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

[MrPragmatic]

Hmmm in order for Matthews analogy to work there needed to be at least one Hispanic and a gay person up there. Well, come to think of the latter, the governor of Arizona was there, which is great as we love Janet in AZ!

[NABNYC]

It was a funny line. Kind of. Of course it should be commonplace to have women standing in 1/2 of the leadership positions in all areas of our country -- government, private, industry, academia -- and the only reason that women are so grossly underrepresented in those positions is bigotry, policies of exclusion which serve to continue the dominance of white men. I'm glad to see Obama bringing women into his administration in top positions, and hope he continues those policies throughout his term. I would like even more to see others follow the example. This could be the start of a truly radical restructuring of our society in which we don't just give lip service to the idea of equality, we actually do something about it.

[PitBull6]

That's a nice sentiment but not realistic. You cannot manufacture diversity. Women are underrepresented in some areas and overrepresented in others and I would think little of it has to do with bigotry (and what there is, is probably equal in terms of favoring and hindering women)

[Querent]

Bull, bull.

[FarRightDemocrat]

"Women are underrepresented in some areas and overrepresented in others and I would think little of it has to do with bigotry (and what there is, is probably equal in terms of favoring and hindering women)" ???
Wow. Wow. Bad dog. Bad.

[magen]

Wasn't that an advertising campaign from the early to mid-eighties??

United Colors of Benetton?

How quaintly and provincially out of touch.

Typical highly paid pundit.

Miss Cr@P-USE needs to get out more.

[PazPraSempre]

i was born in the mid-80s, and i remember seeing ads in the late 90s, possible early 2000s. Besides, most people know what you mean when you say Benetton. It's a pop culture reference.

[demfriend]

Chis Matthews making a show out of himself is gettig old and his chatter sounds kid of remind me of a another diva Palin. He has been trying to not show his interest in the run for Senate and he has failed to argue with any sense to it and now he is making idiot type speech the common theme to keep himself in the news. He should remember he still has a job and to make news isn't his job.

[provgrays]

That ancient ad compaign was known for its arrogance and cloying political correctness. I think Mr. Matthews feels his white privilege slipping away.

[Midnightrain]

I agree. His comment seemed a bit patronizing. I mean really, what was the purpose of stating the obvious using outdated words like 'diversity' and 'colors of Benetton" ?

[RODERICK098]

What was arrogant about the ADS. tHEEY WERE WONDERFUL.­You have to be a neocon

[provgrays]

I'm not a Neocon. Just a guy with a small modicum of taste.

[provgrays]

I disagree with you, so I have to be a Neocon?

Did you work on that old ad campaign? One ad showed a man dying in the last stages of AIDS. How insensitive was that? The ad was not done out of compassion, but to shock and create controversy under the banner of compassion.

As for Matthews, his comment was all about skin color and not the merit of the people being chosen by Obama.

[MrPragmatic]

"Matthews feels his white prvilege slipping away" Huh? How do you get there from here?

[FarRightDemocrat]

Maybe from his use of "normal people", "regular people" and "white people" as synonyms. Just a guess.
FarRightDemocrat.blogspot.com

[levibatgirl]

Morning joe is feeling disenfranchised again.

Poor baby.

[rageagainstmachine]

I know, right? Let me break out my hankerchief for the poor white male. Cry me a river Joe.
LOL.

[Grandmama]

He's bad, but MIKA is just about as annoying as anyone I've ever seen on TV.

[kellygrrrl]

MorningHo should just count his blessings that he even has a job. The guy is useless!

[UltraClassic]

Obviously, most viewers feel otherwise.

[twiggy2writes]

well it is about time america be represented as diverse as she is . i would also like to see other ethnic groups, chinese, indian, all people all colors - the world is no longer just white and the other people - the other people are finally having their contributation to the world recognized. thank God for representation of it's beautiful array of color, strength, intelligence, and unity. together we stand divided we fall. yes, barak obama is the man for change! God bless this country, and the choices made on her behalf!

[sdas]

There are lots of people who aren't white who are going to play a huge role in his administration. However, you only read about them in ethnic community newspapers. The mainstream media is focused on who he appoints to his Cabinet.

