"We don’t make her up so some guy at a bar can look at her like this"
February 28, 2020 6:29 PM Subscribe
MSNBC talking head Chris Matthews is a creep. This is not a new revelation, but in the wake of outrageous and nonsensical attacks on Bernie Sanders and a sexist exchange with Elizabeth Warren in which Matthews defended Michael Bloomberg against his own sexual harassment allegations, freelance journalist Laura Bassett, citing Matthews' treatment of Warren, has decided to speak out against Matthews in a GQ story detailing multiple instances of harassment that she had previously revealed without naming the perpetrator.
He’s a journalist? That’s news to me. He never passed the sniff test for me, and I am seriously asking: why does he have a reputation as a respected journalist?
posted by badbobbycase at 7:04 PM on February 28, 2020 [16 favorites]
posted by badbobbycase at 7:04 PM on February 28, 2020 [16 favorites]
That collection of clips is really uncomfortable to watch.
posted by condour75 at 7:17 PM on February 28, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by condour75 at 7:17 PM on February 28, 2020 [4 favorites]
If looks could kill, Janelle Monáe would have sent him beyond after that legs comment.
Tonight he also confused SC Republican Senator Tim Scott with SC Democratic candidate for Senate Jaime Harrison live on the air.
posted by sallybrown at 7:27 PM on February 28, 2020 [16 favorites]
Tonight he also confused SC Republican Senator Tim Scott with SC Democratic candidate for Senate Jaime Harrison live on the air.
posted by sallybrown at 7:27 PM on February 28, 2020 [16 favorites]
Support for her. Thank you for outing a predator.
posted by kafziel at 7:50 PM on February 28, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by kafziel at 7:50 PM on February 28, 2020 [6 favorites]
Jesus fuck. That he still has a job promoting the irrelevant idea of a centrist Democrat while being blindsided by the millions of disenfranchised voters whose needs are more urgent is astonishing. That he’s been a professional dope AND a widely known sleaze is infuriating. Fuck NBC.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:57 PM on February 28, 2020 [13 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:57 PM on February 28, 2020 [13 favorites]
Mod note: One deleted. Please don't suggest retaliatory murder.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 8:18 PM on February 28, 2020 [14 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 8:18 PM on February 28, 2020 [14 favorites]
He’s a journalist?
At some point the definition got so watered down as to be irrelevant. There's a code of ethics to journalism, but no one enforces it, no one calls out those who violate it.
When people like Andy Ngo and Chris Matthews get called "journalists," it threatens legitimate reporting.
posted by explosion at 8:28 PM on February 28, 2020 [5 favorites]
At some point the definition got so watered down as to be irrelevant. There's a code of ethics to journalism, but no one enforces it, no one calls out those who violate it.
When people like Andy Ngo and Chris Matthews get called "journalists," it threatens legitimate reporting.
posted by explosion at 8:28 PM on February 28, 2020 [5 favorites]
Less a journalist than a news-talking guy. He's not out there doing the grunt work.
posted by emjaybee at 8:57 PM on February 28, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 8:57 PM on February 28, 2020 [4 favorites]
Talking guy...he Fucking slathers. He waggles the life out of journalism with bingoistic Chromebox monsoon briquettes of molded doom sand in tins with labeled..."after this, well be right back"
Why. $$$,$$$,$$$. Fucking comb over pasty wrapped candy jackdaw chin hanging boogle-eyed seer sucka.
Carry on.
posted by clavdivs at 9:14 PM on February 28, 2020 [59 favorites]
Why. $$$,$$$,$$$. Fucking comb over pasty wrapped candy jackdaw chin hanging boogle-eyed seer sucka.
Carry on.
posted by clavdivs at 9:14 PM on February 28, 2020 [59 favorites]
MSNBC: Guys guys we need a Bill O'Reilly of our own
posted by benzenedream at 10:08 PM on February 28, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 10:08 PM on February 28, 2020 [7 favorites]
clavdivs, I dunno what you wrote but more, please!
posted by zardoz at 11:18 PM on February 28, 2020 [13 favorites]
posted by zardoz at 11:18 PM on February 28, 2020 [13 favorites]
We're all journalists on this bus.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:49 PM on February 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:49 PM on February 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
He’s a journalist?
