"The people I work with–all my bosses–seem to be for Hillary. I just sense it. They don't actually say it, but there's no sense from the top I can tell you that it's pro-Obama.. by any means. That's not what I get. And it was basically pro-war during the war.. the bosses were. And I was up against that." [FBDC, earlier]
"But the other thing is, I mean, one of the things is Sean Hannity, terrific personality, and I think a valued part of Fox News, Bill O'Reilly. But, you know, Fox News doesn't have them anchor our evening news coverage. I mean, they know that they are people with sharp political opinions, and so they have people like Brit Hume and, I'm proud to say myself, doing the straight news coverage and then we go for commentary from people like Hannity and O'Reilly. But, yet, there's, there's Keith Olbermann, you know, one minute delivering a rant about "Shut the hell up, President Bush," and then the next minute he's the anchor of their news coverage or their election coverage." [Newsbusters]
Thanks to the lovely Google Cache, a blog's since-pulled offline report about Chris Matthews' revelation and Tucker Carlson's confirmation, during a Portfolio photo shoot at MSNBC's D.C. studio, that Arianna Huffington had hired a private investigator to tail a NBC colleague (since identified as Tim Russert) can still be read. [Google Cache]
As it the censored item now reads: "The original author of this post and the editor of this blog would like to sincerely apologize to Conde Nast, Portfolio, Chris Matthews, Tucker Carlson and the photographer on set for any problems or inconvenience we might have caused. We had no intention to bring harm to anybody involved."
Except, well, too late? The blogger, Douglas Thompson, has officially screwed over his friend, the photographer, who he tagged along with. No more Conde Nast work for you, buddy.
Chris Matthews, who in the past 18 months has gone from MSNBC's golden brand boy to its whipping post, has earned his latest reputation as a woman-hater by criticizing Hillary Clinton with every free programming minute.
But how did we get from a guy who was once a Swaziland Peace Corps. volunteer and D.C. policeman – yep – to an election talking point?
Let's visit with Hendrik Hertzberg, who edited Matthews when he filed a few pieces for The New Republic: "In that perch, he was one of the half-dozen most important opposition voices during those years, translating ameliorative liberalism into the lunch-bucket political language he calls “American” (and introducing O’Neill to a new world in which television, not afternoon newspapers, ruled the hours after lunchtime). The next thing I knew, he was a TV star." CONTINUED »
David Shuster will definitely continue manning MSNBC's 4pm hour, a NBC source confirms to us, but that doesn't mean he'll quit what he's good at: primetime reporting. He'll continue filing reports for the NBC Nightly News and appearing on-air during MSNBC dayside, pulling double duty with the new role. But don't expect Shuster's hour block to be branded around him; we're told it'll remain the nondescript "MSNBC News Live," a la Andrea Mitchell's 1pm hour.
So why will Shuster be filling in at 4pm? For one, it's likely to save cash. While Shuster may get a small bump in pay for hosting the hour, it also means MSNBC doesn't have to shell out for another anchor's entire salary. (Just another example of 30 Rock filling MSNBC jobs with NBC News talent.) And also: Chris Matthews has been complaining about the lead-in numbers for his 5pm Hardball. CONTINUED »
WIDSOM Chris Matthews advice on the workforce to Montgomery County Community College's Class of 2008 gradutes: "There’s a false assumption that some people have that talent will be recognized. When a job opens up, whether it’s on the chorus line or the assembly line, they’ll go to the person who’s there." [Philly Burbs]
Swing Vote, a film with a premise (one man will determine the presidential election's outcome) so mathematically unlikely, it's almost worth seeing, doesn't just feature Kevin Costner as the fella that's going to singlehandedly determine who controls the free world, or Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper as dueling presidential candidates, or Nathan Lane and Stanley Tucci as political operatives.
It also features Chris Matthews, the Hardball host. [NYO] He's reporting the news: "A single irregular ballot is holding up a final decision for the American presidency. One American citizen will effectively choose the next president of the United States."
Luckily, that one American citizen is not a woman, or the coverage would be less kind.
Trailer below. CONTINUED »
With all our talk about Chris Matthews losing his job to David Gregory when the 5pm anchor's $2m/year contract is up next year (if Phil Griffin has his way), one might think Matthews' current band of merry crew members might be worried about losing their jobs.
Not the case, says one insider. CONTINUED »
Last night, Chris Matthews got about two and a half minutes into this interview with radio host Kevin James about President Bush attacking the Democrats before the conversation turned into a shouting match about Hitler sympathizer and cohort Neville Chamberlain. One might have expected exec producer John Reiss to pull the plug and have Matthews wrap it up, but the fella is smart: These segments are ratings and YouTube gold. (This clip is at 114,000 views and counting.)
