Chris Matthews: "I Want To Do Everything I Can To Make This New Presidency Work"

Chris Matthews appeared on "Morning Joe" Thursday morning, and in the context of discussing the Obama transition — and Rahm Emanuel's motives for waffling on the chief of staff position — told Joe Scarborough it is not his job to question Emanuel's motives.

"You know what?" Matthews said. "I want to do everything I can to make this thing work, this new Presidency work."

Scarborough and co-host Mika Brzezinski pressed Matthews on his claim, asking if it his his job as a journalist to make the Presidency work.

"Yeah, that's my job. My job is to help this country...to make this work succsesfully, because this country needs a successful Presidency, more than anything right now," Matthews said.

"As Americans, Chris Matthews, we are all rooting for the success of Barack Obama," Scarborough said. "America is at a perilous time. But you just talked about being a journalist, and your job as a journalist is not to question motives. Then, two seconds later, you said your job was to make this Presidency a success. That's curious."

Later, Scarborough said, "We all wish [Obama] well, we just don't think it's our job to make this work anymore than it was a journalist's job to make the Iraq War have a successful launch."

Watch, and enjoy Time Managing Editor Rick Stengel knocking Newsweek's Barack Obama cover, which features a photo that Stengel called "about two years old," below:

Comments

[mediamarv]

Matthews is not a journalist.

He is a political talk show host. He has to do nothing involving journalism skills, just read the prompter.

I would hate to have to read anything by him, it's hard enough listening.... which I seldom do.

[PitBull6]

That's the point that Joe may have been off point about but Matthews did not contend it. Chris is no journalist, he's an opinionator but he's trying to hide under the "we all need to support the president" cloak. I'd have more respect for him if he just said "Hey, I had something crawl up my leg when he ran and I'm stickin' with it" than try to play the "this is what we ought to do" thing just because it's Obama

[BluePrideSMW]

Moanin' Joe tells Chris...??? Chris has forgotten more than Joe'll evah know.

The Obamas are Moving On UP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf3uGsMxsoQ

Mom's Mabley sings a sublime Abraham, Martin & John:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge32xtm23rQ

[pjean]

Chris was right.We shouldn't question Ron Emanuel's motives. If he needed time to talk to is family it is his right to say so. I resented Joe for acting as if he knows best and proceed to tell Ron how he should make decisions or when to have discussions with his family. Joe thinks he knows it all but he doesn't. what's disappointing at times is that his puppet Mika could be so much better if she would stop playing Joe's puppet. Barack has not taken office yet, George Bush is still the president until 1/20/09 so why is Joe being so critical when there's nothing to really be critical about. Joe is just one of those rethugs who want to see President Elect Obama fail. Give our newly elected President a chance shall we.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

Who care actually cares about what JealousJoe says. I mean seriously who do any of us know who sits around waiting on an opinion from JealousJoe Scarborough beside his side kick Mika who apparently doesn’t have an opinion unless he gives it to her.

When Chris Matthews speak we stop and listen; When Chuck Todd speaks we stop and listen; Even when Andrea Speak we stop and listen but who do you know who stops and listen to Joe Scarborough, seriously who do you know besides Mika.

This guy doesn’t have any opinion on anything any of us care to hear about. He believes talking over people, talking down to people is winning the conversation, but it doesn’t, everyone just tunes you out and looks at you like you’re a foool!!!!

[pieceotoast]

I support President-Elect Obama and I like Chris Matthews, but what he said is questionable at best. We need the press in this country to ask the hard questions of our government. Any administration should have its feet held to the fire, especially during troubled times like these. I saw this live and he repeated himself, I find this disturbing. Chris Matthews did say that any American should want their President to succeed, and that is true but Chris Matthews the reporter should not be willing to help the Obama administration succeed he should be willing to ask the hard questions. If Chris Matthews did mean that he wanted to help the Obama administration by asking the hard questions and keeping them on their toes that is more acceptable.

[MrPragmatic]

Yes, yes , yes...

[PitBull6]

It takes humility and courage to point that out here. Thank you.