According to Wikipedia, he was Washington bureau chief for the San Francisco Chronicle for 13 years so at one point he qualified as one. That was after being Tip O'Neil's chief of staff and a speech writer for Carter. He's a vestige of the old Democratic Party that's hopefully fading away.
posted by octothorpe at 4:26 AM on February 29, 2020 [5 favorites]
According to Wikipedia, he was Washington bureau chief for the San Francisco Chronicle for 13 years so at one point he qualified as one. That was after being Tip O'Neil's chief of staff and a speech writer for Carter. He's a vestige of the old Democratic Party that's hopefully fading away.
posted by octothorpe at 4:26 AM on February 29, 2020 [5 favorites]
When people like Andy Ngo and Chris Matthews get called "journalists," it threatens legitimate reporting.
Spicy take, but Chris Matthews actually is a journalist even though he's also a creep. LOL at comparing him to grifter Andy Ngo.
posted by Fidel Cashflow at 4:48 AM on February 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
Spicy take, but Chris Matthews actually is a journalist even though he's also a creep. LOL at comparing him to grifter Andy Ngo.
posted by Fidel Cashflow at 4:48 AM on February 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
molded doom sand
Yeah, fuck that stuff.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 5:03 AM on February 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
Yeah, fuck that stuff.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 5:03 AM on February 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
Making women uncomfortable, without giving them enough ammunition for a lawsuit, is a sin not a crime. Maybe someone should try and get his priest to break confidence, and find out if he has been confessing it like a good Catholic boy should.
posted by ackptui at 7:16 AM on February 29, 2020
posted by ackptui at 7:16 AM on February 29, 2020
Matthews’ behavior seems reprehensible. He should be disciplined, if not fired.
Regarding the comment tha comment that it is good that the “old Democratic Party” is fading, I disagree. That old party passed Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, among many accomplishments making most working class and middle class Americans better off and more financially secure. Tip O’Neill held the party together through the Reagan years. I wish we had that “party” back.
posted by haiku warrior at 8:06 AM on February 29, 2020 [9 favorites]
Regarding the comment tha comment that it is good that the “old Democratic Party” is fading, I disagree. That old party passed Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, among many accomplishments making most working class and middle class Americans better off and more financially secure. Tip O’Neill held the party together through the Reagan years. I wish we had that “party” back.
posted by haiku warrior at 8:06 AM on February 29, 2020 [9 favorites]
MSNBC: Guys guys we need a Bill O'Reilly of our own
Wasn't Matthews a darling of the right until he landed on MSNBC? I seem to recall him being a more suburbanite Limbaugh kind of blatherer at some point.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:19 AM on February 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
Wasn't Matthews a darling of the right until he landed on MSNBC? I seem to recall him being a more suburbanite Limbaugh kind of blatherer at some point.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:19 AM on February 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
I don’t think an alliance between white union voters in the North and conservative white Dixiecrats in the south is possible at this point. Tip O’neal won’t save us now. He isn’t a around to save Chris Matthews either.
“Does anybody remember the time Ronald Reagan sat down with Tip O’Niel and hashed out the budget? It was the best day of my life.”
posted by eagles123 at 8:41 AM on February 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
“Does anybody remember the time Ronald Reagan sat down with Tip O’Niel and hashed out the budget? It was the best day of my life.”
posted by eagles123 at 8:41 AM on February 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
He should be disciplined, if not fired.
I'm still amazed that this kind of behavior is not treated like the gross incompetence it is, and that men who are so wretchedly clueless and out of touch and hateful could ever be seen as incisive thinkers...
I mean, I know the reason why it gets a pass. It's only a slightly worse manifestation of something that is completely normal in male-dominated spaces and cultures. Men are fucking stupid and hateful about women and as long as they're in charge other men being fucking stupid and hateful about women will just be seen as normal rather than a disqualifying flaw.
But it is fucking stupid and hateful and Chris Matthews is an idiot who should be fired for being bad at his job.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:52 AM on February 29, 2020 [30 favorites]
I'm still amazed that this kind of behavior is not treated like the gross incompetence it is, and that men who are so wretchedly clueless and out of touch and hateful could ever be seen as incisive thinkers...
I mean, I know the reason why it gets a pass. It's only a slightly worse manifestation of something that is completely normal in male-dominated spaces and cultures. Men are fucking stupid and hateful about women and as long as they're in charge other men being fucking stupid and hateful about women will just be seen as normal rather than a disqualifying flaw.
