Chris Matthews Admits: The ‘Reason the Media Are on Obama’s Side Against Romney‘ is ’Partisanship, Obviously’
- Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:08pm by
Billy Hallowell
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It’s a commonly held notion among conservatives that the mainstream media were overtly sympathetic — even helpful — to then candidate Barack Obama.
Many fear that this same alleged treatment will carry into the 2012 presidential campaign. Those who share these ideals may find some unlikely bedfellows who agree wholeheartedly that the media are in the bag for Obama — MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and TIME Magazine’s Mark Halperin.
(Related: See MSNBC‘s Chris Matthews Bomb at ’Jeopardy’)
On Monday evening, a surreal conversation took place between the two parties, with Matthews and Halperin both agreeing that the media, to varying degrees, favor the president. While discussing how difficult it may be for Romney to defend his actions at Bain Capital, some odd statements began to stream from the talking heads.
HotAir.com provides a transcript of the first bout of purported honesty about the media’s favoring of Obama:
MATTHEWS: One concern about this, Mark, and you cover this every day. I wonder if the President can handle this debate. If he gets into a debate for an hour and a half this fall with Romney, who knows all the thickets and jungle work. He was in there, he knows where he was. He knows every dollar he lost, every deal he made. How does Obama get in there and debate him on his own turf? How can he possibly know as much as Romney does about how he made or didn’t make money?
HALPERIN: I don’t think he needs to, I think in a debate he can bumper-sticker it and make it clear. And again, the press — this is one of these instances where the press is very sympathetic to the Obama narrative on Bain, and not all that sympathetic to Governor Romney. He needs to make an argument so compelling that it finds an audience in the press, if he can do it, and an audience with the public. I think in a debate, again, we know what the President will say, and I think he’ll be pretty effective.
Mark Halperin
There are certainly some bizarre comments embedded within Halperin’s statements. While Romney will be purportedly tasked with explaining his many years at Bain, Obama will merely need to “bumper sticker it.” And when it comes to Romney’s former career, it’s intriguing that the TIME political analyst admits that the media “is very sympathetic to the Obama narrative.”
Matthews, though, takes the allegation that the media is sympathetic on the Bain front one step further. The MSNBC host even contends that more general partisanship may account for one of the reasons that the media are on Obama’s side:
MATTHEWS: Do you think the reason the press is on Obama’s side against Romney, besides sometimes partisanship obviously, is the fact that equity people make 20 or 30 times a year what newspaper people make?
HALPERIN: Not necessarily what TV people make, Chris.
MATTHEWS: Well, that’s true.
You can also watch the discussion in its entirety, here:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
So, there you have it. At least two media personalities seem to be admitting what many conservatives have alleged for years.
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Comments (45)
Mutiny
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:39pmWhat can Romney attack Obama on?
1. Spending? Nope Romney’s budget doesnt cut current spending levels. That is almost an endorsement of Obama’s fiscal policy.
2. Guns? Nope, Romney is on record saying gun laws keep us safe.
3. Freedom? Nope, Romney supports the same freedom stripping laws that Obama and the left do.
4. Obamacare? LOL No. As late as 2009 Romney was saying he was glad Obama was using his plan.
5. Abortion? Well I dont see how this is an issue you can flip flop on, but he has said in the past he wouldnt change the existing laws so I am guessing more of the same out of Romney.
6. Tarp and bailouts? Nope cannot do that one either. He is on record be for Tarp and supporting the bailouts.
7. Getting us out of the UN? No, Romney hasnt indicated he would take us out of the UN.
8. Surely he wants to end the FED? Nope, he has said no such thing. In fact he has said on tv he thinks Ben Bernanke was doing a good job. Yes I know he recently came out to say he wouldnt bring him back. Why, has Ben changed his plans? Nope that is just Romney flip flopping.
No, really what is he going to debate Obama on? Birth control? Gay marriage? Good luck winning on that platform. Yes yes I know your bumper sticker “romney, at least he isnt a communist” but I dont care. If we continue to go down the road we are headed we will be bankrupt. Once the dollar falls all the power we had shifts to the global powers and the world banks.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:44pmTHE bumper sticker on your Prius reads” FOUR MORE YEARS.”
