As Matt Drudge and FAUX-Lite types croon, "Fever, I got the fever.."

Now THIS is important, not blowing up mountains or FISA or the endlessness of Iraq or falling incomes or increased foreclosures...

It's discouraging and disgusting that we would be having this conversation. My wife saw Michelle Obama a few weeks ago where she made the same comments, clearly talking about herself and her family.

If Obama was taking a swipe at anybody, it was the twice- and thrice-married Republicans running for president. Particularly serial adulterer Guiliani whose own kids don't support him. If there's anyone in politics who can't run his own house, it's Guiliani.

The Clintons kept their house in order during times of great challenge, and they are on good terms with their daughter. It's certainly not the Clintons Michelle Obama was talking about.

I agree with McCord--it should look more like a swipe at Guiliani. Of course its neither. It is a defensive statement about the time she is spending on the stump.

Next non-issue, please....

No, the mainstream corporate media would NEVER sensationalize something, would they?

Jeez, it's like reading a 5 year old's blog.

Never doubt the media's willingness to show Democrats as petty children. After all, the Republicans were supposed to be the 'grown-ups' when they took power.

Isn't it funny that they're willing to commit to such faithful stenography when the Administration is concerned, but when it comes to anyone remotely left of said Administration, context and meaning don't factor into it all? All it matters is 'how can we report this to show Democrats like the jackasses we believe they should be?'

I listened to the whole tape, I didn't hear her mention anything about Hillary. I also listened to the edited version. I still didn't hear her say anything about Hillary. If you are Hillary you got to feel really, really guility to believe she did. If you are not Hillary you have to be really, really dishonest to believe she did. Oh, that's right. This is a Matt Drudge story. He is sort of like the National Enquirer of politics.

Sorry National Enquirer comparing you to Matt Drudge was kind of unfair.

Somebody explain to me why the people responsible for spreading this distortion haven't been fired.

Seriously. This is journalistic incompetence first and foremost.

Actually, not originated by Drudge (says Somerby) but by the NY Times' Zeleny. Zeleny is the guy who, the other day, wrote a story referring to Obama's disapproval of protests at the funerals of soldiers as disapproving protests by "anti-war protesters." Of course, Obama said no such thing, and the only such protests have been by right-wing fundamentalist lunatic Fred Phelps and his anti-gay bunch. The blogosphere caught this early, however, and Zeleny was forced to scrub that part of the article by the time my edition of the Times arrived.

Somebody needs to start a Zeleny watch. He's out to provoke idiotic controversy with no basis.

Hey, orwell, you're a real humorist. You ought to be on the stage. There's one leaving in a half an hour ...

Ha. Ha.

The more important link (well to me, anyway) in Somerby's Howler is to the Village Voice story about Rudy Guiliani's 5 Big Lies. The MSNBC/Fox/CBS et al producers should be scheduling the story based on this article.

But they won't.

thethirdPaul: As Matt Drudge and FAUX-Lite types croon, "Fever, I got the fever.."

Liberal Democrat Chris Matthews misrepresented a story. Is liberalism to blame? No, says ttP, it's the fault of me and fellow conservative Matt Drudge. Liberals do no wrong. Whenever something is wrong, conservatives are to blame.

I was listening to Bill Press filling in for Ed Schulz yesterday, and he was insisting that it was about Hillary, and no way you could interpret it differently. It was driving me crazy. If she was taking a swipe at anyone, I figured it was Guiliani.

Oh, Chriminny. The Republicun Slimfest hasn't even BEGUN, people! If liberals get in a froth every time "Hardball" takes a cheap shot we'll have no time left to breathe. Calm down, save your indignation for the big guns coming next summer!

If a conservative calls Chris Matthews a liberal Democrat, would he make a sound?

Now THAT'S comedy!

If a conservative calls Chris Matthews a liberal Democrat, would he make a sound?

Now THAT'S comedy!

I think it is more interesting to discuss Obama's contention that if he can get blacks to turn out to vote in GA, SC and MS at the rate that whites do, that the deep south will return to the Dem fold.

If liberals get in a froth every time "Hardball" takes a cheap shot we'll have no time left to breathe.

