Window on Washington

By chickc

February 20, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Chris Matthews should absolutely ashamed of himself and his on-air harassment of Kirk Watson, the Texas State Senator, last evening concerning Barack Obama’s accomplishments.

Its no secret that Chris Matthews has a big thing for Hillary Clinton, but I would have thought that as a newsman he would have at least the professional courtesy to move on after the Texas could not answer his question. Repeatedly badgering his guest is rude and offensive. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a Clinton supporter was not asked about Clinton’s voting record and if she was asked about Clinton’s voting record she probably would have been rendered speechless as well.

Many people are not aware of Obama’s legislative achievements because the media have not devoted enough attention to Obama’s bills and the effort required to pass them.

Here’s a few examples for you Chris, since your assistant’s can’t seem to help you with your research:

U.S. Senate:

* Introduced a bill (S.1194) directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish guidelines for tracking spent fuel rods. * Introduced a bill (S.1426) extending provisions in the Safe Drinking Water Act that relate to preventing and detecting contamination. * Introduced a bill (S.1920) amending the Clean Air Act to establish a renewable diesel standard. * Introduced a bill (S.3988) improving benefits and services for members of the armed forces and veterans.

Here Chris, go here and see what Senator Obama has done: http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm

Senator Obama’s intelligence, courage, passion, vision, authenticity and ability to communicate in a clear and powerful way to a wide range of people is why people are voting for him.

Chris Matthews owes Senator Watson, Senator Obama and the American people an apology.

Embarrassing a guest is unprofessional and we don’t need to watch this behavior on television.

By Ross

February 20, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

I was shocked at how bad Kik Watson looked. It’s not Chris Mathews job to answer his own questions. It is the job of the person who was put on t.v. to represent the person he is saying deserves to be president. Kirk Watson should be embarressed plain and simple. Seriously all he had to do was name one thing, and he couldn’t. Watson should of done his homework not Chris Mathews.

By DebraC

February 20, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Although I disagree with chickc that Matthews was badgering Watson, I do agree that I was hugely disappointed that he failed to pose the same question to Tubbs Jones, and it does seem to show bias toward the Clinton candidacy. However, even though I voted for Obama I applaude Matthews for refusing to let Watson dance around the question. Obama’s campaign is not well served by someone speaking for the candidate who is so unprepared that he muffs such an obvious question. Of course, if Obama were less disdainful of PR, as he indicated in his speech Tuesday evening, his spokesperson would have been prepped with facts to answer such an obvious question.

By Matthews is arrogant!

February 20, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

Chris Matthews is the to television interviews what some of the other well known political pundits are to radio. He’s an arrogant snit who never lets anyone finish a comment that he disagrees with. He’ll ask multi-faceted questions, and not so much as allow the first part to be answered before interrupting and asking for rebuttal from another guest. The fact that NBC even has him on air is questionable. He makes no sense with most of his questions, and anyone who even attempts to answer his obnoxious questioning style is lambasted….It’s time for NBC to reel him in. As for his being a Clinton supporter, he doesn’t support anyone Democratic. He’d much rather have Republicans in office. He’s as much an embarrassment to television, as Rush and Ann are to radio.

By mia

February 20, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

OK, Chris, we get it, after weeks of talking about your crush on Barack Obama, you have to prove to Hillary Clinton you would do her, too. Did she send you a valentine for this???

God forbid Matthews actually REPORT THE NEWS FOR A CHANGE INSTEAD OF JUST PICKING FIGHTS WITH HIS GUESTS… This should have been a great night for Obama (10-0), but Matthews was determined to steal the spotlight!

BUT THE BEST PART? Right after this exchange, Keith Olbermann challenged Matthews to name one piece of legislation recently passed by the US Senate. Answer? SILENCE!!! A silly, self-important bully, Matthews bragged this morning that this incident is going to be a big story - Yeah, a phony non-story that you made into a story just to feed your own fragile ego. What a pathetic excuse for a journalist!

Kirk Watson should have been better prepared! But this was not journalism. This was full on Anti-Obama attack mode - by a man determined to prove to the Clintons that he can be tough - after drooling over Obama like a school boy in love with him for the past few weeks.

But Matthews has a point: The only real (and quite serious) weakness in Barack Obama’s campaign right now is that he has no articulate / well-informed person to speak on his behalf to the Press, and Hillary Clinton is surrounded by an army of P.R. pros who make her look good and constantly attack her opponent. Kirk Watson’s appearance on MSNBC last night was embarrassing, to be sure, but I presume that very soon, the Obama camp will dispatch well-informed supporters to make their case for them! And when they do, it’s all over…

HILLARY VS. OBAMA LEGISLATIVE RECORDS: During Obama’s first (8) eight years of elected service (in Illinois) he sponsored over 820 bills - 233 regarding healthcare reform, 125 on poverty and public assistance, 112 crime fighting bills, 97 economic bills, 60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills, 21 ethics reform bills, 15 gun control, 6 veterans affairs and many others. IN ADDITION, DURING HIS FIRST YEAR IN THE U.S. SENATE, HE AUTHORED 152 BILLS AND CO-SPONSORED ANOTHER 427. THESE INCLUDED:

*The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law) *The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law) *The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, (passed by the Senate) *The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law) *The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee)

In all, since he entered the US Senate, Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1,096. AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD, FOR SOMEONE WHO SUPPOSEDLY “HAS NO RECORD”

Hillary Clinton, who has served for six (6) straight years in the US Senate. and claims to know how to “GET THINGS DONE” has managed to author and pass into law only twenty (20) pieces of legislation, and only five (5) of those had any real substance: 1. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11. 2. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 3. Assist landmine victims in other countries. 4. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care. 5. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

Hillary’s one notable vote: SUPPORTING THE PLAN TO INVADE IRAQ, which she has since disavowed and twisted, but refuses to admit was a mistake. Barack Obama, however, is the only ‘08 Democratic Presidential Candidate who had the good judgment to oppose the war from day one. This is no contest!

By mia

February 20, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this

Did you guys read Kirk Watson’s apology on his website? PRICELESS!!! This guy is my new hero! Sincere and funny! I was furious, but his humor won me over! Pay attention, people… This is the way to handle bullies like Chris Matthews, the RNC, and the Clinton Smear Machine.

By BenAMarine

February 21, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Obama’s resume and legislative experience:

1) Obama graduated in the top 1% of his class at Harvard Law school with a major in Constitutional Law.

2) Obama was elected President of the Havard Law Review.

3) Obama worked as a Community Organizer in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago when he could have gotten a very high paying law job.

4) Obama worked for several years as a Civil Rights lawyer in Chicago.

5) Obama served as State Senator in Illinois for 8 years. And he has served the last 3 years as U.S. Senator. THAT’S 11 YEARS IN ELECTED OFFICE FOR OBAMA.

During the first eight (8) years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced: 233 regarding health care reform, 125 on poverty and public assistance, 112 crime fighting bills, 97 economic bills, 60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills, 21 ethics reform bills, 15 gun control, 6 veterans’ affairs …and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included: *the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law), *The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law), *The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate, *The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law), **The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.

Source of 109th U.S. Senate sponsored legislation: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD003+@4((@1(Sen+Obama++Barack))+01763))

I don’t believe anyone could have answered Chris’s question off the top of their head.