Posted on 02/08/2006 5:09:35 PM PST by Mike Bates
On Tuesday's Hardball, the discussion turned to Jimmy Carter's remarks at the funeral of Coretta Scott King. The former president had brought up wiretapping. Host Chris Matthews observed: "Of course thats hot because J. Edgar Hoover was wiretapping Dr. King and feeding all the dirty to LBJ, you know?"
The former FBI chief had indeed wiretapped the late civil rights leader, but not on his own authority and initially not for President Lyndon Johnson. King biographer David Garrow wrote in a 2002 Atlantic Monthly article:
"On October 10, 1963, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy committed what is widely viewed as one of the most ignominious acts in modern American history: he authorized the Federal Bureau of Investigation to begin wiretapping the telephones of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Kennedy believed that one of King's closest advisers was a top-level member of the American Communist Party, and that King had repeatedly misled Administration officials about his ongoing close ties with the man."
Earlier in the program, Matthews had said that at Mrs. King's funeral, "Senator Ted Kennedy reminded us of the role his brothers had played with Dr. King, getting him out of jail back in 1960." This role included Bobby Kennedy inappropriately calling the sentencing judge in the case. There's strong reason to believe the Kennedys' sudden interest was politically motivated. Kennedy's call took place only days before the 1960 presidential election. So grateful was Dr. King's father that he announced, "Because this man was willing to wipe the tears from my daughter (in-law's) eyes, I've got a suitcase of votes, and I'm going to take them to Mr. Kennedy and dump them in his lap."
It's understandable that Teddy Kennedy wouldn't bring up his brothers' role in wiretapping Martin Luther King. But why wouldn't Chris Matthews mention their widely known involvement?
What a prick Chrissy is and always will be.
He is a mentally unstable, disgruntled, lying, leftist, propagandist with no desire for ratings or truth.
THe comparison is supposed to be between an American civil rights leader and Islamic terrorists who want to murder everyone? Is that right?
The entire news media is so stupid it's embarassing.
He has to pander to the MoveOn base. All 20,000 of them that make up the audience of his show.
Hissy has lost what credibility he had left. He went on to berate Torie Clarke in an episode reminiscent of Michelle Malkin's appearance. It was awful.
re "a mentally unstable, disgruntled, lying, leftist, propagandist "
O'Reilly just had Al Sharpton on, I guess Chris was slow in getting Al to come on his show. I clicked away after a minute of Al's "meanderings" in and out of reality.
Watching Chris Matthews or Keith Olberman is like sucking your thumb in the fetal position as you clench a Kerry-Edwards poster .
He's an idiot (in my opinion).
Hoover was the agent, but RFK (peace be upon him) was the inquisitor.
I will watch History Channel or Discovery Channel when Bill has leftists who rant.
LOL
Matthews brain is made of llama afterbirth.
And who, pray tell, is the Dr. Martin Luther King of Islamic fanaticism?
brother of this guy.
Spittin' Chrissy is a PUNK! How did he beat up on TorieA? How did she take it? I haven't watched since he did that to Michele Malkin!!
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