Carville Knocks Politico Reporter: "I Don't Know If I'd Know Ben Smith If He Fell On Me"

James Carville appeared on CNN Friday night to talk with Anderson Cooper about just how behind Obama the Clintons really are. During the discussion Cooper read a quote from an article by Ben Smith (or, as Cooper accidentally referred to him, Ben Stein!) of Politico about how Bill and Hillary's legacy rests on the perception that they are supporting the first African-American candidate. And how did Carville respond? Never one to resist putting someone down, Carville seemingly dismissed Smith's argument by saying he had no idea who the accomplished and influential political reporter was, albeit in more colorful terms.

Watch the clip.

CNN

Comments

[kay]

Politico, and Ben Smith, are Right-leaning, pretending to be "fair and balanced".

Read the McCain coverage on any given day, and then read the Obama coverage, on Politico.

It's a Right-leaning site.

[tinarm]

Most people who read Politico do not care for Ben Smith. If you read it, it is because it is pretty current, but you couldn't find a worse reporter well maybe Hannity. During the primary you would have thought Ben was a Clinton surrogate, and now all he runs are little blogs talking about how wrong Obama is on this or that or McCain campaign ads.

[Jason357]

I thought Carville was retired. It hurts me to look at or hear the guy.

[filo]

Carville and McCain both remind me of the cryptkeeper.

[jubo]

In passing, his first sentence is more important. Not to piss on your celebration of all things media...

[thisoldbroad]

Re: "I Don't Know If I'd Know Ben Smith If He Fell On Me"

Sure you would Jimmy - he'll be the one with the knife.

[Mort]

Carville doesn't have a birth certificate. But his family died in a crash and he spent his early years in an obscure hangar near a little town called Roswell. Ever since then he's been a close friend of a few government officials for some reason.

[Zentomato]

Mort, after reading your comment I really did fall on the floor and laughed my a** off. Thanks for the giggles, that was good.

[mari2JJ]

So tell me, what do you tink of a woman who would marry someone that behaves like you just described. Yep that is right, your good friend Mary Matlin married the nice guy. I guess catagproclly they rejuct the description,

[jubo]

Tres drôle...

[Jason357]

LOL, Mort.

[dct1999]

Hilarious, damn near made me spill my coffee!

[stringer]

Freakin hilarious. This is great!

For those who don't know Ben Smith is a well-known hack (actually pro-Hillary not that it matters) who constantly tries to stoke the anger of PUMA, as well as rational Clinton and Obama supporters by constantly posting these supposed inside campaign back-biting stories.

He never has sources. Ever. Sometimes he claims they won't go on the record. Usually Smith doesn't even bother to pretend he has him.

So Carville was right. Smith is: a) a piss-poor journalist and b) one of those in the MSM who is always trying to stoke the Clinton-Obama fued whether it exists or not.

Smith's money quote for today, "Anytime Barack Obama brings out Hillary Clinton he gets more media attention so, of course, he's going to try and drag her out as much as possible. . ."

And that's one of his better quotes. Trust me, Carville was disposing of some much needed trash. I hope Smith hears this and cries. He's just the type of insecure reporter to do so.

[Zentomato]

Stringer, what I question is this: Where the heck did this Politico come from? I mean one day and all of a sudden The Politico was foisted upon us. Poof! It seemed no one asked questions about it and the MSM just placidly accepted it as a valid punditory (if there is such a word) entity. My suspicion is that most of all these inside the beltway punditries have devolved into an incestuous gang of buddy/pals who will do any act of appeasement for access to the powers that be. A sort of self perpetuating and devolving situation for our fourth estate. Woe be our Democracy.

[kay]

Ben Smith's father is a judge on the state Court of Appeals in New York, and a big GOP donor.

[lpeggy]

Amen!

[Gogetter]

Finally, someone "said" it. Thank you. And I agree with Carville; what was Smith's point in that passage that Cooper quoted, that the Clintons wouldn't be working hard for a white nominee? In the article, Smith was obviously trying stir up the anti-Obama "Dems" by explaining how Obama has the Clintons by the short hairs.

[foolchild0]

Why is Kermit the Frog on CNN?

[charmedgreenquark]

Actually, that's Sméagol. He lost his ring.
Check this picture out: http://www.snappedshot.com/uploads/Parody/James_Carville_Is_Gollum.jpg

[MikeMidCity]

James wouldn't know a democrat if he fell on him.

[CountAight]

CNN could end the visits of the Nosferatu if they hung garlic in the studio. It's not really that unpleasant in comparison.

[PackyJ]

I'm sorry, but Carville is also just another hack, albeit a very well paid one.

[POINT84]

why is this news and does anyone even like Ben Smith...seriously?

[1question]

Ben Smith "(...the accomplished and influential political reporter...)"

HuffPo is better than that Ben Smith reference...!! What has he accomplished...Influential with whom...!?!? How about some links to his accomplishments and influence...?!?

Maybe in the HuffPo operation these days...his 'steno pool' work passes for reporting, but NOT in my house.

[myshadow]

so

[Americanium]

HuffPo is losing its edge