[water57]

Joe uses rage and filibuster to control the conversations, he does it to intimidate,and prevent anyone from offering a different opinion. Who wants to get publicly embarrass on TV? Milka and Sarah have couple things in common. Both needed permission to talk, and both them have same IQ. Milka has much of a backbone as a wet noodle. Willy is treated like a pet rock.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

WOW what a great description. His flunkies

[imsosure]

Joe is part of why we needed this huge change in America; he thinks his establishment is the only good thing worth having. Then there are some more mature and responsible others who have enough sense to welcome opportunity and leave their petty and contrite opinions for those like Joe to make. Joe isn't having any fun, no fun, no fun . . .

[MrPragmatic]

I pray for a press that holds the Obama administration accountable and report facts not spin. Obama will not succeed because he has a codling press. Obama will be successful because of his policies and ability to lead. The press is supposed to make sure that our institutions serve their purpose without coruption. If Matthews thinks that it is his job to ensure a successful Obama presidency then I suggest he lobby for a job in the BO administration.

[RODERICK098]

Agree. However the press will be hard on Obama just as they were with the Clintons because they know they do not retaliate like the Bushes. The press is very cowardly and they never go after the republicans, They are afraid of losing their jobs like Dan Rather or going to prison like a man who wrote a book about Bush just after he was elected-I believe he died in prison or the character assaination the the bush people would do against the reporter if they dared to question anything they were doing.

[PitBull6]

What planet have you lived on the last 7.8 years? The press is not hard on the Bushes???? In short...puh-leeeez.

[oscartucker]

The press will hold the Obama administration accountable, there's no doubt about that, but today it seemed that Joe was trying to make a big story out of nothing, and I believe that's what Chris was saying. Rick Stengel understood what Chris meant. Maybe Rahm Emmauel should not have been on tv before making his decision, but hey, he's not the first nor will he be the last to do so, but there was no big story. The news is slow; people have to wait to see what's really going to happen. Barney the dog was news, but his biting a reporter became BIG news because all is slow. Wait, let Obama put his people into place. The next big "to do" will be about the Fed Chairman; someone with GREAT experience is needed, no matter who he worked for, no matter what party he is a member of.

[gaja]

There is a difference bet, holding an administration accountable & using air-time constantly INSINUATING every action looking for conspiracies where none exist. I would suggest that noone wants Obama's administration to be accountable more than Obama himself He has given every indication that he is not about spinning anything. He's always been pretty direct and forthright whenever he speaks. He has also been meticulous in every aspect including the pre-planning of his administration & ensuring that he has the absolute best staff around him.

Yes, the press is supposed to make sure that our institutions uphold their end of the bargain. But, I find those words to be INCREDIBLY HYPOCRITICAL coming from a crew that has spent the last 8+ years only applying their criticisms toward "liberals". They immediately wanted to "pile on" Obama for his 1st decision as pres - & quickly felt the need to attack Chris for not joining in... I think most people can understand the intention of Chris' comments. Chris, unlike Joe (who is ALWAYS center-right), does not always lean to the left - there are many instances on his show when he is just as hard on Democrats as he is on fellow Repubs. But, I do understand him when he says - how about giving Obama a little support given that he is facing one of the most IMPOSSIBLE situations our country has faced in decades and he's been on the job for less than a day??

[mlrlmsw]

I think what Chris Matthews was saying is that he wasn't going to try to read Rahm Emmanuel's mind and pick apart his motivations, etc., which can get so destructive. Joe Scarborough, charming partisan that he is, feels fine about making biased, judging comments on one side of the issue (attacking), but he doesn't feel it's a journalist's job to take the high road (supporting)? I also loved how the Morning Joe crew waited until after the election to talk about Obama's superior campaign and what that might mean in terms of his abilities and the fact that Obama's Iraq position is closer to the current Bush plan than McCain.

[MrPragmatic]

CM has double standards. He sure didn't mind questioning HRC's motivations durring the primary. The press has one job to do: Hold those in power accountable for thier actions, which includes sometimes speculating on motivation. I agree that it is silly to start picking apart motivations this early, but the blanket statement that Matthews thinks that it is his job to ensure a successful Obama presidency is just plain weird.

