Chris Matthews Makes Emotional Appeal For Voters To Be Racially Open

Last night, Chris Matthews appeared on the Tonight Show, where he made an emotional appeal to American voters to remain racially open-minded at the polls and "think the way that" kids think.

[WATCH]

I hope for one thing when people go to vote: that they look at [Obama's] background, that they look at the age of the two candidates, that they look at their abilities and really open up their hearts and say "what's really good for my kids," who don't have any color awareness.

Kids don't think about race. Think like your kids for once. Think the way they think. It would be great if the older people in the country, the 70 year olds, the 80 year olds who are suspicious of change to say, "you know, why don't I think the way my kids are thinking and think about the future."

Whatever they decide, just open up your heart to this prospect of something different. That's what I hope we do.

Naturally, it's hard to fault the noble sentiments behind Matthews' message. At the same time, it's hard to fault anyone who interprets Matthew's message as an ambiguous endorsement of Barack Obama.

There are obviously many gray areas. Matthews is clearly a member of "the media," but he's not exactly a newsman. Matthews exists in the area between moderator and pundit, trafficking in a sort of news that's more based on pure opinion and open-ended analysis than fact. Moreover, the media landscape is dotted with personages whose biases are easily divined. And besides, it's hard to make an appeal for colorblindness at the polls without appearing to back Obama.

Still, Matthews' remarks also come at a time when the GOP is running ads that accuse the media of being "in love" with Obama - and that explicitly references Matthews' own famous "thrill up the leg" comment.

Comments

[bronceye]

Unfortunately, America has an endless supply of hate filled, ignorant rednecks and hillbillies(repub base) who want to be fed pictures and not words.

[PumaAnn]

Matthews always thought anyone not for Obama was a racist. Funny stuff...

[wheelskeepturning]

Chris I will be thinking about my kids when I vote that is why I will vote for the candidate with the most experience to lead this country and I don't mean Obama. Race will not enter into the decision. The media needs to quit making this Presidential election about race. It is about who can run the country the best. Just because a man who is half black and half caucasion is going to be on the ticket does not mean that he should automatically win the election for the sake of some imaginary historic event. We are talking about electing someone to take over in probably the worst of times in the history of our country. We need someone who will go back to the Constitution and Declatatin of Independence and put our country back on course. So Bush is a Republican. Don't punish McCain because of his affiliation with the party. He is not Bush.

[MalamuteMan]

He's a LOT closer to Bush than Obama is...

And just because McCain has more years in the Senate doesn't mean he has more experience... Nor do his stated policies and real world actions suggest that he will lead us out of this quagmire!

[1099]

Please explain how you define experience? Apparently time spent in Congress (not state senate) is not high on your list.

[bronceye]

Mccain=MiniBush. What did McCain do to his brother, McAbel?

[amazinggrace]

Thank you, Chris Matthews! I do watch Hardball and sometimes think I know Chris but then he surprises me. I like his position on the war and his fairness to both candidates. I hated the three weeks of Rev Wright though and did not watch Hardball during that time.

Sometimes I think of him as a Dem and other times a Repub and yes, I do know that his brother is a HUGE Repub.

[MalamuteMan]

If Chris Mathews is a Republican, it just goes to show that some Republicans DO have a conscience and a sense of integrity.

[shelobo]

You are so right ,and with MORE allies fixing to pull their troops out,we certianly need to get out of 'dodge' so they say.When American troops are in danger because our allies are pulling out it IS TIME to leave the game while we still can. Why McCain keeps insisting that HE will win this war,when he isn't even over there fighting.We invaded Iraq to get rid of Hussien,that has been done,the Iraqi people have been liberated ,THEY want our troops out ,but want OUR money to keep funding their rebuilding and padding the pockets of corrupted officials .http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/15/60-minutes-corruption-in-iraq-killing-us-troops-with-us-dollars/ .It's time to end Bushs war.It's time to heal THIS country and FIX our economic system .I have family in Iraq,one just returned to Iraq for his second tour ,and I'm sure most AMERICANS if they put their party affiliation aside , will agree.

[Rita1]

Barack brought me around all by himself. The courage to even approach a contest that the Clintons' were in to win with their machine gun politics literally blew my mind, and made him entirely watchable. Obama has represented himself flawlessly and is a generational turn for us that the country sorely needs after the Bush/Clinton/Bush years. All the other candidates have long lost their bloom and that lack of freshness and old politics has affected the country's morale and certainly the mood.

[MalamuteMan]

Here here!!!

[loax]

Chris is right on. If you vote for McCain, you vote for a continuation of war and hatred to be spread throughout this world. If you vote Obama, you vote for someone who has a more poignant vision of what the world truly wants to be. McCain in the WH is just a chilling thought!

[Gumby123]

If you don't vote for Obama you're closed minded and racist. Nice.

[shelobo]

Thats YOUR view,many don't even pay attention to his skin color ,his blood runs just as red as ours and our troops does.Your comment is a BIASED one.http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0504/052804nj1.htm

[Gumby123]

No, the comment that if you don't vote for a person because of race is biased. How about voting for the right guy for the job regardless of race? Can't anyone with a brain handle that?

[matthewhusseinsmith]

Your statement is disingenuous.

What is asked of you is that

You don't take the candidate's race into account.

But instead, ask:

Which candidate will do the most good for your country?

