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Chris Matthews "Goes Off' On College Student!
Free Republic | December 8, 2004 | Gary L. Livacari

Posted on 12/08/2004 2:47:35 PM PST by GaryL

As some of you Freepers know, my son Gary is a sophomore student at George Washington University (DC) and is a conservative political columnist for school newspaper, the GW Hatchet. As a matter of fact, he’s the only conservative on a very liberal newspaper staff.

This morning, he was invited to a Republican Women’s Breakfast at the Willard Hotel in downtown Washington, DC, where the guest speaker was to be Chris Matthews. One of the members of the group invited Gary because she knew of his reputation as a good political debater who doesn’t get intimidated, and she wanted him to ask Matthews a tough question.

Well, Gary got his chance...and then some! Apparently Matthews was expecting a nice timid audience of elderly Republican women. Little did he suspect that there was a “ringer” in attendance! And of course, Gary received the same rude treatment and dismissal from Matthews that he reserves only for conservatives he doesn’t like.

Apparently Matthews completely went off on him in an exchange after the program! I asked Gary to write down his recollection of what transpired, and here’s what he wrote back:

Hey Dad,

I am trying my best to remember what Chris Matthews said to me. I can't remember every detail because he talks so fast, and he moved from one topic - and absurdity - to the next very quickly.

First, I asked a question during the question-and-answer session that I was not even allowed to finish. He abruptly cut me off. I had started by saying, "Mr. Matthews, thank you for coming here today. You said in your speech that most members of the media are liberal. Do you think that the American people perceive this more and more, and are increasingly turning towards other sources, like Fox News and the internet?”

He cut me off somewhere around the first sentence. He clearly did not understand my question, because he didn't really hear it. His demeanor suddenly shifted noticeably. The questions before mine were all very flattering and non-threatening. Still, I think he saw me shaking my head throughout his speech, and was rearing to get a piece of me.

Here's what I remember about his answer to my question. He said Republicans don't become journalists because they "want to be businessmen and to climb the corporate ladder," the implication being that Republicans are greedy capitalist SOB’s who only care about money and getting ahead - as opposed to the altruistic liberals who care more about society and public service. I was startled by this response and found it condescending, judgmental, and stereotypical.

Not only was I offended by this remark, but I was disappointed that more Republicans in the audience were not equally aghast. He also used the same rationale for why there are more liberals in academia. He then proclaimed, "How many Republicans are on their school newspaper?" I quickly raised my hand, which completely caught him by surprise. He then condescendingly smirked, "And what do you want to do?" I said my goal is to be a political consultant (I knew that this is basically how he started his career). I don't remember who he responded to this.

I also found a rare opening somewhere during this exchange to ask a follow-up. After his initial outburst, I said: "Liberals in the media are fine, but don't they have a duty and obligation to be fair?" I can't quite remember how he responded to this.

Afterward the program, I went up to him to shake his hand. He said something like: "I understand where you are coming from, but it is not going to change anytime soon." Not exactly sure what he meant by this, I added: “Well, what I was trying to say in the question is that I think you are losing a lot of viewers to the alternative media, because many Americans see a liberal bias in the news."

At hearing this, he totally “lost it” and proceeded to launch into a rant. Now the exchange became heated. Here's what I remember him saying: "Conservative viewers only want to hear argument. They don't care about facts. How do they [the viewers] know the facts?"

I said, "Well, I trust them to know the difference between what’s truthful and what’s not truthful. I trust the judgment of the American people - I guess you don't" [something like that; again it was extremely difficult to get a word in. I don't remember everything].

I wish I could remember more in detail. We then argued about John O'Neil. I said: "I don't think you were fair in covering the Swift Boat Veterans. Don't they have a right to be heard? They saw combat. They are decorated. You didn't even let John O’Neil talk. You just kept cutting him off."