[RODERICK098]

I am giving you a standing ovation right now.

[gaja]

It wasn't a blanket statement - and are you saying that every pundit on Fix news, CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS did NOT have double standards during the primaries?? They continued to call Obama a SOCIALIST/MARXIST anti-american TERRORIST up until election day!! Get real. Do you really want to be pragmatic? How about starting with the so-called "journalists" that are nothing more than talking heads for the GOP first?

[PitBull6]

YOu have pointed out that CM has clearly double standards when it comes to presidents. I don't recall just what he said after the 2004 elections, but I will bet every dollar I have it wasn't so concilliatory.

[Wolf Larsen]

Mika is a complete lightweight......proof that genetics can fail from time to time.

Joe.....well Joe is a southern good ole' boy......genetics didn't have a prayer.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

Orgin from Alabama

[grata2ude]

Joe lecturing Chris Matthews on journalism is like Sarah Palin lecturing Einstein on the theory of relativity.

[militarymomforobama]

Perfect!!!

[militarymomforobama]

Chris Matthews IS a journalist--Joe is NOT.

There's a big difference between asking the tough questions and making a huge deal over how the President Elect releases the details of his appointed staff--especially just two days after the election. Joe is trying too hard to take the tough stance on a non-issue. And Mika--please. She just sits there and goes, "HMMM", and "OHHH" --and stare at herself in the monitor.

[PitBull6]

Was a journalist. And a cop. Joe was a politician...and therefore knows how these things play out. Matthews was clearly an Obama supporter and that's ok. But he shouldn't get even handed now that the election is won. Just as he had something run up his leg, others had something colder run down their spine when Obama was elected and he shouldn't question that as being illegitimate.

[Britta100]

The fact of the matter is under no circumstances is it a journalist job to make anything work. A journalists job is to report the news, good or bad. To inform the public with the truth. Mathews makes no secret he's liberal just as Scarborough makes no secret he is conservative but I'm amazed how many people here confuse these guys opinionated shows with with journalism and not hold each to the same standards.Politicians should not be put up on a pedestal it clouds your thinking. Conservatives did it with Bush and look where that got us. Politicians must be held accountable. The problem is even though I happen to agree with Mathews politics I don't agree with his description of the responsibilities of a journalist as opposed to pundit..

[oscartucker]

Chris was doing his journalistic duty; there was no story to "pick apart", yet Joe was going to do so. Chris simply suggested that everyone just "wait" until Emmanuel announced his decision. Chris was not talking about shielding the Obama administration.

[PitBull6]

You've nailed it. They are both opinion-based shows and partisans will tediously conclude that Obama's actions shouldn't be questioned just as quickly as they will jump on every misstep that Bush makes.

[kasv]

Yesterday and today Joe has been acting like a snotty kid who did not get his way - McCain lost, he's not happy, and resents the hell out of Obama and democrats to the nth degree. And Mika seems to have shed every bit of intelligence she may have inherited from her Dad - it's like watching an ET host spout accolades at some sorry star, in this case, Palin. Grow up Mika and Joe - somebody email me if they do and maybe I'll try watching them again.

[militarymomforobama]

I have stopped watching Joe and the View. Who needs the hate?

[oscartucker]

Joe has been sick for about a week and a half. He saw the "handwriting on the wall", and he has been cutting people off, making excuses, and explaining everything with his "spin". He has looked green and sick,

[swanie]

Chris Matthews problem is Chris Matthews!! He has not, does not, and will not recognize that. The center of Chris' world is Chris, and he will not let you forget it.

That is why I stopped watching Hardball and the Chris Matthews Show - they are not there for the analysts but for Chris. I just get tired of his grandiose concentrated egotistical attitude. He should be there to let the analysts talk and inform, not to make him the center of the show.

Just like John McLaughlin, his shows are no longer interesting or informative about the issues.

Enough said.

PS - If NBC wants to KILL Meet The Press, have Chris become the moderator. .