Posted on 02/07/2006 5:01:35 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
February 7, 2006 - 19:39
There's been speculation today that Democrats and their MSM allies would turn on erstwhile hero John McCain in the wake of his breathtakingly critical letter to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - whom we are legally required to refer to as a "rising star of the Democratic party."
But at least one MSMer with impeccable Dem credentials - Chris Matthews - was reveling in the cat fight this evening.
Obama and McCain apparently had a gentlemen's agreement that they would cooperate in a bi-partisan way on a lobbying reform bill. But it seems that Obama back-tracked, withdrew from the agreement, and came out in support of Dem leader Harry Reid's highly partisan proposal.
McCain unloaded on Obama with a letter he made public containing, among others, these jabs:
"I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere."
"I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable. Thank you for disabusing me of such notions."
"I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness. Again, I have been around long enough to appreciate that in politics the public interest isn’t always a priority for every one of us."
Ouch!
In any case, Matthews was absolutely in his glory over McCain's comments. For a guy whose show is called "Hardball," this was manna from heaven. A jovial and clearly enthused Matthews offered some criticism of his own of Obama in the guise of a question: "Did he welsh on the deal? Did he double-cross you?" Unfortunately, there was an audio problem at the time, so McCain never responded directly.
The traditional kabuki in these situations is that the following day, the person in Mcain's position claims his letter was misinterpreted, that he and Obama are best of friends, blah, blah, blah. But to his credit, on two separate occasions when Matthews asked if he stood by his letter, McCain flatly answered: "Sure!"
Matthews literally couldn't keep himself from laughing out loud as he read the juicy excerpts above. Breaking into guffaws, Matthews interpreted the letter in this way: "you're saying you thought the guy was a gentleman and a civil servant and now you [Obama] are obviously not."
It was a complete and total laugh-in between the two, as McCain allowed with a wide grin that he thought the letter was "pretty well-written."
Other Dems and MSM types might back away from McCain in the wake of his shot across Obama's bow, but Matthews is obviously loving the political theater and the grist for his nightly mill.
Hardball/NewsBusters Big-Barack-Attack ping to the Today Show ping list.
FYI
Nah- just with stomach steeled by my nightly Prilosec ;-)
Apparently by carbon copying his caustic letter to the WORLD, it's getting the play he hoped for. I detest the man and his sneaky pete tactics.
Why is Obama a "rising star?"
Brian Williams didn't recognize him!
Fat Teddie could say his name!
I just don't get it.
He must've given Bill Schneider the 3 foot tall middle finger. Schneider sounded betrayed this morning on CNN.
Uh, "escerpts s/b "excerpts".
Thank you.
Ted Kennedy pronounced something properly? No slurring? Now THAT'S news.
Thanks for the link to the entire letter.
Ted Kennedy pronounced something properly?
That was a typo.
Teddie introduced him and mangled his name. He repeated Osama twice.
Howie Carr plays the tape often. Its about a year old.
Well, it is amazing to see McCain go after one of his own political soulmates for a change.
Ability to get votes. Does better than most pols at this.
Ability to get votes. Does better than most pols at this.
Was this US Senate race in 2004 his first Statewide race?
Cause he really didn't have any competition in that one, did he?
"Unfortunately, there was an audio problem at the time, so McCain never responded directly."
Doesn't McCain do that all the time when someone asks him a question he doesn't want to answer?
"With fava beans and Chianti, Chris, that's how I'm going to eat your liver!"
You know, the thought actually went through my mind, but I concluded that, at least this time, it was legit.
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