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For Chris Matthews, misogyny pays

Posted April 17, 2008 | 08:01 AM (EST)

Read More: Breaking Media News, Chris Matthews, Colbert Report, Daily Show, David Gregory, Hardball, Hillary Clinton, Keith Olbermann, Media Criticism, Mike Barnicle, Misogyny, Msnbc, Neil Cavuto, New York Times, Richard Ben Cramer, Sid Blumenthal, Tucker Carlson, Breaking Media News

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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.

 

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collapse Petey See Profile I'm a Fan of Petey

Who's moderating the comments for this piece? And why are you excluding dissenting voices? At least you chose not to publish my argument that Boehlert (and others) conflate misogyny with any gender-related reference. They are not the same thing!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:58 PM on 04/17/2008
collapse LittleBrother See Profile I'm a Fan of LittleBrother

I don't know the answer, Petey, but we both might have had the bad luck to be subjected to a particularly squeamish censor-- er, moderator. I posted a critical comment about Matthews containing elements that have been published many times before in other venues, and it was zapped too. Apparently, in the mind of the moderator, it fell afoul of some rule. It's always a crapshoot.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:40 PM on 04/17/2008
collapse DasBoot See Profile I'm a Fan of DasBoot

I hate Matthews. He is rude to all his guests, and he comes on to his more attractive female guests in the most embarrassing ways. The sad thing is that he probably thinks he is smooth. The moment when he made Erin Burnett move closer to the camera because he wanted to take a closer look at her must be in everybody's top ten list of worst TV moments ever.

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.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:32 PM on 04/17/2008
collapse MizJ See Profile I'm a Fan of MizJ

The press is busy cleaning up the poor performance of their preferred candidate Obama that few are bothering to mention Hillary's outstanding knowledge of the issues. Again, excuses made for one but when she tripped a little in the SC debate that demanded she get out now. Again, double standard. And if he cannot take the traps being set for him in a primary debate how well is he expected to hold his own in the general where the long knives will he out. She at least can dish it as well as take it so it seems.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:06 PM on 04/17/2008
collapse hopeless277 See Profile I'm a Fan of hopeless277

Chris Matthews is a joke. Anyone who thinks differently is either not paying attention or gets paid by MSNBC.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:14 AM on 04/17/2008
collapse luziannagirl See Profile I'm a Fan of luziannagirl

Oh, yeah, and if men don't like Hillary "talking down [to them] as if scolding a child", then perhaps so many of them should stop acting like children. But, of course, then, one runs into the problem of so many of them not comprehending adult vocabulary.

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.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:27 AM on 04/17/2008
collapse efranklin See Profile I'm a Fan of efranklin

With supporters like you, who needs guys like Mark Penn and Howard Wolfson to drive the Clinton campaign farther into the ditch?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:56 PM on 04/17/2008
collapse RedBirdy See Profile I'm a Fan of RedBirdy

I think the debate was toxic and disgusting. But I also believe if Obama did better and didn't stumble so much, no one, including Matthews and HuffPo would have been so hot and bothered. Matthews is so brash and harsh and ridiculous in his attacks on Clinton. I want a reporter that I have to guess or wonder where he/she stands. I used to love MSNBC, but I think I need a break until after the november election.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:19 AM on 04/17/2008
collapse luziannagirl See Profile I'm a Fan of luziannagirl

It's true, Hillary is not the most charismatic, personally attractive, and charming candidate, at least on camera. I'm not man, but I get that to many if not most men, she's not exactly "hot".

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.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:08 AM on 04/17/2008
collapse Countess See Profile I'm a Fan of Countess

When you have a candidate male or female who's entire campaign looks like an audition for a new Jerry Springer show as Hillary's campaign has been it is hard for intelligent people to just sit back and act as if nothing ugly is happening.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:03 AM on 04/17/2008
collapse Mrrar See Profile I'm a Fan of Mrrar

Boy i sure get tired of liberals bashing MSNBC because they have hillary-love. Thanks a lot guys, really helping the cause :)

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:46 AM on 04/17/2008
collapse Shantee See Profile I'm a Fan of Shantee

Media Matters should be going after main stream media elitists like George Stepanopoulis and Charlie Gibson. The debate last night was a sham...tabloid journalistm at its worst. The real elitists is mainstream media....

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:38 AM on 04/17/2008
collapse Gibbons See Profile I'm a Fan of Gibbons

Obama was asked the first real questions in his short career and he fumbled them. In all past debates Clinton always got the first question and Obama's answer seemed to always say "I agree with senator Clinton except". Did he expect to go to the white house without having to explain his private life? This is the first debate since the Reverend Wright speech was made public. Even his number one fan Tim Russert thinks he is toast.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:16 AM on 04/17/2008
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Breaking Media News, Chris Matthews, Colbert Report, Daily Show, David Gregory, Hardball, Hillary Clinton, Keith Olbermann, Media Criticism, Mike Barnicle, Misogyny, Msnbc, Neil Cavuto, New York Times, Richard Ben Cramer, Sid Blumenthal, Tucker Carlson
 

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