Matthews: "This is what conservatives do. They keep claiming they don't get time to talk. They [the Swift boat Veterans] don't have a right to be heard. The question is: did John Kerry see combat. They were only mad at him for what he did after the war. They just don't like his politics"

Me: “Yes, they were mad at him, wouldn't you be? He lied to them. He called them murderers and he misrepresented his war service. They are mad about his protesting after the war, and mad about his fraudulent reports during the war. This goes to John Kerry's credibility and competency to be commander in chief. It's not about Kerry's politics for them. John O'Neil voted Democratic."

I added something like: “I don't think your viewers thought you were fair.” He responded: "I don't care." He may have also said: "I don't care what my viewers think." I said: “My family always used to watch you and they aren't watching you anymore after that interview."

There was more, a lot more. But I can't remember it all as it happened so fast. He then abruptly stormed away, saying to his staffer: "Let's get out of here. This is a right-wing rant." The whole thing was almost surreal. The entire time I was saying to myself, “I can't believe I am sitting here arguing with Chris Matthews.” His first exchange of the day was an interview with the King of Jordan, and then followed by me!

The speech he gave was also very partisan and condescending. It was the last thing I wanted to hear at a Republican breakfast. He went from one faulty premise to another. He naturally threw in some gratuitous cheap shots at Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. Also, I remember him saying: "I don't think the president is getting good advice on the war." I will expound more on this later.

Of course, most of the gray haired Republican women in the audience are very easily swayed, nodding their heads to everything he said. I doubt they really agreed with him on most of what he said, but ... he's a celebrity, he’s Chris Mathews! We were all expected to be duly impressed with him. One woman who was in charge of the function and sat at my table begged me to ask a question. This is why I entered the fray in the first place.

I found him extremely arrogant, smug and domineering. He's a nice guy when the cameras are rolling, but as soon as they are off he only attends to people that matter. And if you are conservative Republican, well you better not even expect a hello. I'm sure he got into his limousine after this event, and made some wisecracks about the Republicans. He seemed so fake, like a typically elitist liberal who is two-faced and hypocritical. The presenter said he jokingly told her once: "I will do this, because it looks good on my resume."

I suspect, though, that this is why he speaks at this event every year. He makes himself look fair. When people call him “biased,” he can say "I speak at a Republican Women’s Function every year." Basically, he treated me the way he treated Ann Coulter, John O'Neil, Michelle Malkin, Zell Miller, and many other conservative Republicans.

The more I think about his speech, and the way he treated me, and the timid audience of elderly Republicans there, I feel good about standing up to him. I was on Republican turf here. I shouldn't feel bad about making points that any true Republican would make. I think I understand how Zell Miller felt on the night of the RNC. Chris Matthews only plays “Hardball" with conservative Republicans...I think I played pretty well.

Gary J.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: chrismatthews; election2004; hardball; matthews; politcs; swiftboatveterans
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1 posted on 12/08/2004 2:47:35 PM PST by GaryL
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To: GaryL

Well, I guess that's better than Bill Clinton who would "get off" on a college student. lol


2 posted on 12/08/2004 2:49:04 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: GaryL; B-Bear; Eva; MNLDS; A. Morgan; Spruce; bootless; cajungirl; Samwise; SAMWolf; DallasMike; ...

Ping!


3 posted on 12/08/2004 2:49:21 PM PST by GaryL
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

LOL! Beat me to it, you swine -- ! :)


4 posted on 12/08/2004 2:50:05 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (I feel more and more like a revolted Charlton Heston, witnessing ape society for the very first time)
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To: GaryL

“My family always used to watch you and they aren't watching you anymore after that interview."

I used to watch Chris Matthews too (he always kind of reminded me of my dear departed brother, that was why) but I happened to see the O'Neill interview and I haven't watched him since, and I won't watch him again. That one got filed under: unforgiveable.


5 posted on 12/08/2004 2:53:28 PM PST by jocon307 (Jihad is world wide. Jihad is serious business. We ignore global jihad at our peril.)
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To: GaryL

Kudos to your son. I give folks a lot of credit to stand there and debate the guy. I'm more like Zell, I'd want to knock him out.