No, the truth is the exact opposite. Every time some media figure comes out with bullshit, they need to be smacked in the face hard and immediately.

Nothing else could even possibly work. History has shown that they are as dumb as bricks and as stubborn as mules.

Corporeal punishment was invented for this lot, but, alas, we must use our words.

"I think it is more interesting to discuss Obama's contention that if he can get blacks to turn out to vote in GA, SC and MS at the rate that whites do, that the deep south will return to the Dem fold."

Me too. But Zeleny of the Times won't write about that and if he did the talking heads wouldn't pick it up.

"The Republicun Slimfest hasn't even BEGUN, people!"

I'm having visions of Rush Limbaugh & Karl Rove gearing up for bikini season.

Ah, FAUX-lib, you have such a quality of febrility at times - You simply, Sizzle. "Steam Heat" on the web.

Chris Matthews is far from a liberal - There is no one on Cable or Hate Radio, who is more anti-Hillary than Chris. He, Rush, and Karl Rove could start a trio, sort of a Ernie Kovacs type guerillas, Nairobi Trio, jumping about with hate songs about her.

Liberal Democrat Chris Matthews

Is that like Intelligent George Bush? Or Compassionate Dick Cheney?

Every time some media figure comes out with bullshit, they need to be smacked in the face hard and immediately.

I wrote my little letter to the editor about how corporate news programs are only entertainment, and that real news is available at (several listed) blogs. ---recommending that people join in the fun.

What channels is a citizen capable of using, when they own the airwaves?

thethirdPaul: Ernie Kovacs type guerillas

ttP, I hope you're not saying Ernie Kovaks was a guerilla. Maybe his mustache made him look like one. IIRC he played one in "Our Man in Havana" But, he was one funny guy.

ttP, I hope you're not saying Ernie Kovaks was a guerilla

Well, he did reference the Nairobi Trio, so I think he knows that Kovacs was a comedian.

Chris Matthews, flaming liberal:

"And that's the president looking very much like a jet, you know, a high-flying jet star. A guy who is a jet pilot. Has been in the past when he was younger, obviously. What does that image mean to the American people, a guy who can actually get into a supersonic plane and actually fly in an unpressurized cabin like an actual jet pilot?"

...

"He won the war. He was an effective commander. Everybody recognizes that, I believe, except a few critics."

...

"Here's a president who's really nonverbal. He's like Eisenhower. He looks great in a military uniform. He looks great in that cowboy costume he wears when he goes West. I remember him standing at that fence with Colin Powell. Was [that] the best picture in the 2000 campaign?

...

"He looks for real. What is it about the commander in chief role, the hat that he does wear, that makes him -- I mean, he seems like -- he didn't fight in a war, but he looks like he does."
...

"We're proud of our president. Americans love having a guy as president, a guy who has a little swagger, who's physical, who's not a complicated guy like [former President Bill] Clinton or even like [former Democratic presidential candidates Michael] Dukakis or [Walter] Mondale, all those guys, [George] McGovern. They want a guy who's president. Women like a guy who's president. Check it out. The women like this war. I think we like having a hero as our president. It's simple. We're not like the Brits. We don't want an indoor prime minister type, or the Danes or the Dutch or the Italians, or a [Russian Federation President Vladimir] Putin. Can you imagine Putin getting elected here? We want a guy as president."

I could go on & on with the snippets, but I have to admit that pointing out ex-liberal’s mendacity & sheer ignorance gets boring after a while. For more on Chris Matthews’ rabid liberalism, you can check it out for yourself:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200604270005

If Michelle Obama meant what she said about Hillary, I say good on her. She has more balls than most of the male Democratic politicians who are wasting oxygen these days. Hillary is not the right choice for the Democrats in 2008. Period. Full stop.

If Michelle Obama meant what she said about Hillary, I say good on her. She has more balls than most of the male Democratic politicians who are wasting oxygen these days.

I disagree. I think it makes the Obama camp look like they're willing to fight dirty, and that is very clearly not the campaign they're running. They're trying hard to appeal to Americans who are sick of the slime, and just want honesty.