But it is fucking stupid and hateful and Chris Matthews is an idiot who should be fired for being bad at his job.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:52 AM on February 29, 2020 [30 favorites]
Exactly. It may not be criminal but being sexually snide to a professional person who is coming to your entertainment news show should be a disqualifying characteristic for that employment. Their culture allowed it. Our culture allows it. And if you think this bullshit hasn't been massively chilling to the progress of women and minorities then you're steeped in it.
posted by amanda at 9:36 AM on February 29, 2020 [18 favorites]
posted by amanda at 9:36 AM on February 29, 2020 [18 favorites]
That old party passed Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, among many accomplishments making most working class and middle class Americans better off and more financially secure.
A party is just a shell for the people it's composed of, and as those people change out and get worse, it is entirely valid to change how you feel about it. The Republicans were the party of Lincoln, but only someone ignorant or disingenuous would accord them credit for that now. Democrats haven't degraded that much, but we must always deal with the party as it is now. If they no longer suit your interests, you should challenge them on it, especially in the US political scheme where the only alternative is the wailing void of hungry ghosts that is the Republicans.
posted by JHarris at 10:25 AM on February 29, 2020 [13 favorites]
A party is just a shell for the people it's composed of, and as those people change out and get worse, it is entirely valid to change how you feel about it. The Republicans were the party of Lincoln, but only someone ignorant or disingenuous would accord them credit for that now. Democrats haven't degraded that much, but we must always deal with the party as it is now. If they no longer suit your interests, you should challenge them on it, especially in the US political scheme where the only alternative is the wailing void of hungry ghosts that is the Republicans.
posted by JHarris at 10:25 AM on February 29, 2020 [13 favorites]
That old party passed Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, among many accomplishments making most working class and middle class Americans better off and more financially secure.
That was the old, old democratic party. I was thinking more of the late seventies through 2000s Democratic Party that backed off all that and tried to be business friendly and get back all those Reagan Democrats.
posted by octothorpe at 10:34 AM on February 29, 2020 [13 favorites]
That was the old, old democratic party. I was thinking more of the late seventies through 2000s Democratic Party that backed off all that and tried to be business friendly and get back all those Reagan Democrats.
posted by octothorpe at 10:34 AM on February 29, 2020 [13 favorites]
The New Deal Coalition that passed those measures died in the 60’s and 70’s along with the decline of private sector unions and the consolidation of corporate power over the political system. It’s not coming back absent a serious restructuring of the political economy of this country. Right now the only candidate trying to do that is Sanders ......
posted by eagles123 at 10:36 AM on February 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by eagles123 at 10:36 AM on February 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
He's a vestige of the old Democratic Party that's hopefully fading away.
That was the old, old democratic party.
Yes yes yes yes yes. Yes. The post-Reagan old democratic party will not permit a new democrat or an old old democrat. It's why every old democratic talking head is now gearing up to undercut new democrat Warren because she's a ladygirl and too commie and thus supposedly can't win, and old old democrat Sanders maybe a little bit because he's not Christian and mostly because he's too commie and thus supposedly can't win. Old democratic party needs to go. It hinders progress by perpetually pushing the most Reaganesque candidates in an effort to pull red votes, despite the fact that that hasn't worked since Bill Clinton, despite Obama, who ran as a new democrat, having won in 2008 over Hilary Clinton, who ran as an old democrat. That happened and they all saw it, but they still will do everything possible to hamstring Warren and Sanders partly maybe a little bit because the old party thinks only rich, male, WASP, capitalist, statusquo candidates can appeal to red voters and mostly because they're rich themdamnselves and would like very much not to get taxed. So they're going to try to weaken the progressive candidates and prop up the most Reagan-ey ones like the one blatantly trying to buy the office or the one who brought us Clarence Thomas and is so stuck in the past he keeps telling crowds he's running for senate.
The party needs to open up and let in air and light and the weird, scary new wind that blew out grabby Al Franken and blew in Green New Deal Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. If the fogeys prevail, I'll vote for whatever bullshit old dinosaur they put up in the desperate hope that they can avert the endtimes, but the way they'll save the planet in the shorterm and the longterm is to cleave unto the real oldold (new deal was a good thing) and new (women and POCs can lead) values of the party and stop trying to fight zombie Reagan all day because MAGA does not equal "morning in America." MAGA is both new (move fast, break things, and then STEAL EVERYTHING, the future doesn't exist or we'll go to Mars or whatever, only NOW and ME and MY MONEY are important!!!) and oldold (Nazis: really so bad?), and thus a new/oldold democratic party can fight it better than can the old democratic party.
posted by Don Pepino at 11:24 AM on February 29, 2020 [30 favorites]
That was the old, old democratic party.