6 posted on 12/08/2004 2:54:15 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: GaryL

Bump.


7 posted on 12/08/2004 2:54:47 PM PST by First_Salute (May God save our democratic-republican government, from a government by judiciary.)
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To: GaryL

Way to go kid!


8 posted on 12/08/2004 2:55:33 PM PST by dennisw (G_D: Against Amelek for all generations)
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To: GaryL

Chissy is a punk and a bully. Your son did well to at least present a point of view. Matthews can say he doesn't care what his viewers think but you know damn well that his bosses do....


9 posted on 12/08/2004 2:57:03 PM PST by misterrob
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To: GaryL
Ever see the carnival game Wack-A-mole? Conservatives need to start a new game called wack-A-Lib where they go to liberal speeches and hammer them :D
10 posted on 12/08/2004 2:57:23 PM PST by Echo Talon
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To: GaryL
Standing ovation here for your wonderful son!   Bravo!
11 posted on 12/08/2004 2:57:40 PM PST by jigsaw (God Bless Our Troops.)
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To: GaryL
Matthews is one arrogant pr!ck.

After the truth came out about Joe Wilson and his inflated ego, I e-mailed Matthews and told him I would never watch his show again after the way he went on and on about the "yellow cake " and Niger busines. Matthews was a spitting, raving maniac when it came to that issue and when he never followed up on the story after the Wilson undressing, I had had enough.

I have not watched him since and will never watch his pathetic ass again!

MoodyBlu

12 posted on 12/08/2004 2:57:43 PM PST by MoodyBlu (Still searching for the elusive tagline...)
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To: GaryL

Great job your son did!

Can we expect to see a write-up in his school paper?


13 posted on 12/08/2004 2:57:54 PM PST by nuconvert (Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.)
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To: GaryL

good report. i think most people can see through chrissy's left wing rants on the show.


14 posted on 12/08/2004 2:58:07 PM PST by Cableguy
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To: GaryL

Well, good job. And I, too, am amazed that people will not stand up and call these liberal slimeballs for what they are---traitors.


15 posted on 12/08/2004 2:58:46 PM PST by LS
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To: GaryL
You have such a right to be proud of your son! He is the worst nightmare of Alzheimers old timers liberals like Chris Matthews. Congratulations on raising a fine son.
16 posted on 12/08/2004 2:59:05 PM PST by xJones
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To: GaryL
He said Republicans don't become journalists because they "want to be businessmen and to climb the corporate ladder," the implication being that Republicans are greedy capitalist SOB’s who only care about money and getting ahead - as opposed to the altruistic liberals who care more about society and public service. I was startled by this response and found it condescending, judgmental, and stereotypical

I sorry for your effort in typing this bunk in. I appreciate you relaying your son's story and do not doubt his honesty in describing what happened, it's just that my BS detector went off reading this elitest spew from Chrissy Matthews and I can't take any more of his lies and distortions.

His is of the same ilk of comments like "smart people are all liberals because that is the ONLY reasoned position on the issues" and "corporate media by it's very nature is conservative because they exist to make money".

I suppose that the left urges government ownership/financing of media to eliminate that capitalist bottom line, eh?

A reporter's job is to tell what happened that day; NOT to push for reforms and policy. Become a lobbyist or commentator, NOT a journalist.

17 posted on 12/08/2004 2:59:07 PM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: jocon307

I haven't ever watched a complete show of his and haven't tried in years.


18 posted on 12/08/2004 2:59:39 PM PST by stockpirate (Check out my bio and learn about sKerry and his Socialist friends.)
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To: jwalsh07
"I'm more like Zell, I'd want to knock him out."

Lol, I'll even hold your beer while you do it.

19 posted on 12/08/2004 2:59:52 PM PST by F16Fighter
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To: GaryL

Good job! We're all proud of him!


20 posted on 12/08/2004 3:01:18 PM PST by listenhillary (Tagline detective services. Missing or lost tag lines our specialty.)
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