Posted on 09/08/2006 9:16:58 AM PDT by RatherBiased.com
Since the revelation that Richard Armitage, a former high-ranking official in the State Department, was the source of the much-ballyhooed Valerie Plame "leak," many in the media have refused to touch the story with a ten-foot pole. This was quite a turnaround since before the Armitage involvement was known, many journalists believed the CIA leak story was one worth pursuing on a daily basis. Some even believed it could bring down the Bush White House, or at least end the careers of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney.
One of the biggest media figures boycotting the Plame story has been MSNBC host Chris Matthews who has yet to mention the scandal at all since the Armitage report broke, a dramatic contrast to the 27 times he mentioned the "scandal" in the five months leading up to it.
Like P.J. Gladnick, I couldn't help but notice Matthews's strange flip. So I decided to ask him about it. His answer revealed an animus toward Vice President Dick Cheney and a fear of being asked to answer tough questions himself.
Last night, I went to a party held by MSNBC and National Journal celebrating a new venture the two media outlets are launching together. Quite a few NBCers were there, including Chris Matthews. I struck up a conversation with the host about the topic of Plame and why he hadn't talked about the story at all. Here's a rough transcript of our discussion which I wrote down shortly thereafter:
Q: So I've noticed you haven't done anything on the whole Valerie Plame story since the Armitage story broke. Why not invite Joe Wilson on the show to defend himself?After that remark, Matthews left the conversation. He stuck around for at least 15 more minutes afterward before leaving.
A: Because he'd say basically the same thing he always says. 'My wife had no involvement in getting me the mission.' He'd just repeat it over and over.
Q: Maybe, but isn't it at least worth showing your viewers that this guy has no credibility considering how much you talked about the story before? Shouldn't he be held accountable for wasting all our time? Why not invite one of his representatives or defenders on the show?
A: Well, the story's just gotten so complicated. I mean, it's just such a mess. Because what if it's true that Armitage was the source, but those other guys [presumably Rove and Scooter Libby], also were leakers, what then?
Q: Isn't that a question worth exploring on your show?
A: It could be but the problem is that Dick Cheney has so many apologists it's ridiculous. So many journalists like Bob Woodward will say or do anything just to get access to him. And then all the people in the administration too.
Q: I don't see why this is stopping you from mentioning the story at all. The viewers at least need some sort of closure don't they?
A: Hey listen I need to get out of here. I have to get back home.
You're right. Chrissy is creating "rapport" with his audience. He must have taken a Tony Robbins course, lol. (Tony goes so far with this that he actually advocates mimicking the other person's "body language").
Isn't it your JOB to find out "what then"?
What is so complicated about this story?
Chris Matthews, you are a coward. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Clinton-ass-licking, starf**cking coward. You are enamored of everything in politics that is useless--one-liners that oversimplify complex ideas, "colorful" politicians instead of those who act responsibly, circus-tent political theater, political survival over moral integrity. And your "colums" are summaries of accepted wisdom.
You are an embarassment.
Thanks finnman.........you took the words right out of my mouth.....(or keyboard). *~*
You got that right...
bump
Even WITH audio, Matthews would still deny the conversation.
He's just as confused about the meaning of "is" as a former President.
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