'Non-Partisan' Matthews Condemns 'Melhman Cesspool' Over RNC Harold Ford Ad

MSNBC-Hardball/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Referring to an RNC ad as the "Mehlman cesspool," Chris Matthews was being non-partisan. Really - he told us so!

On this afternoon's Hardball, Matthews interviewed Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., Dem candidate for senator from Tennessee. The first topic up was an ad the RNC is currently running using actors to tweak Ford on his positions on a variety of issues, from taxes to gun control to North Korea. The ad also alludes to the fact that Ford attended a Playboy party at the Super Bowl in Jacksonville in 2005.

At the ad's end, an alluring woman saying she met Harold at a Playboy party whispers "Harold, call me!"

Democrats have been quick to cry that the use of a white woman is an insidious appeal to racism. Matthews wasted no time sounding the Dems' battle cry:

"Congressman, let's get out of the Ken Mehlman cesspool here for a minute. I really do, I think this is a nonpartisan assessment. The ad, I have seen it 10 times today, it has ethnic overtones, sexual overtones. I don't think Ken Mehlman was healthy accepting this kind of environment."

Three asides:

• Before being turned over to Matthews, Ford was interviewed by Norah O'Donnell. She posed several questions about the ad, and at first Ford opted for the high road, even saying "bless his heart" about his Republican opponent Bob Corker and claiming "I have too much joy in my heart to be mad.". But Ford eventually got into high gear - revved up, you might say - and made repeated references to the ad as "disgusting," "despicable" and "offensive."
• Asked by George Stephanopoulos this past Sunday whether he had attended the Playboy party, Ford gave an answer of breathtakingly Clintonian evasiveness, saying he had never attended a party "at the Playboy mansion." Maybe not. But the question is whether he attended a Playboy party at the Super Bowl in Jacksonville in 2005. Apparently he did. I guess it's a question of what the meaning of "Playboy party" is.
• Have you ever seen Norah O'Donnell make eyes like that at a Republican?

You can view the ad here and come to your own - non-partisan, of course - conclusions.

[Uncle Vlad]

Damn funny ad!

[DCPatriot]

Right now....Brian Williams on NBC is having a field day with Rush's attack on Michael J. Fox and Melman's ad on Ford.

The MSM are not objective and they aren't even trying to hide it anymore.

Keep up the fight GLGB!

[Rocko]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1724951/posts

[RoseofTexas]

"Congressman, let's get out of the Ken Mehlman cesspool here for a minute. I really do, I think this is a nonpartisan assessment. The ad, I have seen it 10 times today, it has ethnic overtones, sexual overtones. I don't think Ken Mehlman was healthy accepting this kind of environment."

F**Kin hypocrites!! Yet, it's ok to use a disabled dishonest gullible handicap guy...right?!! I pray to GOD that the republicans win and win BIG!! UGH, can't wait for election day! I'M FUMING! AND READY TO VOTE...BROKEN GLASS ON MY KNEES ALL THE WAY TO THE BOOTH!!!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

It truly is my - twisted - pleasure, although watching Olbermann can, all joking aside, be painful.

[Mo1]

So is Matthews trying to say that a black men dating a white women or black women dating a white male is some how racist and they aren't allowed to do that??

[Bullish]

The add is hilarious.

I'm glad Lardball got his panties in a wad.

[daler]

And they go ballistic whenever a Republican points to fact or evidence that clearly shows what the Democrat is all about.

I've seen this pattern over the last few elections.

Factual Republican ads are consistently scorned as "the politics of personal destruction", or "GOP negative advertising" that the public is thorougly disgusted with.

I've often wondered how "Senator Kennedy has voted to increase taxes 19 times" is a personal attack, when it's frigging TRUE.

Meanwhile, Dems fire at will at Republicans, factual or not.

[Republican Wildcat]

So it is a racist ad - LOL!

[ozzymandus]

It's a great ad, which is why the RATS are crying 'racism'. That's the only defense they can think of if all else fails.

[Republican Wildcat]

Yes - when he crashed Corker's press conference we saw how well he keeps his cool. Also his reprimands when he goes ballistic over the slightest critique over his comments on the House floor.

He's a spoiled brat empty-suit liberal pretty boy.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"So, its official? Harold Ford does NOT date White women?"

HAROLD FORD IS A RACIST!!! He will have to attend the Robert Byrd school in West Virginia for tolerance and diversity.

[NCC-1701]

Every time I see Jr., his daddy comes to mind. Ford Sr. was in on the House banking scandal. He had the third highest number of kited checks, BUT, was tops in total $$$ amount kited. The Fords are all crooked. I know. I have witnessed it all my life.

[True Republican Patriot]

Wow! Has he ever been married and has anyone seen him even dating let alone having a fiance? Just saw where he said he just said he likes fottball an he likes girls????

[NonLinear]

I love it! Now THAT's an ad!

[PghBaldy]

Some guys become athletes to get chicks, some guys become musicians. Harold became a politician to get chicks. Nothing wrong with that. Seems HE thinks there's something wrong with it. :) Kaybe Harold thinks it doesn't fit with his image? WELL, he now has a new image. His hissy fit has made it national news.

[Txsleuth]

I have been watching Sissy Chrissy....and he had on Mike Barnicle, Clarence Page, and Michael Smerconish...

Lately, Smerconish has been sounding like a Scarborough type REP..IOW...LEFT, since he has become Chrissy's buddy.

Anyway, the ad was played AGAIN, for this group, and Barnicle and Page were appalled at the racism.

Smerconish laughed and thought it was a funny ad...and said if there was any one that should be offended, it is white women, because they made them look like a hooker (the last woman on ad)....LOL

Boy oh boy...Chrissy DID not like that...and said that he sure didn't sound like the Philadelphian HE knew....LOL

[Txsleuth]

I can't take this anymore...

Now, Barnicle is preaching to the "white people" that by voting for Ford, Deval Patrick, and Osama Obama...WHITE people can FINALLY stand in a voting booth and be COLOR BLIND!!!

And Clarence Page said that the Cong. Black Cong. NEVER put black peoples' concerns over whites....

But, I do know they blackmailed Pelosi into NOT kicking Wm. Jefferson out of the House...by saying they would work to defeat her for Speaker of the House...or Minority Leader again...

[rawhide]

Is Nora pregnant? She looks different from before?

[billhilly]

"Nora thinking....Oh Harold, you're soooooooooooooooooooooo cute!! "

Is it true what they say about........?