Jon Stewart Puts Chris Matthews Through "A Book Interview From Hell"

One of my pet peeves in the buddy-buddy world of cable (and, hell, network) news is the boys-in-blue-suits propping up boys-in-blue-suits shill-parade that happens seemingly every time a TV newsman (or, perhaps, his ghostwriter) writes a book about, say, how great men fought wars in decades past, or how America is really nifty. Instantly, all his pundit pals and anchor buds bring him on to plug his tome.

Like late night talk show hosts who mindlessly promote some actor's latest craptacular flick or some It-girl's latest photo spread for some cosmetics megacorp, these media-men-hyping-media-men interviews are always softballs, with the guy selling the book being told on-air by a collegial show host how important and insightful he and his pages are, regardless of whether or not the book would stand on its own literary merits if its author didn't work for, say, NBC or ABC... granting an instant Amazon spike.

Which is why I laughed out loud while watching Jon Stewart voice his distaste for NBC's and MSNBC's Chris Matthews' new book, Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success on The Daily Show last night. Stewart read the book, and found it to be a catalog of "artifice." The comedian challenged Matthews' position that "everything in life" is a campaign "to sell products" and get ahead via packaging yourself, just like politicians do -- that life is one massive PR campaign in which you get ahead by pretending to listen, and by saying whatever people want to hear, even if you're lying. The reason he disagreed, Stewart said, is that campaigns are about slick packaging and not truth, and that Matthews' readers will find "nothing in this book about 'be good, be competent." Matthews was unconcerned. Why should he give advice about living a good or competent life, he asked, when "It's called The Bible. It's been written."

Definitely check out the video below (if YouTube is forced to take it down, the just go to The Daily Show website), reminiscent of Stewart's infamous Crossfire appearance. My favorite (read: most contradictory to the knee-jerk, sausage parade hawking that usually happens when someone like Matthews goes on a PR tour to sell a book) snippets are the following exchanges:

Chris Matthews: You're trashing my book.

Jon Stewart: I'm not trashing your book, I'm trashing your philosophy of life.

and

Chris Matthews: You are unbelievable! This is the worst! This is a book interview from Hell! This is the worst interview I have ever had in my life! This is the worst! You are the worst! I thought you were so big - I thought you were so big you weren't afraid of me. You're so big, and you're afraid of this book. This book scares you. There's something in here that you fear.

Jon Stewart: There is something in there that I fear. Like fascism. I fear fascism!

What's your favorite part of this video? Thoughts? To post your feedback, to read more, or for a link to Stewart's Crossfire appearance, continue reading here.

This post originally appeared at WIMN's Voices: A Group Blog on Women and the Media , a project of Women In Media & News, the national women's media analysis, education and advocacy group. To bring Jennifer L. Pozner to speak to your campus or community group, or to send WIMN blog tips, email info [at] wimnonline [dot] org. To subscribe to WIMN's free media alert list, see the Action Center at http://www.wimnonline.org/action/.

Comments

[sdod]

Matthews Promotes Psychopathy

Stewart was far too nice to Chris. He should have exposed him for the pathocratic stooge that he is.

If you want your kids to grow up like the Clintons, then you are seriously warped and need a long look in the mirror.

This is social engineering at its most obscene. Jon should continue on this theme, as we need to be slapped across the face with this reality until we wake-up with utter disgust.

From Robert Hare's Web Site (www.hare.org) devoted to the study of Psychopathy....

"Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret. Their bewildered victims desperately ask, 'Who are these people?'"

We often think of psychopaths as the disturbed criminals who capture headlines and crowd the nation's prisons. But not all psychopaths are killers. They are more likely to be men and women you know who move through life with supreme self-confidence -- but without a conscience.

[AndreaSue]

I had a sort of disagreement with my father about this episode of the Daily Show; he said he admired Jon Stewart for insulting Matthews and his book but I really didn't see it as insults. He was basically saying "This is what I got from your book and what other readers may get as well, that it's about image, ego, and that it's trite; here's a chance to refute that for your readers." That's like what I thought he was saying. He was giving Matthews a chance to refute the idea that his book was about being soulless. I really didn't think he was insulting him.

[accountability]

well it is gone and it isn't up on comedy central yet.

[Star123]

I watch Chris every nite and Jon almost every nite (on later even in reruns). Chris is in love with himself...and yes, he is trying to take Hillary down...talks about some swell of hate against her heaving out of the sea or some weird thing. He also said in Newsweek he was impressed by her, but not inspired. He mocks her cackle...he should talk with that donkey bark! What is he--the king maker or queen maker? Anyway, Stewart was doing what Chris says he does-surprises the truth out people. Chris looked like a hurt kid. He had his wife interview him on the book, which was sorta ick-making "(Just like at the dining room table," he burst out...She had an unreadable look, probably also just like at the dining room table.) Anyhow, it was kind of fun to see Chris flustered. I could have lived without the "fascist" reference, which was unneeded and inexplicable, but it was an interesting matchup.

[dotmafia]

I can't find this video anywhere to watch -- what gives? I thought suppression of information only happened in fascist states? Oh wait, I forgot that America IS a fascist state.
_

[Kundera]

So why was he invited on the show?
Don't invite him if you're going to insult him.

Real class.

[Unsean]

You clearly didn't see the show, because if you did you would realize that Jon Stewart never insulted Chris Matthews during the interview (not that Chris didn't deserve it).

