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

[MoeSart]

Yeah, yeah.

If you don't support Obama, you're a racist. We know that already.

[haleywins]

Does he have a clue how many will vote against Obama just because of race?

This country is basically stuck in the 60's.

[ChezMJ]

Sure Chris--in your world, racism bad, sexism good. Jerk!

[wutzhappn]

I feel a thrill up my leg every time he speaks. Jerk.

[mhopgood123]

I think you got that wrong.

[1028jenn]

Hillary didn't get anything that she didn't dish out first. Obama was snubbed by far more people than Sen Clinton was every snubbed by.

Thank you, Chris, for calling attention to all the racism and ignorance in this country. And yes, I hope, too, that those in West Virginia, Kentucky, and many in Pennsylvania can look past the color of Obama's skin and vote for the best candidate-- Obama ! Finally, hope for our nation !

[MPeter]

A lethal combination of racism, militarism and the stupidity exhibited by neocons and greying, uneducated men and women are the ones responsible for the fallof America. Electing a wrinkled, demented McBush who should be in a retirement home in Florida, will be the last nail in the coffin.

[Dovespeace]

Thank you Chris Matthews for the appeal to look at each candidate honestly and openly. I like the thought of looking at them through the lens of kids. My other thought is I am tired of hearing all the complaints about the media's love fest with Barack Obama. No one gets scrutinized more than he does and main stream media plays the game. They created this McCain image of being a straight talker and they let his lies, his stupid remarks, his lack of direction, his lack of inner power, and more slide. He has made a joke of himself over and over. He is crude, he downgrades women, including his wife, and more. I can't believe people are so blind. I can't believe they would rather hang with the crap we have endured these past seven years. My question is why is McCain frustrated with Obama's trip? Because he is intelligent, he embraces people with honesty and integrity. God the Republican ideology of fear mongering, divisiveness, etc is in plain view just like it was when Bush was elected and look where it got us. I am ready for change.

[NHGranite]

Last night, the new guy on the Daily Show got right to the heart of this issue, shown in the video clip "Baruch Obama". Maybe this is where Matthews got the idea.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=177061&title=baruch-obama&byDate=true

[libbygirl]

Thank you Chris. Your message is important and hopefully will not not fall on the deaf ears of the people who need to hear it. It's hard to change the minds of people who think in "color" but not impossible.

[Changeizgood]

Atta boy Chris. That's what I'm talking about. Hope and Trust!

[xmw]

Chris has a good heart most days of the week.

[BabsfromKS]

Bless his heart.

[Preya]

This is why I love Tweetie.

[JFAST3288]

I agree, he is speaking from his heart, but if you read between the lines he is saying to ignor the racial part of the candidate. How , or why should we? It was his association with charactors like Rev. Wright, and Louis Farrakan, and the New Black Panthers, and lets not forget some of the phrases from his book, Dreams of my Father. His wifes remark about dedicating her life to "exclusively the black African causes", in her college thisis. The Obama camp using the race card to oust Geraldene Farrarra from the Clinton campaign, knowing full well that she just spoke the truth. I am almost certain that Obama dislikes white people after reading these exerpts; Sen. Barack Obama in his own words.

From his book: Dreams of my Father

"I CEASED TO ADVERISE MY MOTHER'S (WHITE) RACE AT THE AGE OF 12 OR 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites"

" I FOUND A SOLACE IN NURSING A PERVASIVE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND ANIMOSITY AGAINST MY MOTHER'S (WHITE) RACE".

"The emotion between the races could never be pure.....THE OTHER RACE (WHITE) WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN JUST THAT: MENACING, ALIEN AND APART"
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I'm sorry, but I am white, and this guy seems to hate white people. He isn't allowing me to overlook his race. Chris Mathews wants us to think like our children do, and not see his race. I think that Chris should give that message to Obama.

[mistlesuede]

Mr. Matthews can be quite obnoxious at times and seem as though he only wants to hear the sound of his own voice. Then every once in a great while, he speaks from his heart and it's refreshing. You can tell he really is speaking sincerely and trying to encouraging people to open their hearts and minds.

[mistlesuede]

Sorry, I meant encourage without the "ing."

[Changeizgood]

He works for a whack station, but he is sincere. He had to go on Leno to speak freely from his heart.

Shame about freedom of speech on MSM.

[laylahb]

How many 70 and 80-year-olds (or even 60-year-olds) are awake at 11:35 pm? Heh, heh, what did you say, I couldn't hear you..

[bbbear]

Hey Kiddo, ; ) ever hear of of a DVD?

[BabsfromKS]

Yes, but I have to get my grandson to come over and push all those buttons for me to get it to work.

[JohnIII]

I guess he's voting for Obama then?

[gladys46]

Some MSM pundits are sounding like O'Reilly, remember when he went to Harlem ... culture shocked that AA's ate with forks, etc. Some seem shocked that O can hobnob with heads of states .. that's amazing that they're so stunned!! What else did they expect!?

By his very birthright O is international!!

[Doofus]

Noble sentiments, good to hear. Almost as if he plans to run
for something, like maybe Senator from Pennsylvania in 2010.

[gladys46]

I'd support him!

[bbbear]

LOL, By George, I think you've got it!

[AnotherToerag]

Matthews does a decent job. He's not a news reporter - he's a pundit. Just like Limbaugh or Savage or O'Reilley. There is a definite shortage of liberal pundits...

[nellie]

As much as I support Mr. O., and as much as I find this message very decent and heartfelt, I do wish Chris Matthews would stick to reporting the news.

[Ramirez]

He'd rather make it, because in the end it's about Chris Matthews. And the thrill that runs up his leg.

[BabsfromKS]

The zeitgeist on speaking openly about race in Amer ica is news.

[nellie]

Oh, I missed that this was on the Tonight Show. I take it back. If he wants to be decent and heartfelt on his own time, more power to him. And I'm glad he said what he did.