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The Spectre of a Senator Chris Matthews (D-Penn.)
December 01, 2008 5:43 PM
Yes, Pennsylvania, it's true: Chris Matthews thinks he should be your senator.
The Patriot News reports the MSNBC host is "continues to talk with top Democrats about the possibility" of running for Senate in 2010 against Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn.
Matthews, 62, met with Democratic State Committee Chairman T.J. Rooney and executive director Mary Isenhour in Washington, D.C. "to discuss the logistics involved in a Senate run. Isenhour said she left that meeting convinced Matthews has not made up his mind about running."
Now while it's true that the non-partisan political tipsheet the Cook Political Report says Specter is one of the four most vulnerable senators of the 35 up for reelection in two years, others wonder if the outspoken cable guy would really be the Democrats' best chance.
Others say he should get off the air until he makes up his mind. Such as former Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer, who blogs: "If Matthews is going to run as a Democrat in what will likely be a contested primary, will he be willing to play hardball when his fellow Democrats are in the news? How could he do an interview with Ed Rendell? How could he be trusted to cover the Obama transition and other political issues without fear or favor? More to the point, will viewers think he is covering politics without fear or favor?"
And so on.
What say you?
-- jpt
December 1, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (33)
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Erin13 said "Wouldn't Matthews be a welcome change?" In a word: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Dec 2, 2008 9:41:36 PM
Chris Matthews has turned himself into a cartoon character as a journalist - if I have to vote Republican for the first time in 32 years to get a grown up representing me in 2010 then I guess Arlen's my man.
Posted by: Jerry Spegman | Dec 2, 2008 9:32:23 PM
Like him or not, he loves America and he loves politics.
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | Dec 2, 2008 6:18:21 PM
Ha! Is anyone seriously concerned about Matthews' credibility as a journalist? What journalist? What credibility?
Posted by: Annie | Dec 2, 2008 4:48:10 PM
Sen. Specter will be 80 years old when he runs again in 2010. Wouldn't Matthews be a welcome change?
Posted by: Erin13, Ft. Lee, NJ | Dec 2, 2008 12:26:44 PM
Did journalists raise similar questions when Bush was brazenly recruiting people from Fox like his press secy,
DUH, where would you think he find a PRESS Sec.????
I'm sure you would have prefered he had picked Tom Brokaw......
Posted by: Mike_C | Dec 2, 2008 11:55:18 AM
Did journalists raise similar questions when Bush was brazenly recruiting people from Fox like his press secy, or when former Bush officials joined fox as "fair and balanced" observers (like Rove)?
Posted by: Jon | Dec 2, 2008 11:00:21 AM
"Mr. Matthews has publicly stated his job as a journalist is to ensure the success of the Obama administration. This sounds more like campaign rhetoric than objective, unbiased journalism. Mr. Matthews, run if you want, but please stop pretending to be what you are not. "
LOL....and people said the media is not biased. What ever happened to my job as a journalist is to FAIRLY REPORT THE NEWS.
It is NOT to make or distort the news!
Posted by: Mike_C | Dec 2, 2008 8:36:15 AM
Mr. Matthews may have grown up in Phila., but he doesn't live in PA now. So he has no business trying to represent us. He has NO idea what our needs are.
As for those who say he shouldn't be on the air until he decides if he's running, he's already publicly stated he'd do everything he can to make sure that Obama succeeds. Does that mean he did everything he could to make sure President Bush failed?
As for interviewing "Fast Eddie" Rendell - you couldn't make him look good if you tried.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Dec 2, 2008 6:27:30 AM
I am not sure why anyone is surprised by NBC’s [MSNBC’s] liberal slant – look at their lineup. They are journalists in the similar category of the rags such as the Star, National Inquirer, etc.; they make the news, not report it. I hope Americans finally look at GE’s propaganda tools and boycott their products. Yahoos: that’s what the GE/NBC/MSNBC teams are – Yahoos. -Julian of Chicago
Posted by: Julian | Dec 2, 2008 2:54:25 AM
Chris Matthews is a joke, he certainly is not a true journalist and he has no place in politics, it would be adding another idiot to the senate. This man is a complete and utter idiot and if he can stop drooling long enough maybe he would realize that he is a tabloid type Journalist and at worst a dribbling idiot, I hope the people of Pennsylvania are smart enough not to elect him for dog catcher.
Posted by: Mary | Dec 1, 2008 11:51:42 PM
Dear Tom: Your guy won. You can relax for a couple of years.
Posted by: Jim Treacher | Dec 1, 2008 11:47:05 PM
Mr. Matthews has publicly stated his job as a journalist is to ensure the success of the Obama administration. This sounds more like campaign rhetoric than objective, unbiased journalism. Mr. Matthews, run if you want, but please stop pretending to be what you are not.
Posted by: Brett | Dec 1, 2008 11:40:38 PM
Matthews has served in other capacities than as a journalist. And he has a love and appreciation for the Constitution.
Posted by: Bruce Becker | Dec 1, 2008 11:12:56 PM
Daniel is exactly right! Matthews should spend a couple years serving as mayor of an obscure, one-moose town in Alaska -- then a few months as Governor of Alaska as a faux populist who lobbies for federal pork on the side -- before he is fully prepared to run for a national office as a serious, highly experienced hockey-dad..! He might want to consider joining the Pennsylvania Secessionist movement, while he's at it.
Posted by: Tom | Dec 1, 2008 10:03:14 PM
Of course Mr. Matthews does not have qualifications to run for senate. Look at the President-elect for crying out loud. The democrat management understands that they can sell almost anyone to the masses unless it in some way interferes with the masses viewership of American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. All it takes is some popularity and----no substance.
Posted by: Daniel | Dec 1, 2008 9:01:07 PM
i wish he would leave msnbc and not be able to go back. and i hope he loses his senate race.
he is to high strung-maybe he would be best as a sports reporter.
Posted by: what? | Dec 1, 2008 8:49:46 PM
paybacks are h#|| ...
I suspect that a number of the folks with whom CM has played hardball will be lining up for their pitch ... hope CM is up for some time in the dunk tank.
His opinions are not as universal as he can proclaim them as a television pundit.
Posted by: OneObservation | Dec 1, 2008 8:45:55 PM
Chris Matthews will have no problem being just as objective as he has in over the last couple of years.
Now, what's the chances of some Clinton-sabotage? Also, I've never witnessed Mattews in a "deliberative mode". How's that going to work in the Senate?
Posted by: bluecollarbytes | Dec 1, 2008 8:38:40 PM
I agree with Mr. Singer's comments: how could Mr. Matthews possibly demonstrate impartiality as a reporter/commentator if he is in the process of deciding to run as a Dem? The term "conflict of interest" seems to apply here, whether Mr. Matthews believes it or not.
Posted by: chuck | Dec 1, 2008 8:34:36 PM
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