Report Post »ImMormon
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 5:19pmThose are some sweeping generalizations there Mutiny! I’ve generally liked your comments, you don’t seem like one of the crazies, but a lot of those comments are huge generalizations, comments out of context, and assumptions on your part.
I can see where you are coming from, but you are doing what the left does and what the RP crazies do. Taking a few small points and making sweeping assumptions and out of context statements about those points.
Report Post »ktmrider1
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:10pmI dont get prople like you, are you blind and deaf? 3 years now of utter incompatence and you still dont get it?
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:11pmDebates? That’s a depressing thought. I’d rather watch Barney
Report Post »Kevin The Elder
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 7:34amIf I had to guess, I suspect that Mutiny will vote for Romney in spite of his comments; after all, we don’t have a real choice now, do we? However, whether what he says are ‘huge generalizations’ or not, they seem to hold enough doubt as to where a Romney presidency will lead. Our only real hope is that on the day after election, ‘right’ side GOPers demand that within his first three months of taking office, the beginning of the dismantling of government be started. If not, a third party should be initiated.
Report Post »Coded-Dude
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 12:56pmFrom the perspective of our overall goverment in general…where Romney differs from Obama the most; He is more likely to make better SCOTUS appointments. The RNC is about growing government just as much as the DNC these days, its just a matter of where that growth is focused that they differ(and even that line is blurry sometimes). We need someone willing to make enemies by making deep cuts throughout the entire government(not just parts of the government that don‘t align with one’s political party).
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:39pm“You can also watch the discussion in its entirety, here:” …there’s a reason their ratings are in the tank; why would I want to raise my blood pressure for THAT? I have enough challenges in life for my cardio workout.
Report Post »woebegone
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:25pmCareful everyone. People change their minds, they take in new information, their opinions evolve. If you beat on them so hard for past humiliations, and humiliate them for the change then you are just driving them back to their previous position to save face. You need to allow people to move forward. Allow people to move forward, it helps your case.
Report Post »Paul G
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:20pmI’m not azz kissing but, we’ve had Limbaugh for over 20 yrs, Hannity for 15….But Beck I think has/is waking up America..
Report Post »BeeAlert
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:40pmYep. I think it was the chalkboard…
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:12pmRomney better practice strongly coming against Obama with all the facts and figures he can find. He’s going to need it when the lies and distortions come flying at him from the great divider and liar in a debate.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:11pmIf the FCC were doing its job the MSM lap dogs would have their licenses removed.
Report Post »The media should have a constitutional obligation to be on the peoples side – and do real independent investigations of the government – They did not even vet Obama – they are his biggest cheerleaders to the real detriment of the people.
History will be very unkind to them – Shame!
Tri-ox
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:09pmAnd, of course, TINGLES – big, juicy, electric TINGLES.
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:58pmNice misleading headline Blaze. You leave out key words, such as “Against Romney” and “sometimes.“ What he actually said is ”Do you think the reason press is on Obama’s side against Romney, besides sometimes partisanship obviously, . . .” The Blaze also conveniently leaves out the point that this was in the context of discussing the issue of Bain Capital and not just in general terms that they favor Obama.
Everyone knows that Blazers think that all the media besides them and Fox News support Obama on everything, but twisting what Matthews said to make it look as if he admitted that is going a little too far. But, keep up the good work Blaze, your success in reporting non-stories in order to stir up the emotions of you key demographic is second to none.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:22pmIs it possible for those meatheads to ever realize that they have been useful idiots?
They won’t make it as lampshades, but a 2nd Obama-term will seal their fate of being on the same rung as “equity people”.
$^> “Bumper-sticker” that !
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:56pmGood thing I just ate or I would of spewed. LMFAO!
Report Post »Sniprfire
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:55pmSOROS Drops $$$ Bucks into GE, GE & NBC= MSNBC….
Any questions….
MEDIA IS FULL OF LIB_T*ARDS….. especially MSNBC
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:07pmWho watches this crap? I‘ve turned off all including o’reilly and o’hannity
Report Post »davetrav
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:52pmThe so called media is and has been a puppet of Obama– he plays his flute and the rats follow. This is why their ratings are made by them. What rock will they crawl under when America gets rid of the false profit OBAMA. It is hard to think that CNN–MSNBC are so stupid. The clown in Washington is what he is—ANTI–AMERICAN—( PERIOD )—-Wake up America, look around, think with the mind God
Report Post »gave you—Obama is hell bent on killing America.
leekennedyfff
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:51pmChris Mathews is just a shadow of what he once was…and it’s sad. He has become Olbermann’s Angry little brother…
Report Post »Pokerjoe
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:08pmChildern are to be seen not herd.