[NunuDudu]

Look... I don't care if the cabinet is filled with blue aliens with hermaphroditic genitalia. I just want them to be good at their jobs. Lets focus on that.

[RODERICK098]

If they were blue Aliens the RETHUGS would focus on that and not the fact that the Blue Aliens saved the nation. THe media would parrot the REthugs. THat is why this country is in big trouble

[demetra]

Amen NunuDudu

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

That's not a bad idea. If the cabinet all had hermaphroditic genitalia then they could do themselves, instead of us.

[libbygirl]

I love his passion and enthusiasm for what he does.....w­hat you see is what you get. Just enjoy it or change the channel.

[RonNYC]

i have always loved chris. i don't care what some people say about him.
he is smart and funny. and if you can't take it, too bad.

[lissak]

I enjoy Chis because of his school boy enthusiasm. He just loves and he seems to have a great love of country.

[lissak]

meant to say Chris loves politics.

[FarRightDemocrat]

He really says some silly things.

[anopenmind]

Chris cracks me up!! Colors of Benetton, No Chris its Colors of America!!

One thing is for sure President-elect Obama will have several Intelligent, Strong-minded Women in his Administration!

And What does the Republicans have to offer as far as Diversity, Bobby Jindal and maybe one or two African-Americans and as far as women just one empty-headed ignorant spokes-model Palin (really that's all she is). It's sad!

[Roma6888]

I wish to see ONE, At least one Hispanic American there. They voted for Obama overwhelmenly, Where is the beef for these people?

The United Color of Benetton in the Obama future Administration is missign its more imporant and CRITICAL link. Hispanics.

[strangerinthenight]

What happen to Bill Richardson. Is he not Hispanic. ?

[jcg007]

Bill Richardson?

[msemper]

Don't worry Bill Richardson is coming

[Querent]

No, I think he's just breathing hard.

[firewmn]

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) will be named secretary of Commerce, subject to final vetting... Nov. 23, 2008

maybe we should watch & see or you should try goggling more..

[genia]

You should be proud of Richardson, everyone loves the guy. !!
BUT....... you'd like to see hispanic Americans in there.....­well then....Hi­spanic Americans need to be qualified.
Can't just start putting folks in to please ..... hispanics, asians, muslims...­.etc

[blaqntelligence]

Chris Matthews has done a lot to pique my interest in politics.
As several posters stated, his enthusiasm is genuine, he is not pc and will call a guest on their BS.
I love to see his excitement. it beats the heck out of the barking heads (love that term, forget where I heard it) too jaded to do more than make snarky comments because they can't get the drop on Obama and his decisions.

[gracewithease]

And now we are calling him on his bullshit.

If your only other reference of the beautiful diversity this country has to offer is a sweater ad- you've got a problem and a lot to learn.

[gracewithease]

Chris MAthews must have a more segregated home and place of spiritual than mine.
It looks like the United States to me, representative of the people at my table for holiday dinners.
Chris Mathews saying it's "Benetton" like, makes him sound as if diversity is something he is only familiar with via a sweater ad. That comment makes him sound like the kind of racist who doesn't know he is a racist.

[genia]

O please

[niblik]

C'mon, enough with the whole "racist" thing.

It's been over-used so much in policial discussions and political-­correctnes­s that its only meant as a tool to frighten others.

In other words, "Do what I want or I will call you a racist." Its time to move past that...

[TrueThis]

I love to watch Chris Matthews on Hardball, you never know what you're going to get on his show but as a true watcher this man only want this country to come together as one. He's watching to see if Obama has a blend of all nationalities on his staff, working together as American. So, Chris go there, there because he knows that others are too afraid to talk about races.

[trebo12]

I agree with you. I see in Chris a person who LOVES his country and wants more than anything for this country to be pulled together. He is a huge history enthusiast and I think he, along with the late, great Tim Russert, love and get excited about politics and love America. Chris is very visual and very blunt in his observances and as others have said, is not afraid to say it. As an African American, I admire that about Chris.