So what's so interesting about this video clip of Chris Matthews talking to Hillary Clinton's campaign chair Terry McAuliffe during last night's West Virgina primary coverage?
Not that Matthews exhibits confidence in his own opinion, but that his hair has suddenly returned to its blonde hue after spending a few days in the red zone.
STATING THE OBVIOUS On today's Morning Joe, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe described Chris Matthews in this way: "Barack Obama’s campaign chairman." [Halperin]
We've said it before and we'll say it again.
"Can I weigh in on this cause I'm the moderator? You get up in DC at 6 o'clock in the morning, you know who's waiting to catch the bus to go to work? Black people! They're up earlier than anyone else going to work for longer hours." [Video @ HuffPo]
One thing we missed while cringing at Chris Matthews last night: fella has a new 'do. [HP] Or at least a new hair color. This is interesting because it reminds us of somebody else at MSNBC. Somebody else who Chris Matthews is said not to get along with. CONTINUED »
Is Chris Matthews, officially, a tool? Despite that back room reports we've issued, we have a general liking for the fellow. But seeing him on last night's show try to battle Howard Wolfson on including Puerto Rico's Democratic delegates in Hillary Clinton's delegate count, when the Democratic party has chosen to give the island a say in choosing the party's nominee, doesn't just strike us as overzealous Obamamania, but illegitimate logic. And people like that shouldn't have a platform.
(If you listen carefully, Matthews crosses over from counting PR's votes toward the popular vote to PR's primary delegate votes, which decide whether she'll be the party's nominee. Whether he can't follow his own train of thought, or forgot the difference between the two, is for you to judge.)
[Video: The Page]
Perhaps the most aggressive argument yet that Chris Matthews wants to run for the Senate: "The indications that Matthews will run are abundant. His MSNBC contract runs out next summer, and both he and the network show signs they might be ready for a break from each other. In addition, journalists are reporting that Matthews has been seeking advice privately from key Democrats across the state about his chances against Specter. Reportedly these contacts have included discussion with Governor Rendell concerning campaign resources. Publicly Matthews has done little to disguise his interest in the race. Asked if he was running on a recent Colbert cable show, Matthews said this: 'Did you ever want to be something your whole life…? When you grow up, some kids want to be a fireman. I want to be a Senator….There's a difference between being a celebrity and working for the people. And it's a greater thing to work for the people than being on television.'" [RCP]
Chris Matthews, speaking at a Institute of Politics conference about whether MSNBC tacitly support Obama: "Well, it's not official." (LAUGH) "Well, I don't think Joe Scarborough has. And I don't think Tucker Carlson did. And Keith does his thing. He does his thing–it's something and it's very successful. I do my thing. I don't think that's true. I think… my sense is that everybody that lives in New York is for Hillary. The people I work with–all my bosses–seem to be for Hillary. I just sense it. They don't actually say it, but there's no sense from the top I can tell you that it's pro-Obama.. by any means. That's not what I get. And it was basically pro-war during the war.. the bosses were. And I was up against that. And if there's anybody telling me to push Obama, I haven't heard it yet. And by the way, they're so fickle…. but there seems to be a New York thing about Hillary. Just the people from… it's like the Yankees and the Mets… it's their thing. You know? It's Hillary. You know? And I feel it. I find it. It's hard to figure sometimes. But I don't know who you are talking about. I know who you are talking about." [Calderone]
IDLE THOUGHTS Maybe that speculation about Chris Matthews trying to become a U.S. senator has to do with his job prospects at MSNBC running lower than usual?
JOSSIP REPORTS
There's a big reason why MSNBC would like to quiet any knowledge of David Gregory's off-camera behavior and sluggish ratings. David Gregory, you see, is supposed to be the next Chris Matthews.
Oh, did we say next?
We meant he's supposed to replace Chris Matthews.
Promise not to tell? CONTINUED »
Yep, Hillary won Pennsylvania last night, keeping the drawn out Democratic nomination still alive, and giving Drudge reason to use red fonts. You see, four of five Hillary Clinton voters believe she is still in the running — and that's a mistake the media made, Chris Matthews opined last night.
"I think in the effort of the media to keep this game going, we've created the dilusion that somehow this race is still open. I don't think it is open. I think if you look at the numbers, Barack has to really blow it in the weeks ahead."
All of which may be true. But it certainly sounds like someone is bitter about having to tone down his Obama fervor.
Editorial Director