If your answer to the 2nd question is McCain, so be it.
I won't bother to ask you for your reasons for voting for McCain; I don't care.

[mossy1]

That's just the way Chris rolls. He's really not very bright. I try to avoid him, don't turn on the TV until it's time for Keith. Chris Matthews style has a big cringe factor, and he's big-time shallow.

[1099]

Matthews is exponentially more qualified to comment on politics than Olberdouche.

Read each of their resumes. Just because you identify more with O-bags brand of commentary and his views doesn't automatically give him superior bona fides to Matthews.

[kennedy]

Chris,

How much is your BFF Obama paying you for kissing his backside?

[shelobo]

Probably MORE than McCain could ,get real ,do you enjoy the feel of AMERICAN troops blood on your hands when you condone your candidates actions ??Party affiliation is not the point ,it's just as Chris says ,VOTE with your BRAIN and remember the over 4 THOUSAND already dead from this war ! It's unamerican to condone a war based on LIES !.http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/15/60-minutes-corruption-in-iraq-killing-us-troops-with-us-dollars/

[wheelskeepturning]

There is more at stake in this election than the war. Don't be so narrow minded. The war is a diversion. Lets remember there is a whole country here that needs much attention. Education, Financial institutions, Immigration, crime in our cities the list goes on and on. And don't even ask me how I feel about American blood being shed, also what about all the thousands of innocent Iraq citizens who have been murdered because of the invasion. Unfortunately the lying Bush administration took our country to war. Now we need a leader to get us out and protect us against terrorists abroad and in our country. I think Obama is much too liberal to face the situation head on and his affiliations are in question.

[wheelskeepturning]

Havn't you noticed how his nose is turning brown? (this is not about race, but about where Chris's nose has been)

[JackyA]

Thank you, Chris Matthews, for at least attempting to inspire Americans to do the right thing. That's all I can say lest I go on a rant against those who choose not to follow your kind and significant advice.

[pdxjcc]

I was amazed at how strongly my kids were into Obama. They've never been much into politics until now. I guess that is happening all over the country. Obama please, don't let us down. And I don't think he will! It's THEIR turn. I'm sick of baby boomers in the White House, personally. We need this man.

[boogygran]

What a guy. It was really nice to see this side of Chris instead of the rather loud yakkety yak he usually does on his show.

[rationalthought1]

Mathews is a complex critter. He'd be a great subject for a shrink's couch. Having said that - I admit to finding him addictive to watch. Sure he can be grating but his emotional energy makes him unpredictable. I've also noticed that an hour of Hardball seems to pass as quickly as a half an hour of most other shows. I also appreciate his "old school" focus on history. We need more of that.

[TrueIndy08]

Unfortunately there will always racists and bigots in this country that can't look inside and see someone's character and will always be stopped by the color of their skin...

All we can hope for is that enough progressive minds stand up for this country...

I am definitely not saying that everyone who is against O is racist, thats ridiculous... but there no denying that there is a good chunk of this country who would not vote for him simply because he is part black!!!!

We have to remember, this is the same country that declared blacks 3/5 of a person.... and unfortunately, there are still a good number of people in this country who still feel that way!!!

[TrueIndy08]

People....

Seriously this is 2008.... and yet some people still treat it like its 1958....

We have to GROW UP and move beyond the color of someone's skin!!!!

I completely understand what Chris was trying to say.... and to those who ALWAYS look for the negative... take aminute to listen to what he was saying... He did not say forget about his race and vote for Obama... he was saying do not race guide your vote!!! If you truly believe in John McCain and you believe he is what is best for this country, then by all means, vote for him....

If you believe Barack Obama is best for this country, then vote for him....

But don't let Obama's brown skin decide if you should or should not vote for him, his skin color is not going to get us out of Iraq... or fight terrorism, or lead us out of a bad economy....

For goodness sakes, I am so thankful I was born and raised in CA where I never had to deal with such ignorance....

[bdl0715]

you must be forgetting the " Bradley Effect" in CA. if you think racism never existed in California. Why was Mayor Tom Bradley not elected Governor?

I agree with your entire post, other then the last statement.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

Clearly you weren't a black male living in LA while Darryl Gates was LAPD Chief.

[Heaphy]

I am a 56 year old white male. Back when I was 18 and voted for the first time, I recognized that racism and sexism were terribly destructive American sociopolitical tendencies. I pledged then to seek out minority and woman candidates worthy of my support in every election cycle, and then to back them strongly. I've stood by that pledge ever since. Never before, though, have I been so enthusiastic and so dedicated to a campaign as to that of Barack Obama. It gives me great pride to devote every spare moment and every spare dollar to opening the doors of the White House to Barack and the entire Obama family. Thank you, Barack Obama, for stepping forward to serve our country in its time of need. Yes We Can!
- Jim Heaphy

[shelobo]

Great post ! I just turned 57 ,so I see where you have been and where your comment leads rational people to.BRAVO !! http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0504/052804nj1.htm

[mossy1]

Has it occurred to you that "seeking out minority and women candidates" to support is just as racist and sexist as avoiding them? The very fact that a candidate is a minority or a woman should always be secondary to who is the best candidate! Always!
Having said that, I will add that as a 60 yr. old woman, I was among the first crop of feminists. And, I was always for Obama, not Hillary. Best Candidate!