Report Post »LINKSTER
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:50pmThe media holds on to their vision of its integrity and balance as a miser holds onto his hoard.
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulos ( liberal ) mainstream media, which holds forth the propsition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:50pmJournalistic integrity is DEAD.
Report Post »irishgalartist
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:50pmChis’s freind blame Wall Street and banks, but he forgets the Government’s fault in this with The Community Reinvestmenr Act (Big Government trying to make housing easy for everyone)!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:50pmRomney “needs to make an argument so compelling that it finds an audience in the press”
Report Post »Yea OK, I’m not going to hold my breath. The press is admittedly in the can for Obama. This election hinges on how much the American people are actually paying attention.
CatB
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:05pmOur best hope are the groups who will be running ads on behalf of Romney .. they can take Obama on boldly … and he can stay “above” it .. of course it works both ways .. but I intend to support these groups .. and not the RNC, GOP .. they don’t fight hard …
Report Post »spirited
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:25pmAs well, hope the Will Smiths WAKE up
>and spread like California wild fires.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:33pmRight, who makes up the questions-the media. Who do you think the questions will be favorable to-Obama. And this moronic statement of Obama using bumper sticker responses, I wouldn’t be surprised if during the debate Obama answers a hard question with “present” and the media falls all over itself stating what a great debater he is and most likely the best in history.
Report Post »leekennedyfff
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:48pmWhat a surprise!
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:40pmIdiots for 500…
“In 2008 when drooling over Obama, host Chris Matthews had what go up his leg?”
Report Post »chubster
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:59pmWhat is a “tingle” ? Did I get the Daily Double?
Report Post »woebegone
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:36pmGlad that the obvious is finally dawning on the talking heads. This is what happens when you only ever talk to people who agree with you and are only surrounded with people that agree with you, so is no surprise. Unfortunately, this is also testimony to the degree to which “insanity” needs to be expressed prior to the “family” acknowledging it. Maybe a testimony too to the sleeping giant rousing from sleep. But even as I write this, I am shamed by my hopefullness–years of abuse should have taught me to moderate this.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:34pm.
Report Post »I sure would like to have the “Knee Pad” contract with the Obama media…..
HKS
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:32pmI guess it could be said that the real enemy of the regular people, (the average Joe so to speak) is the media. Know your enemy.
Report Post »FromSeaToSea
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:24pmWho Is A Terrorist?
We have the guns…….200 million.
We have the authority……..The US Constitution.
“(The) powers of financial capitalism had far-reaching aim, nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole. This system was to be controlled in a feudalist fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements arrived at in frequent meetings and conferences. The apex of the systems was to be the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland; a private bank owned and controlled by the world’s central banks which were themselves private corporations. Each central bank…sought to dominate its government by its ability to control Treasury loans, to manipulate foreign exchanges, to influence the level of economic activity in the country, and to influence cooperative politicians by subsequent economic rewards in the business world.” – Prof. Carroll Quigley, Studied From The Inside World Banking Cartel
“We shall have world government whether or not you like it, by conquest or consent.”
Statement by Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) member James Warburg to The Senate Foreign Relations Committee
“There will be a new form of global (one world) government.” David de Rothschild, World Banker, Nov. 7, 2008
Bye Bye America unless you wake up..
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:05pmThe answer is Gary Johnson.
Chris’s Jeopardy Reply,
Report Post »“Who is the unknown candidate that is going to give Barry a win in November>??
progressiveslayer
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:20pmGee Jeopardy champion thanks for the heads up we would have never known.
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:18pmi,ll take a p for 300 alex…oh
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:31pmLOL …he really needs to stay off Jeopardy ;-)
but what is this? …
“Romney, who knows all the thickets and jungle work”
what kind of RACIST comment was this by Matthews? I have never heard a comment like this before. Anyone know where something like this comes from .. .will the MSM be parroting it .. or have they ?
Report Post »AzSage
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:13pmwas there ever a doubt?
Report Post »