Yes yes yes yes yes. Yes. The post-Reagan old democratic party will not permit a new democrat or an old old democrat. It's why every old democratic talking head is now gearing up to undercut new democrat Warren because she's a ladygirl and too commie and thus supposedly can't win, and old old democrat Sanders maybe a little bit because he's not Christian and mostly because he's too commie and thus supposedly can't win. Old democratic party needs to go. It hinders progress by perpetually pushing the most Reaganesque candidates in an effort to pull red votes, despite the fact that that hasn't worked since Bill Clinton, despite Obama, who ran as a new democrat, having won in 2008 over Hilary Clinton, who ran as an old democrat. That happened and they all saw it, but they still will do everything possible to hamstring Warren and Sanders partly maybe a little bit because the old party thinks only rich, male, WASP, capitalist, statusquo candidates can appeal to red voters and mostly because they're rich themdamnselves and would like very much not to get taxed. So they're going to try to weaken the progressive candidates and prop up the most Reagan-ey ones like the one blatantly trying to buy the office or the one who brought us Clarence Thomas and is so stuck in the past he keeps telling crowds he's running for senate.
The party needs to open up and let in air and light and the weird, scary new wind that blew out grabby Al Franken and blew in Green New Deal Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. If the fogeys prevail, I'll vote for whatever bullshit old dinosaur they put up in the desperate hope that they can avert the endtimes, but the way they'll save the planet in the shorterm and the longterm is to cleave unto the real oldold (new deal was a good thing) and new (women and POCs can lead) values of the party and stop trying to fight zombie Reagan all day because MAGA does not equal "morning in America." MAGA is both new (move fast, break things, and then STEAL EVERYTHING, the future doesn't exist or we'll go to Mars or whatever, only NOW and ME and MY MONEY are important!!!) and oldold (Nazis: really so bad?), and thus a new/oldold democratic party can fight it better than can the old democratic party.
posted by Don Pepino at 11:24 AM on February 29, 2020 [30 favorites]
In addition to being a sexist creep, Matthews long ago passed his sell-by date as a political analyst, unless you have a pressing need to know how today's events would have been perceived by people back in 1995.
He's 74 years old, has had a long career, and presumably has plenty of money, so why doesn't he just retire? (Not implying that all older people are incapable, just that this particular older person isn't good at his job.)
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 11:35 AM on February 29, 2020 [5 favorites]
He's 74 years old, has had a long career, and presumably has plenty of money, so why doesn't he just retire? (Not implying that all older people are incapable, just that this particular older person isn't good at his job.)
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 11:35 AM on February 29, 2020 [5 favorites]
I think there's a case to be made that for news discussion shows, recognizable faces are very important. The more they transition and devolve into hosts who merely facilitate the guest discussions (such as they are), the more we're going to see these bones fly out of their mouths. They have to say dumb shit out loud because the wink-wink "women, amirite?" shorthand network has broken down over the past couple decades and host's egos need to create comfort for their own views first. What else explains David Brooks' (to invoke an archetype) longevity? Not the show booker's accurate representation of the real world, that's for sure.
posted by rhizome at 12:45 PM on February 29, 2020
posted by rhizome at 12:45 PM on February 29, 2020
He's 74 years old, has had a long career, and presumably has plenty of money, so why doesn't he just retire? (Not implying that all older people are incapable, just that this particular older person isn't good at his job.)
The median age of an MSNBC viewer is 65 years old. Mathews is a familar face to his viewers, they've been watching him now for decades.
posted by octothorpe at 1:17 PM on February 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
The median age of an MSNBC viewer is 65 years old. Mathews is a familar face to his viewers, they've been watching him now for decades.
posted by octothorpe at 1:17 PM on February 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
Well, I'm older than that, and I've been avoiding watching him forever. DTMFA
posted by Kirth Gerson at 1:43 PM on February 29, 2020 [14 favorites]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 1:43 PM on February 29, 2020 [14 favorites]
Yes, his smug, smarmy yelling-at-the camera faux tough-guy act grew tiresome when I was in my 30's, and I'll be 54 next Wednesday.
posted by valkane at 1:55 PM on February 29, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by valkane at 1:55 PM on February 29, 2020 [8 favorites]
He's 74 years old, has had a long career, and presumably has plenty of money, so why doesn't he just retire?
