Chris Matthews: Obama's Diverse Cabinet Like "Many Faces Of Benetton," "Clearly Representative Of America"

Chris Matthews praised the image of diversity coming out of Barack Obama's press conference Monday morning, comparing it to a United Colors of Benetton ad.

Matthews said that Obama "is very aware of the picture he's offering as well as the words" and that his picture Monday morning — three women, three African Americans, one Republican (and someone who has worked with Republicans, in Gen. Jones) — sends a clear message.

"Clearly it has the picture we're looking for, many faces of Benetton or whatever you want to call it," Matthews said, "but clearly representative of America more than previous administrations."

Benetton is a clothing brand known for its inclusive advertising featuring diverse models.

Watch:

Comments

[ProudMormon]

Oh goody, the White House will reflect America.

So does that mean all the US citizens filling service jobs at the White House will be fired and replaced by illegals?

[PlainBread]

No, it means that you're a mor on thinking that whites = legals, nonwhites = illegals.

[solopico]

Where did ProudMormon ever say whites = legals, nonwhites = illegals?

Methinks thou dost protest too much...

[Bitsko]

It just means you are a Mormon.

[whiteboyblues]

When will the Mormon church pay their taxes?

[solopico]

I'm sure that'll happen as soon as the gay agenda gets over the fact that Prop 8 was approved by a majority of ALL voters in California, not just the Mormons.

[thegirlnextdoor]

Oh, get over the Illegals thing. Everyone who is not first nations is essentially an illegal here.

[morbie5]

Not really....

But if you feel that way why don't you pay all the hospital bills that illegals run up and walk out on.

[hardybear]

Fabulous brawl between Christopher Hitchins, Chris Matthews and
Joan Walsh on MSNBC.

[BreakfastatTiffanys1]

OOH I can't wait.

[liberalsrheros]

she had her A game today.

[mec57]

Hillary was fabulous and everyone else was too...only ones who sucked were the dumb reporters trying to trap Obama.

[Mekarri]

Christopher Hitchins is a drunk that hate the Clintons with every bone in his pathetic body. But since he supported bush I don't see why he should even been giving his opinion.

[mec57]

Hitchens had relevancy ages ago...I like when he raved about Henry Kissinger.­..that's the last time his booze-induced rants interested me.

[StillAmused]

If Clinton is a smashing success at State, I promise you Hitchens will offer a far-fetched claim that she was thwarted at every turn in her repeated, devilish attempts to undermine the President.­.. something into which he gained insight during a blackout.

The guy's an obsessed, bitter sot.

That's his story, and he ain't changin' it.

[mec57]

Hitchens is a raging alkie...he talks through his whiskey and brandy.

[Stevie57]

Perhaps what Chris, in his rather heavy handed way ,was saying is that in choosing the best person for the job, President Elect Obama's cabinet has ended up being wondefully diverse.
Personally, it's intellectually thrilling to have competent and practical men and women at the helm; but at a viceral level...as a black woman with biracial children..­.it is awesome to have people in charge who look like ALL of America.

[rob2007]

I love when Matthews--who thinks the news is all about him--posits what Obama is thinking or intending. The "picture Obama is offering" in these nominations is in presenting the best personnel he can to represent the people. I very seriously doubt that his choices depended on demographics and how things would look.

[mec57]

I agree...th­e LAST thing one should be looking at is skin tone versus qualifications. Obama knows a quota system of diversity will not give him an ideal cabinet. He will choose based on far more useful criteria..­.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

He must love the taste of Ferragomo Leather.

[DogTown]

JOE AND CHRIS ARE SO RACE AWARE. THAT'S ALL THEY TALK ABOUT. IT"S GETTING SICKENING ALREADY!

[orchidspin]

Especially Joe it always the poor white guys with him and the dumb women. That man loves stupid!!

[FaceYourFears]

I'm glad they're talking about race, it's sickening that we've had to tip toe around it for so long.

[Wiserone]

And, watch tonight on his show, he will REPEATEDLY use that phrase, "Many Faces of Bennetton" over and over and to each of his guests until it looses all emphasis and what point he was trying to make.

[brooklyncitizen]

Honestly..­.white people are not there yet and Chris Matthews is symptomatic of that. I love the bit that Colbert does when he says he doesn't see color but when it comes to black or latinos or any brown person whites(and many asians) primarily see color while claiming to be "liberal".
Most whites don't notice details about the person-age, weight, personality, hair, it's ALL about skin color.

