Media Matters on Matthews, Hillary today: "Chris, Mika is very upset. Chris, we'll be right back."

Media Matters for America: After vowing not to underestimate Clinton, Matthews asserted, "(T)he reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around"

During MSNBC's coverage of the January 8 New Hampshire Democratic primary, Chris Matthews -- host of MSNBC's "Hardball" -- discussed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) victory and said, "I've seen her now address large crowds in the last couple of days -- thousands of people -- under tremendous stress when it looked like she was losing this primary campaign, based upon all the polling. And she stood out there for several hours at a time taking every question." Matthews went on to say, "I give her a lot of personal credit. I will never underestimate Hillary Clinton again." But as media critic and blogger Greg Sargent noted, during an appearance on the January 9 edition of MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Matthews said of Clinton, "Let's not forget -- and I'll be brutal -- the reason she's a U.S. senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around. That's how she got to be senator from New York. We keep forgetting it. She didn't win there on her merits. She won because everybody felt, 'My God, this woman stood up under humiliation,' right? That's what happened."

During MSNBC's January 8 primary coverage, Air America host Rachel Maddow said, "I will tell you that on the influential -- influential perhaps on the left -- website Talking Points Memo today, you want to know who they're blaming for women voters breaking for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama? Who they're blaming for this late showing in a big vote for Hillary Clinton? They're blaming Chris Matthews. People are citing specifically Chris not only for his own views, but also for as a symbol of what the mainstream media has done to Hillary Clinton." After Matthews responded, "My influence in American politics looms over the people. I'm overwhelmed myself," Maddow said, "People feel that the media is piling on Hillary Clinton. They're coming to her defense with their votes." Media Matters for America has written numerous items documenting Matthews' attacks on Clinton, and published a study in December examining every evaluative remark Matthews made about Sen. Clinton or former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani during a three-month period. Media Matters found that, notwithstanding his claim that he had been "just as tough on Bill Clinton and Hillary and Rudy and the whole bunch of them," Matthews was particularly friendly to Giuliani and very hostile toward Clinton.

From the January 9 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:

MATTHEWS: She's on game now. As I said, I'm not sure she had anything to do with her number last night, except that she was courageous as hell to the end, and her numbers were better than she thought.

MIKA BRZEZINSKI (co-host): Do you think, though -- and Joe's been talking about this, and his mom sent a really interesting email -- that there was a turn maybe at the last minute for some voters, given the really sharp twist in the media in terms of how they went negative?

MATTHEWS: It's not in the polling. I'm just saying it's not in the polling data.

BRZEZINSKI: I know. But, I mean, that's my point. Because people went to the polls throughout the day and maybe changed their mind and maybe were turned off by what they saw, by these nasty headlines.

MATTHEWS: Well, I don't know if they all read the New York Post, but --

BRZEZINSKI: And taking after her for crying.

MATTHEWS: Look, I think that may be true. I think the Hillary appeal has always been somewhat about her mix of toughness and sympathy for her. Let's not forget -- and I'll be brutal -- the reason she's a U.S. senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around. That's how she got to be senator from New York. We keep forgetting it.

She didn't win there on her merits. She won because everybody felt, "My God, this woman stood up under humiliation," right? That's what happened. That's how it happened. In 1998 she went to New York and campaigned for Chuck Schumer as almost like the grieving widow of absurdity, and she did it so well and courageously, but it was about the humiliation of Bill Clinton.

BRZEZINSKI: No, OK, well, you could take it a step back and say that she put Bill Clinton where he is and that he messed around, and then she was humiliated and people felt sorry for her.

MATTHEWS: That is Old Testament stuff.

BRZEZINSKI: Because she does have more than being a victim.

MATTHEWS: I agree.

BRZEZINSKI: SHE HAS MORE TO HER THAN BEING A VICTIM. (Note: Capitalization is mine. DMM)

MATTHEWS: Why do you hit me? Hit him, don't hit me.

JOE SCARBOROUGH (host): Mika is very upset. Chris, we'll be right back.

MATTHEWS: I'm sticking to my story....

http://mediamatters.org/items/200801090008?f=h_latest

in some way that doesn't violate the First Amendment. If Hillary wins the White House, I can see her taking some personal glee in his career demise.

What would happen if all the democrats refused to go on his show....

You guys call him Tweety and deride,etc. BUT the guy is bright, powerful, and has TWO shows on Television..Boycott? Politicians? Not a chance.

I sent an email to Abrams citing that and a few more. He's a sickie and he won't stop until management gets after him, in fact, I'd like him to get the same treatment as Imus.

people are voting for her is because Tweety is being "mean".

I am in hell. Only in America could this be happening.

Edited to add: Yes, he is an ass. He wiped out Al Gore and will continue to wipe out fine politicans. And I do agree he needs to be OFF the air.

We Clinton folks are going to ride his hate and the hate of his ilk, on the far left and far right, all the way to the White House...

It's fantastic...

Certainly won't get there on ideas and leadership.

I like Tweety, but he does seem to have something personal against Clinton...or maybe it's against female politicians in general.

on the air...( He was Washington Bureau Chief for the S.F. Examiner at the time and was a regular on MacNeil/Lehrer,Cross-Fire, and CNN)I saw him at a Philly event in February 1993, between Clinton's Inaugural and his 1st State of the Union Address, and he was ebullient and glowing in his praise. He held out hope that Clinton could effect "Real Change" to Gridlocked D.C.

and wasn't chosen -- and that's why he's so anti-Clinton. I don't know anything about it; have just seen that posted here.

was a mistake,since George Steph didn't even make it past transition time and DeeDee Meyers was so awful. Recall how they "started their Press Operation"? Remember like it was yesterday...by making Helen Thomas' life absolutely MISERABLE b/c she didn't kiss Bill's ass.

Anyhow...I think Bill & Hill were a HUGE disappointment to Tweety..he thought they were Jack & Jackie and turned out to be just Bill & Hill with their own separate demons ( her Dad,apparently, was a real "sweetie",and we know Bill's ordeal)