Question: Is Chris Matthews the Michael Scott of political talk show hosts? And if so, does that make MSNBC the Dunder Mifflin of cable news?
Remember when campaign cycles generated Hot Journalists who actually accomplished something? Who actually practiced the craft and helped change journalism for the better by providing us with a deeper understanding of unfolding campaigns, who painted vivid portraits of the players involved? For instance, the way Richard Ben Cramer famously captured the 1988 race and how Sid Blumenthal and Joe Klein left their marks on the 1992 contest?
Matthews is hot because he dumps all over Hillary Clinton, saying rude, sexist, and demeaning things about her week after week, and the Beltway media crowd thinks its edgy and insightful and loves to watch. Matthews, desperate for attention and approval, sees that media elites love his sexist shtick so he lays it on thicker and thicker. Media elites then turn around and anoint him the Hot Journalist.
Read the entire Media Matters column here.
However, I don't think that the cult surrounding him indicates a positive embrace of misogyny, although the fact that he gets away with it shows a painful lack of awareness among many white middle ages media types. Misogyny does not explain Matthews' hatred for Al Gore, for example. Rather, I think it's Matthews' pseudo populism that other elite journalists find attractive. They all like to pretend that you can live in D.C., attend dinner parties with those same politicians you are supposed to watch, and still be a critical voice for "the people." Matthews is particularly good at keeping up that pretense. And he gives others an excuse to simply spout opinions, rather than going out and doing real investigative journalism. That's why they like to show him up as an example of acceptable, and "hip" journalism.
As if these guys had the first idea what is cool or hip. Just watch how Jon Steward tore Matthews to pieces on the Daily Show.
I say, right on Hillary. The bitchier you get, the more this bitchy white woman likes you and am inclined to vote for you. And you know what? I bet the same is true about a bunch of those misogynist men. I bet a bunch of 'em whine and whimper and shuffle crosslegged all the way into the voting booth and then at the last second tear one hand away from their crotch and pull the Clinton lever because they get a vision of you dealing with that mondo-misogynist troublemaker Osama bin Laden.
What's the old saying, "He might be a bad dog, but he's OUR bad dog"?
Substitute the right "b"'s , and you got a great subterranean campaign slogan, Hillary. Take it, I give it to you, no charge, courtesy of HuffPo Blogosphere.
But, why does she have to be?
By the looks of the likes of men we elect to high office (what, 9 to 1 over women? more?), those qualities might be nice, but not necessary. And, sometimes, (take former Democratic Presidential Candidate John "The Face" Edwards), being personally attractive and charming can be a detriment for a male candidate.
Hey, HERE's an idea!!!!! Why don't more women, especially MSM women reporters, start ragging on the personal hotness quotient of the COUNTLESS male elected officials who are ... well ... shall we say ... less than studly.
And they can start with Dick "The Mug" Cheney.