Anecdote: Until a month ago I was the only person of color at my place of work....th­en they hired a young junior staff member who is african american..­...I'm Latina....­since she began I get called by her name and mind you we look NOTHING alike and I've been there a long time..lol- I'm thin, long hair, lighter complexion, taller etc...she'­s heavily tattoed, short hair , voluptuous and we get mixed up all the time.

This happens often: whites don't "see" you unless you are a superstar celebrity or Obama...th­ey see primarily color which is why I enjoy the Colbert bit.

[mec57]

Chris put his foot in it bigtime...­it's patronizing, condescending, insulting and stupid what he said about comparing Obama's picks to Bennetton ad...

[morbie5]

White people think all Asians look the same and all black people look the same, but we don't think that all Asians and Blacks look the same, we can tell the difference between the races.

Maybe your names sound the same...

[AaronO]

The problem I have with this segment with Chris Matthews is that Joe Scarborough starts to talk about race in the end as if everything Obama does has some racial undercurrent. In reality, I think that Obama went with people who were definitely qualified while maintaining a diverse administration, not to split up the "white guys" to make the lineup look "more American." What is Joe talking about?

Ochs Nation
http://ochsnation.blogspot.com

[TwentyCharactersLong]

Joe Scarborough talks about race and wedge issues because it's the only way for him to hide that his very, very conservative beliefs(He was the 434th of all 443(because of resignations, deaths, etc.) representatives in the 107th House by the DW-NOMINATE measure) have failed us once and for all.

[mec57]

Diversity is nice, but should NOT be the only critieria used to choose his cabinet...­clearly Obama is seeing past this and going with skilled, smart, savvy choices...­their skin color is irrelevant, and must be so.

[evahartselftlanguages]

TO: Mr. Chris Matthews December 1, 2008

The only thing we have here is a wolf in sheep's clothing. True representation is representing all Americans, yet this is not the case. For examples, in San Francisco Glide Church is the only church giving a breakfast and three meals a day in whole city of San Francisco. The few other food places give lunch only. There are just a few other places for lunch but not within walking distance of inner San Francisco. One food place in very bad neighborhood and another food place does not provide restroom for poor and others. Some food places are in bad, violent neighborhoods and one does not want to go into these bad neighborhoods for food!! Time limits on Welfare programs,shorttime shelters everywhere. In Bay area they abuse the five year time limit on Welfare making it 3 months in 6 counties with a meager 20% exception if job problems and whole families taken off after five yeras is up on time limit which is so cruel and rotten! I can't mention names since I do not know specifically who and what to be honest, but providing eternal security with no time limits on Welfare will enhance America's image here and abroad not these people chosen by Sen. Barack Obama from Clinton days who put time limits on Welfare.

Eva Hart A Christian In Army from 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109 Rec job Sec of Def 64

[inwonderland]

Chris Matthews, and others of the chattering class are measuring Obama with outdated
tools.

These picks of Obama were not the faces of Benetton, but the faces of the future and the best of the past.

He picked those who can and will work with him, collaboratively, creatively and boldly. He is not looking for a pretty picture but a forceful pushback on the international view of America as bluster
and brawn.

Chris, ya gotta get this new politics right.

It is no more red states or blue. No more R or Dem. No more diversity for diversity's sake.

We elected Barack Obama, remember. Not because of the picture but because of the potential and possibility.

Move into the 21st century, Chris. Even Pennsylvania knows better than the olde stereotypes.

[mec57]

It is no more red states or blue. No more R or Dem. No more diversity for diversity's sake.


Great point...Ch­ris operates from a tired, stale white liberal place that has worn out its condescending welcome long ago.

[margardner]

On the road to diversity.­......look­ing good America! However, we need the Latinos in the house!

As far as Chris goes, folks give em a break! Morning Joe was just as much as a kiss axx to McCain.

[UltraClassic]

Senator Banana Head, kind of has a nice ring to it.

[SKayum]

Well, I didn't know what Benetton was, but I agree that this new administration is a better respresentation of America. It's still not quite there yet, but at least it doesn't look like an abercrombie ad.

[demrepub]

Matthews is a nitwit. He's a bandwagoner. He jumped on the Obama bandwagon when he realized Obama was riding the wave to the WH. If things go south, he'll jump off just as fast as he jumped on.

[MrPragmatic]

Agree. He gushed all over Bush the night that he landed on that air craft carrier proclaiming victory. But as soon as Bush's approval ratings went down, Matthews joined the other side.

[kellygrrrl]

Chris makes me laugh. I doubt that is his intention.