Like a lot of people who end up on TV, I think Chris Matthews would literally rather die than lose the attention.
posted by grandiloquiet at 3:18 PM on February 29, 2020 [7 favorites]
Like a lot of people who end up on TV, I think Chris Matthews would literally rather die than lose the attention.
posted by grandiloquiet at 3:18 PM on February 29, 2020 [7 favorites]
Embattled Chris Matthews Left Out of MSNBC’s S.C. Primary Coverage (h/t mediareport)
posted by tonycpsu at 7:04 PM on February 29, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 7:04 PM on February 29, 2020 [5 favorites]
It’s a fake populist macho act that is familiar from Republican candidates playing at being regular (white) guys.
Ahh, the Nelson Rockefeller Maneuver! I always picture these guys going back to their mansions, taking off their tool belts and workshirts, donning ruffled silk blouses and brocaded smoking jackets, and sipping 100 year old brandy from delicate real china cups. "I say, old top ...".
posted by Chitownfats at 10:07 PM on February 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
Ahh, the Nelson Rockefeller Maneuver! I always picture these guys going back to their mansions, taking off their tool belts and workshirts, donning ruffled silk blouses and brocaded smoking jackets, and sipping 100 year old brandy from delicate real china cups. "I say, old top ...".
posted by Chitownfats at 10:07 PM on February 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
I blame The McLaughlin Group for ALL THIS NONSENSE.
It was the beginning of the end of civil discourse (unless you count Jack Germond's crusty bon mots).
"Let's sit in a circle and scream hot takes at each other for a half an hour."
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 7:20 AM on March 1, 2020 [10 favorites]
It was the beginning of the end of civil discourse (unless you count Jack Germond's crusty bon mots).
"Let's sit in a circle and scream hot takes at each other for a half an hour."
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 7:20 AM on March 1, 2020 [10 favorites]
yaaay, my favorite word! "Embattled." The knell of doom.
(Brandy is consumed out of snifters ONLY.)
posted by Don Pepino at 9:10 AM on March 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
(Brandy is consumed out of snifters ONLY.)
posted by Don Pepino at 9:10 AM on March 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Chris Matthews to Retire From MSNBC, The Hollywood Reporter
posted by the man of twists and turns at 4:11 PM on March 2, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 4:11 PM on March 2, 2020 [8 favorites]
Excellent result, but sad to see Steve Kornacki licking his boot on the way out.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:14 PM on March 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 4:14 PM on March 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
...wow, I wasn't expecting that. It makes me wonder if there are worse things lurking in his tenure at MSNBC. News anchors don't really get fired for being dopes...or lightly sleazy... and it sounds like Kornacki wasn't really expecting to do the whole show.
posted by grandiloquiet at 4:20 PM on March 2, 2020
posted by grandiloquiet at 4:20 PM on March 2, 2020
Honestly it would be very Chris Matthews to be a jerk about his departure and leave Steve in the lurch without warning.
posted by sallybrown at 4:40 PM on March 2, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 4:40 PM on March 2, 2020 [4 favorites]
So, three days ago, I suggested that Matthews should retire, and today, he does.
I can't think of another time I've had a suggestion/prediction about something in the news come true, let alone so quickly. Maybe I should buy some Powerball tickets this week....
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 5:06 PM on March 2, 2020 [9 favorites]
I can't think of another time I've had a suggestion/prediction about something in the news come true, let alone so quickly. Maybe I should buy some Powerball tickets this week....
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 5:06 PM on March 2, 2020 [9 favorites]
Leaving a rather gobsmacked unfortunate Steve Kornacki to pick up the rest of his hour.
A fitting end for the guy who thought shouting over all his guests was 'confrontational' and 'strong'.
My friend's then 3 year old christened him "the yelly man" a few years back and he's been the yelly man for me ever since.
posted by jrochest at 6:35 PM on March 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
A fitting end for the guy who thought shouting over all his guests was 'confrontational' and 'strong'.
My friend's then 3 year old christened him "the yelly man" a few years back and he's been the yelly man for me ever since.
posted by jrochest at 6:35 PM on March 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
Zardozzzz! Oh, I'd need a permission slip for further rant, but he quit
so I was right?
Walter Cronkite
Laughing were you are
Very far like Matthews' jaw
From a mold, in a jar.
posted by clavdivs at 10:00 PM on March 6, 2020
so I was right?
Walter Cronkite
Laughing were you are
Very far like Matthews' jaw
From a mold, in a jar.
posted by clavdivs at 10:00 PM on March 6, 2020
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posted by ApathyGirl at 7:03 PM on February 28, 2020 [13 favorites]