[THISTLE]

Matthews is a blowheard, an idiot, this guy
falls all over his own words, and he attacks
Hillary non-stop, it borders on being sick.
Matthews desperately wants to be a celebrity,
that is painfully clear. I am surprised Jon
Stewart had this idiot on his show. But Jon
mopped the floor with Matthews and showed him
for what he really is - a guy with the lowest
rated show on a cable outlet - that would be
Matthews, who has no clue as to how pathetic
he really is...

[JacktheBlogger]

Haaa! The whole thing was hilarious. Chris Matthews, who has made cutting off people in mid-sentence an art form, got punk'd! I am surprised that he did not stop to ask Jon Stewart, "Are we live? You're kidding me, right?"

But then the man does have an EGO. Apparently, at the Hardball 10th anniversary party last night, Chris was heard crowing that he bested Stewart in their little tete-a-tete on the Daily Show.

Stay tuned, you're watching SpinBall...

[Alvin4NY]

Before last night, I never knew Chris had such a donkey laugh. Hilarious. Jon Stewart at his best.

[in4success]

of course, the ultimate finale' was the lead-in to the following night's daily show. priceless. i actually thought stewart was preparing to apologize. simply priceless.

i can not, nevertheless, pass on giving matthews a huge sack award for calling out cheney's office for attempting to pressure MSNBC brass --- perhaps, he's learned something here? like: the truth shall set you free?

[TWM]

"Too bad the "real news" guys don't even come close. In fact, next to these two, they are pathetic."

Well, at least you realize Stewart isn't a REAL news guy. Most liberals don't.

[knerd]

TWM, Stewart isn't "real" like O'Reilly and Rather anyway.

[PD]

Chris Matthews epitomizes the kind of sychophant who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Jon Stewart is brilliant and brave. Talk about speaking truth to assholes.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Jon Stewart : When he is on his game, he's the smartest interviewer on TV, with the possible exception of Stephen Colbert.

Too bad the "real news" guys don't even come close. In fact, next to these two, they are pathetic.

[bayman]

Matthews is a blowhard. He was for the war when it was popular, then jumped ship when it became unpopular. He voted for Bush in 2000. Remember when he said Bush would be put up on Mt. Rushmore if the war was a success?

He loves to beat up on the weak, but then gets weak-kneed whenever dealing with one of his 'man crush' idols (McCain, Giuliani, Schwarzene­gger...eve­n Tom 'Indicted' Delay. And now he's resorted to fawning and drooling whenever an attractive woman is on as a guest. Even some non-attractive ones, too...like Laura Ingraham.

Despite what he says in his book, Matthews himself never listens....how often has he interrupted a guests answer to shout out his own drivel before the guest has a chance to convey the desired point?

[1differentdrummer]

Bush on Mt. Rushmore? Great idea! Let's send him up there now.

[ProgressivePartisan]

You've nailed it, bayman! I mean NAILED IT!!!
("... like Laura Ingraham" - Priceless! LOL)

[realistic2008]

How accurate you portrait Matthews. I would add that when he had his wife interview? him he talked like it was the first time he met her and was trying desperately to impress her by telling her how great he is, what she did not ask nor he mentioned is that he is impolite, often grotesque for the sole purposed of let peole know how much he knows.
In the beggining of the insane invasion of Iraq he was all for it, now that just about evrything is lost he represents himself as a concerned and pragmatic patriot who has all the answers.
If there is a flip flaper he is unquestionably a leader, therefore someone that can't be trusted because of his lack of integrity which I am sure he has not addressed in his book.

[Lazslo]

This was an interesting bit of TeeVee. I especially liked the look on Chris's face expressing surprised realization that the whole interview was going to go that way with Jon. Chris and Jon definitely have different M.O.'s and that was entertainingly illustrated in the interview, in a civil manner. Chris shouldn't be upset over the interview, as the media coverage on the interview will surely help book sales (certainly much more so than Chris ironing decals on linen the way Martha Stewart had him do this week). I hope Jon goes on Hardball next week, but me thinks the prospect of that is too intimidating to Jon. He'd be too far out of his element. But let's hope. Last, may I say, nice use of the words 'craptacular' and 'sausage parade', Jennifer. (What the heck is a sausage parade?) Your posts are a delight.

[Charidan]

"...but me thinks the prospect of that is too intimidating to Jon.He' be too far out of his element."
I find this statement strange and tells me Lazslo is not too familiar with Jon Stewart. He dismantled Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala on "Crossfire" Carlson's and Begala's own show, on their own turf, on their home station CNN. Thinking hard, I can't name a single person who I think can intimidate Jon Stewart. One of the most telling part of the interview was when Matthews asked Stewart if he wants to be a success and incredulous, Jon answered "I am a success!" Too late Matthews realized that he was in front of a younger, richer, more successful media person than he was, is or ever will be.

[Lazslo]

I saw that Crossfire episode. We'll see if Jon goes on Hardball. If he doesn't, it doesn't necessarily mean he's intimidated, but being a guest on Hardball can be intimidating. I hope he does do a guest stint on the show. On another note, I am shocked to read the many people's slanderous and insulting regard towards Chris Matthews. It's shocking. You'd think Chris did something horrific to them personally which caused such rage. Maybe this chummy thing Chris does with his guests (on both sides of the isle) is appropriate.

[Alvin4NY]

I wish Jon would moderate one or all of the Presidential debates. He is very informed, and seems to have a better grip on what is happening than most would realize.

[protagonia]

What Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson have in common?

Job Stewart actually changed the paths of their careers.

Substantially so.