hill laughs sadistically.

[vsign]

Why is this the lead story from the Hardball interview with Obama?

What I want to hear again and again is how Obama blamed the media for the Rev Wright story. I want to hear how clever Obama was in not answering Chris' questions about the Rev and the church and how Chris let him get by with it. Chris sure conducted a softball interview.

I think it exposed how much Chris wants to be liked by the young crowd.

Please don't let Obama off the hook on this one!

The American voter needs these questions answered about Rev Wright. Think of it as your civic duty. Please MSNBC.

[Duffy]

WHY does the American public need to know this? Do we need to know why the entire Republican establishment relies on the propagandist Washington Times run by a religious lunatic who thinks he's Jesus Christ? Do we need to know why John McCain sought the endorsement of Pastor Hagee, a Catholic hating bigot? Do we need to know why the right wing relies on America-hating frauds like Pat Robertson?

Stop trying to pretend you don't understand exactly what this is - the usual right wing noise designed to distract the American public from discussing the real issues.

[JKZANG]

Vsign - I don't think Chris necessarily wants to be liked by the young crowd as much as it is how he has treated Obama all along - he is treated like an icon by most of the media and I don't understand it at all - he is nothing but a smart politician and Chris was wrong letting him get away with his "non" answer.

I like you point that media has a civic duty to get all questions answered. Good for you!!

[vsign]

Thanks. These comment boards have alot of people on them who don't want questions answered.

And yet this is the time for voters to shine and get their questions answered so they can be the best voters possible.

The media needs to help us. They seem to indulge the stars instead of the voters.

Thanks again for the encouragement.

[speakyourmind]

WILL YOU SHETUP ALREADY ABOUT THIS NON-ISSUE???!!

[4wehttam]

He answered all the questions relating to Wright, what more would you like, BLOOD, DEATH? Get a grip on reality, your blind ravenous desire for Hillary to win is clouding your sanity.

[Strywever]

The Wright issue is the most important issue this country is facing, in your mind? *That's* what we should be spending our time talking about? Pathetic!

[vsign]

If Hillary had attended a church for 20 years with a Reverand preaching white supremacy and anti government rhetoric from the pulpit - and adopted that pastor as her mentor - do you really imagine anyone would consider her Presidential material?

[mellene]

I do watch cable a fair amount and I've got to say that most of the time the reporting is over the top on all the major cable shows. They stretch our patience and imagination just about as far as they can. I find Countdown to be the best of the lot.

[NavyMom]

I'm not a Matthews fan but I watched this show, start to finiish. What I LOVE about Obama is that he gives thoughtful answers and talks to audience as if he thinks they are smart enough to understand thoughtful answers. This is so great after years of soundbites and laugh lines and canned slogans.

[jakie]

IT IS ABOUT TIME HE TELLS THAT GROUP FROM MSNBC OFF

[bigkay]

I loved Obama's response to Matthews concerning cable news. I was surprised ,as they have been shilling for Obama for months and months while trashing Hillary.
Makes me want to vote for Obama in Pa. I think he is fair and balanced!

[b2008]

I commend most of you guys because you have done your homework it seems. I like when people speak with knowledge instead of ignorance. And I loved the interview last night with Chris and Obama. They were very comfortable with each other and Obama felt he could "rag" Chris quite easily as he has been "ragged" by the media also. And it was done in pure respect, as we could all see. Chris took it with the same respect and I admire him also. You might not want to vote for Obama because you don't like him for one reason for another, but you cannot say that he is not "intelligent", a man of "character", and someone you wouldn't mind having a "beer" with. He is a man's man for sure. And he has such compassion for people and it shows. Just like he said, "empathy" is his best quality because if you can put yourself in another man's shoes, then and only then can you know how he feels. Not too many people have that quality any more and I praise him for being one that truly cares for the people. That's what we need in a President for a change.

[ghostwriter5]

"He is a man's man for sure"

I can't believe this is the democratic party. Why are you all so afraid of women? The most pathetic thing was the cheerleaders in the background. Maybe that's what Chris and his buddy Barack want for their daughters. I want mine to be treated as an equal

[FirstShirt]

"Why are you all so afraid of women? "

I'm not, except for those who try to emasculate a man by asking him what he's afraid of.

[Star123]

Obama speaks erudite-sounding English, sounds smart, but in a sly, condescending way...he has earned this or that, he will fix the foreclosure thing so he can get on to more important matters (wait, how?), and so on. I am at the point now where I cannot stand the uh-uh-uhing as he frames his breathlessly awaited comments. And his little acolytes like Chris, Rachel Maddow, Gene Robinson, that Michelle woman--well, I have been watching a lot of the Food Channel lately. Did you see Maureen Dowd's column--where your candidate went to a chocolate factory but said chocolate was too decadent for him? "The Dude" or even Donnie could wax him at the lanes! And would I want to have a beer with him? Will pass on that one. Does he drink beer? Probably single malt Scotch.

[mamamay]

I am surprised, no shocked that folks have never heard anyone stammer while speaking. In a few of my studies and research, years ago, I learned that folks who have the kind of stammering that is prominent in Obama, also serves to confirms their thinking processes as they listen, which enables him/her to give more concise and credible type answers. Many intelligent folks speak this wa y. A few of my professors in College spoke in that manner, and it was they who convinced me that a good listener often responds in a slower manner, yet, which may not be a sly condescending manner. We gotta admit, his respectful response shows signs that he is a good listener a caring conversationalist. Yes He's very likeable and concerned

[Purple Girl]

Hit that right On The head!
Cable 'News' is entertainment with a Sprinkle of Illusions of Information. PBS< CSPAN is all We have let.

[Argoth]

What an awesome comment.

[castlerider]

Obama impressed me a lot, more then many times, with this interview.
He looked really tired, but frosty. He wasn't going to let that stop his focus.

Not a bad kind of person to have in charge.

The religion stuff with Rev. Wright is finally seeming to go away, as it should. Good grief, he went to church to worship and praise God, not hold a rally against or for some crazy ideas. Who cares WHAT was said.... It wasn't him.
God just called- He says leave him alone about all that.

[Asinistra]

"The religion stuff with Rev. Wright is finally seeming to go away, as it should."
I wouldn't be so sure of that. Tweety couldn't help but bring it up. And not only with a stern warning to Barack that he'll see it from the GOP in the general, but with a rather pointed question about how Obama could give $27,000 to Wright's church (always a daring question coming from a Catholic). Obama's very good at interview jujitsu, but I think he can do better at answering this question. Next time he's told that the GOP is going to raise Wright against him, he has to not only say he expects that (as he did last night). He has to say that's not the issue. The issue is how many more times is MSNBC and its competitors going to run that loop. And if they're going to do it every time the Republican Attack Machine grinds it out, then maybe they should consider running Obama's race speech just as often...or at least McCain's fumbling over who's fighting who in Iraq...or Hagee's endorsement...or McCain's flip-flop on torture. All that fun stuff.

[4wehttam]

Well said Asinistra.

[Strywever]

Obama responded in a terrific way, I thought, by pointing out that there are much more important issues to be discussed, and we should be focusing on those. He just needs to keep saying that, all the way to the White House.

[JackW]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA6fv8YhoOE&feature=related

[Star123]

Tired but frosty---making me think of someone, a guy sort of from Texas, the one who is suffering the most from the war, bring it on....can't remember...you know who I mean.