The Matthews-Schultz Clinton Tantrum
20 December 2007 5:00 pm by Taylor Marsh
Matthews’ message, ignore the
legislative record of the “junior senator from Illinois.” It is
not relevant. What is important to him is that Hillary is a Clinton. That this
woman must be stopped. Who has the best record on the issues and can beat back
the Republican machine doesn’t matter to Matthews at all. Remember his insulting interview with John Edwards recently? But today he found a buddy in Ed Schultz. Air America’s Mark Green was the odd man out, as Matthews and Schultz went at Clinton, no doubt inspired by the lack of access and attention Clinton has given these men. If I had a choice I’d choose Keith Olbermann, too. Wouldn’t you?
Women have been associated with their husbands, the good, but especially the
bad, for two centuries in this country. Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton have
given their lives in public service. They came to wealth very late in life.
They have lived imperfect lives, as have we all. But from the time Bill Clinton
began his career, a partner to his ambition was his commitment to the American
people and this country. Hillary Clinton, like many women, even the brightest,
supported her husband as he climbed the ultimate power ladder, even being the
breadwinner of the family so Bill Clinton could serve. Some say that Hillary wouldn’t be in her power position without Bill. So what’s new? How does any woman break through the ultimate marble ceiling without help from the men who set it up in the first place? How have the Clinton’s
used their power? I’ll let you be the judge, but I think after George W. Bush
we’d elect Bill Clinton again in a heart beat.
But still the double standard remains for Clinton coverage, especially on Chris
Matthews’ “Hardball,” which has become a parody this primary season, which is likely why Howard Kurtz didn’t find it important to even mention Matthews when it came to blasting the media for its unfair bias. No one watches “Hardball” anymore. It’s been one of the disappointments in this primary season for me that progressives couldn’t have banded together to take Matthews down. But because he was bashing Hillary many didn’t seem to care. But Matthews’ desperation for relevancy, especially in the face of Keith Olbermann’s brilliance and ratings power, seems all the more pathetic given the stakes. If Mr. Matthews understood the urgency of vetting
the Democratic candidate, especially his legislative record, or really cared
what candidate Democrats serve up against the Republicans he would do his homework
before spouting off. But he doesn’t care about Democrats, or that he’s trying to destroy the first viable female candidate in U.S. history.
People who know the importance of winning next November are very well aware of the importance of our choice. There is also concern over Mr. Obama across the pond, evidently, especially on his foreign policy bona fides and commitment, which makes a TimesOnline article tomorrow, with my friend Steve Clemons providing the salient point:
Fresh doubts over Barack Obama’s foreign policy credentials were expressed
on both sides of the Atlantic last night, after it emerged that he had made
only one brief official visit to London – and none elsewhere in Western
Europe or Latin America. … ..… .. But Steve Clemons, the director of foreign policy at the New
American Foundation in Washington, said that such hearings were not the same
as convening full meetings on pressing policy issues such as the future of
Nato. “Someone who is seeking the presidency should have some facility
for the most important anchor in global affairs, which is the transatlantic
relationship,” he said. “The major threats in the 21st century
are changing but what is not changing is the vital necessity of Europe and
the US collaborating in meeting those challenges with Europe, for instance,
in the lead on dealing with Iran. This is a very disconcerting void in Obama’s
profile.” … ..‘Stay-at-home’
Barack Obama comes under fire for a lack of foreign experience
Another jaw dropper today comes via
SusanUnPC:
Illinois’ disabled veterans are at “rock bottom” —
“dead last” — in benefits and claims processing of applications
for disability. But Illinois’ veterans take a back seat because their
junior senator is running for president. And that senator, Barack Obama, has
missed an astonishing number of hearings and meetings of the Senate Veterans
committee. … ..But Obama has skipped 19 of 37 VA committee meetings in the 109th
congress. Obama’s attendance record was the second worst of all Democrats
on the committee. He attended just 18 of the committee’s 37 meetings
in Washington D.C.… .. On the campaign trail, Obama stresses the importance of providing
“the best care” for veterans and their families: “Providing
the best care for our service members, veterans and their families is one
thing about this war we can still get right.”* But Sen. Obama has continually skipped hearings on the veterans budget.
Chairman Craig opened a hearing Obama missed and said, “we will consider
today … legislation touching on veterans insurance, housing, burial,
compensation, and employee benefits.” Obama also missed all four committee
hearings in a series that focused on the President’s proposed 2007
budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Ranking Senator Akaka noted
during the hearings that “we must learn a lesson from last year’s
budget crisis and do everything we can to ensure that veterans and their
family members have access to health care and benefits they have earned.”
(From the GPO on 6/23/05, 2/28/06, 3/2/06, 3/7/06, March 9, 2006.)While
Illinois’, and the Nation’s, Veterans Suffer, Obama Campaigns
A lot has been written about Bill Clinton’s rocky relationship with the military during his presidency. However, you will not hear that from the military when it comes to Hillary Clinton. Simply put, she gets it. I’ve heard many say just that, including Wesley Clark and Joe Sestak, among others, most of which is based on her tireless efforts for our soldiers and veterans. I don’t doubt for a second that Mr. Obama supports our veterans and troops, but the record on action is worrisome, especially as this all adds up.
There was something venomous in the attacks by Matthews and Schultz today on
“Hardball,” but the irony of their attacks on Clinton, as they charged
that her attacks on Obama were sinister, was completely lost on these too men.
At least Clinton and Obama are in a showdown over the presidency. What’s their
excuse?
Hell hath no fury like two egomaniacal males whose egos have been scorched.
