Chris Matthews Slanders Michael Moore

Chris Matthews Slanders Michael Moore

“You'd think the only focus
tonight would be on destroying Osama Bin Laden, not comparing him to an American
who opposes the war whether you like him or not. You want a real debate that
America needs? Here goes: If the administration had done the job right in
Tora Bora we might not be having discussions on Hardball about a new Bin Laden
tape. How dare Scott McClellan tell America that this Administration puts
terrorists out of business when had they put Osama Bin Laden out of business
in Afghanistan when our troops wanted to, we wouldn't have to hear this barbarian's
voice on tape. That's what we should be talking about in America.”
— John Kerry

Republican Jim Matthews, Chris' brother, running for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Crooks and Liars: video of the slander.

Bin Laden sounds a lot like Pat Robertson, if you ask me. So why did Chris
Matthews pick Michael Moore? It wasn't just because he's anti-war. It wasn't
because he couldn't think of anyone else. It was because Chris Matthews was
trying to send a political message. He's also trying to help get his brother elected.

However, what Chris Matthews did yesterday on “Hardball” was serious.
It is called defamation of character, slander, if you will. It should not
be taken lightly. Not only did Matthews insinuate that Mr. Moore is un-American,
but he in effect called him a traitor. Moore has had to endure a lot of maligning,
without any facts to back up the slurs. It's not whether you agree or disagree
with Mr. Moore. I have many disagreements with him. But to equate bin Laden's
speech with Michael Moore's is a line over which no one should cross with
any American, especially when it comes from a journalist like Chris Matthews
who knows better and was acting out of pure malice with a purpose. There's a remedy for this
type of attack and it's not an apology.

Matthews is all over the map lately, seemingly trying to do anything to get
his ratings up. He asks gotcha questions one moment, then turns the show into
a schmoozefest the next, with a little butt kissing thrown in for good measure.

Last night, Matthews comparing Osama bin Laden's video tape transcript to
something Michael Moore would say was so out of line it's hard to know where
to begin. To top it off, Senator Joseph Biden, whom he was interviewing at
the time, offered a hearty laugh at the slur.

See, making fun of Michael Moore has become the litmus test to prove you're not
a flaming lefty. It's the gold standard for Republicans and the right. It gives you street cred
with middle America. I was waiting for a slap at Cindy Sheehan after the commercial
break.

But not only did Chris malign Moore, in the last segment he tried to get
Bob Herbert to say he agreed with bin Laden about the Iraq war inciting more
terrorism. After all, it's hard not to agree with that premise, which terrorist
experts have stated long before the latest bin Laden tape. But, obviously, “agreeing” with bin Laden puts you
in the anti-America camp. Chris even admitted he was trying to do just that,
throwing in that boyish smile to boot. He wanted this headline to throw around
for Friday: New York Times columnist agrees with bin Laden. Herbert
didn't fall for it, calling Chris out on the tactic. It was obvious and shameful.

Chris behaved equally shoddy during a conversation about abortion with Hatch
and Dick Durbin during the Alito hearings, grilling Durbin, then suggesting
that abortion should be turned back to the states. Nothing sends a clearer
message to the Catholics in Pennsylvania than that.

There have been murmurs before on the subject, but
it seems obvious that Chris Matthews is trying to help his brother Jim
Matthews get elected by making sure he solidifies his conservative to
moderate stance on all things. It's going to be this way until election day.
Chris is trying to prove he's not a liberal pansy, which might hurt his brother
across Pennsylvania as he runs for lieutenant governor. I've seen Jim Matthews
before on the air with Chris and he seems like a nice enough guy, besides
he's a veteran. Jim is also a Republican, which I believe explains why Chris
is playing nice with the right lately, which isn't going to stop any time
soon.

The way Chris Matthews is conducting himself is an ethical train wreck. Michael
Moore should sue him.