Out of Control: Chris Matthews Drops F-Bomb In MSNBC Rant Against Bush

NewsBusters.org ^ | February 7, 2007 | Rich Noyes

[RatherBiased.com]

"Hardball" host Chris Matthews lurched even further off the deep end on Wednesday’s "Imus in the Morning." After praising the “great job” Rudy Giuliani did in cleaning up New York City — which Matthews again suggested was done with just “a pinch” of fascism — the MSNBC star went on a rant declaring how he’s “sick of southern guys with ranches running this country.”

Losing control, Matthews dropped the F-bomb on national television: “I want a guy to run for President who doesn’t have a fucking — I’m sorry, a ranch.” As host Don Imus began to snicker, Matthews plowed ahead with his Democratic talking points: “Wouldn’t that be good, Don, a guy who wasn’t on the ranch during Katrina, he was on the street corner answering questions?”

Video clip (1:25): Real (2.32 MB) or Windows Media (5.39 MB), plus MP3 audio (409 KB)

Radio listeners were spared Matthews’ cursing, but no such luck for those watching the MSNBC simulcast. After saying goodbye to Matthews about three minutes later, Imus and his crew mocked their MSNBC colleague. MSNBC's on-screen file photo of Matthews was altered to include a black censor bar over his mouth. Executive Producer Bernard McGuirk suggested Matthews was the sort who would “put on a diaper and drive 900 miles to abduct Dick Cheney or somebody,” and someone else offered that “he’s crazy.”

Imus was the diplomat: “But isn’t that what we like about him? I love his energy, his passion.”

Here’s the transcript of Matthews’ comments, which happened at about 7:45 ET.

“We love good mayors because we love our cities and Giuliani is the city guy, and I’m so sick of southern guys with ranches running this country. I want a guy to run for president who doesn’t have a fucking — I’m sorry, a ranch. Wouldn’t that be good, Don, a guy who wasn’t on the ranch during Katrina, he was on the street corner answering questions?”

[NittanyLion]

I know you holier than thou dinks are out of your minds because mathews [sic] said fuck. But if you had any brains in your head you would have listned [sic] to the substance what Crhis [sic] said which was Rudi [sic] overcame the mindless liberals that were tearing his city apart a [sic] broguht [sic] some law and order back into it.Something Rudi [sic] understands and that some partime [sic] billionaire cowboy far removed from reality of the city and anything else for that matter has no clue in how to handle. Mathews [sic] is a fool but he got that one absolutley [sic] right except for his gratuitous facist [sic] dig.

That's a mighty persuasive argument. Especially with all the spelling errors. LOL.

[advertising guy]

boy that is so true.Matthews has a loath for the south
because of her adherance to God,guns and gays.

[syriacus]

Doesn't Imus have a ranch?

LBJ ranch.

Eisenhower Farm

Carter Farm, Plains, GA

Truman was a farmer...Other ranchers, Ronald Reagan, Sandra Day O'Connor.

[NittanyLion]

Now, now... when David Gregory called in to Imus that time all f'ed up I do believe he was stoned on hash, not drunk on alcohol

My mistake. It gets a little hard to remember who was high on what, with all the liberals cheating on their wives, crashing cars, embarrassing themselves on Imus, etc.

[FreedomNeocon]

Of course he hates southerners.

Remember the Ford race just in 06... his whole premise was that Ford was a great guy, but there are just too many racists in the south that would never elect a black guy.

It wasn't liberalism or about the individual, to him its all "truck stop hicks" or whatever insipid taglines he pulls out of his arse regularly on his show and elsewhere.

[unixfox]

Imus owns a ranch and here he goes trashing those that own ranches. But I'm sure the socialist Imus let that one slip by.

[hsalaw]

I dare you to type that whole screed again and spell all the words correctly.

[syriacus]

The guy's a no-class, slobbering old fool.

Matthews emits enough spittle to bottle and sell as toilet water (which is appropriate for someone with a "potty mouth")

Eau d' Chris

Chris Matthews will rarely make sense.
(Perhaps 'cause his brain is too tense.)
As he spews forth ridiculous gaffes,
He spits and he giggles and laughs.
His guests sit far back, in defense

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

E-MAIL MSNBC with your viewer feedback

[TShaunK]

Attack the spelling is all you got.Because the rest of it is right on.Nice try.
Hey I voted for Bush twice and I DON"T regret it.
You better get use to the reality that the country WILL not support another Bush type "conservative".
Clinton begot Bush, Bush begot Clinton will be the scenario.
The country will go for Rudi they won't go for anything close to the Bushies again.
This is an administration that bans people from playing poker in their own home but gives Oil companies carte Blanche when it come to them and the wars they choose.
Its all over get use to it...and you can blame the "rancher" for it.

[Cecily]

Rumsfeld has a ranch in New Mexico too. That probably helped send Chrissy over the edge.

Al Gore (or the Gore family) owns a farm in Tennessee. Is that a mark against him in Chrissy's ranch-hating book?

[TShaunK]

Is that all you got?

[NittanyLion]

Attack the spelling is all you got.

I have plenty more, but that was just the easiest target. I've long ago learned not to waste my time arguing with people who appear to be frothing-at-the-mouth.

[jdm]

I think Chris is a dweeb and I don't agree with his politics, but I'm not sure this rises to FCC level.

Matthews:

MSNBC (cable TV) -- apparently the word never was broadcast on radio, only MSNBC

Stern:

Many stations affected

Matthews:

One time incident

Stern:

Repeated vulgarity and constantly pushing the envelope

Matthews:

7:45AM ET (4:45 AM West Coast Time)

Stern:

As late as 10AM ET

Matthews:

Slip, unintentional

Stern:

Orchestrated in advance

Matthews:

Said he was sorry immediately after he realized what he said.

Stern:

Unapologetic.

I don't see the similarities between this and Stern's antics.

Again, I'm no fan of Matthews; just trying to be fair.

[dmw]

You can send Chrissy a few "choice" words of your own at:

HARDBALL@MSNBC.COM

[dashing doofus]

I heard the sanitized radio version driving to work. I think Matthews is still fired up from his gig judging the Miss America pagent.

[miss marmelstein]

Funny, no one has mentioned Imuses' interview with Howard Kurtz this morning in which he revealed that Mary Matalan told someone in the White House that Russert "hated" Matthews.

[dashing doofus]

Exactly. See the article on bloggers that work for John Edwards cursing catholics and other Christians as "wingnut Christofacists." The article is on p a15 of todays NY Slimes (small article buried just before the obituary section).

LOL. Hypocrites.

[syriacus]

It seems that a lot of "public servants" own ranches and/or farms. Chrissy has drawn big-time attention to the fact that he is a dumbbell.

Why should anyone listen to his comments about American politics?

[dashing doofus]

Just don't tag him with the "dumb blonde" label: feminists will get upset.