The "she attacked Hillary" meme comes from the rightwing wackos, who very mush want to see Hillary be the Democratic candidate - because they believe she is the least dangerous to the Republicans. (and I agree with that). It's very likely that Rove's attack dog in Arkansas have dug up some very damaging dirt on her. Or at least plausible-enough-for-FoxNews dirt.

...Hillary is not the right choice for the Democrats in 2008. Period. Full stop.
Posted by: The Conservative Deflator on August 23, 2007 at 5:07 PM | PERMALINK

Well, on that point, I completely agree with you.
Most of the Democrats in my local organization agree as well. The more we hear from Obama, and Hillary, the more we like Obama - and the more it seems as if the process is being railroaded for Hillary. It's like 2004, for Kerry, all over again.

But it looks like that die is cast already, doesn't it? It sure looks like the DLC, and the big-money influences in the Democratic Party want her, and are hard at work to make sure Obama does not happen.

It sure looks like the DLC, and the big-money influences in the Democratic Party want her, and are hard at work to make sure Obama does not happen.

You got that right.

And even here in Chicago, where there is naturally overwhelming support for Obama from deep pocket Dems, HRC is pulling bigtime *Republican* donors onto her side.

Kevin, this is old non-news from two days ago.

Now, why would you resurrect, even for discussion's sake, a rather despicable Drudge-manufactured controversy that has already been easily and repeatedly refuted by the Obama campaign -- anyone here watch the Daily Show last night? -- and is thus not worth the discussion?

The Conservative Deflator: "If Michelle Obama meant what she said about Hillary, I say good on her. She has more balls than most of the male Democratic politicians who are wasting oxygen these days. Hillary is not the right choice for the Democrats in 2008. Period. Full stop."

(SIGH!) See what I mean?

Hey, ConDef -- if you read Kevin's original post closely, you'd have noted that Michelle Obama wasn't even talking about Hillary Clinton. And your rumor-grasping opinion about Sen. Clinton is most decidedly a minority one.

Period. Full stop.

The more we hear from Obama, and Hillary, the more we like Obama

The more I hear from Obama and Hillary, the more I like Edwards and Kucinich (and sometimes even Biden and Dodd.)

One thing is for certain, if the Clintons did not have lewd and lascivious baggage what Michelle Obama said would not be misconstrued as controversial at all.

That is what democrats need to focus on. The Clintons and their salacious history in the WH. We are going to hear more and more about this. Hillary wants to use Bill in the campaign...well that cuts both ways.

I am sick of Hillary's selfish ambitions and disregard for the decency and families of Democrats. We do not deserve to have these type of tawdry details once again on the nation news and on the front pages of our newspaper.

Hillary has the highest negatives and Bills adultery and yet beleives she can carry the nomination out of some blind-ambition. Hillary cares not for the Democratic party at all. If she did she would take the stain of shame Bill left on the nation in the most prestigious and highest office in the land and go home to the marriage she decided to remain in.

Hillary should bear this shame, not the American citizens.

Have the Clintons, no shame?

Michelle Obama's pride in her own family is not the issue here, it is the totally disgracful and salacious history of Bill and Hillary Clinton that is the problem.

We deserve better.

I watched it. I thought Mike Barnicle led with leaving out the last line that Michelle uttered that referred her remark to her own family situation. Later, he mentioned it, but implied a doubt. I felt that Joan Walsh, normally very astute and clear in the quality of her statements, rather folded on the matter, and made a kind of agreeable noise following the statement by the right winger in the trio.
I wonder if the forum is so rushed--that this might be a factor on her part. She felt that Matt Drudge had made the Michelle Obama statements an issue. Later she should have provided some closure but did not.

That is what democrats need to focus on. The Clintons and their salacious history in the WH.

No, what the Democrats need to focus on is on getting the American people behind an agenda for change in this country.

Let's be clear The Clintons are not offering an agenda for change.

It is nothing but more of the same.

Focus on building a bridge to the future not to the past and the Clintons baggage.

Democrats nominating Hillary for the nominee will not be focused on change. Hillary is the recipient of the most lobbyist money and highest healthcare dollars along with earmarks.

Hillary is nothing but more of the same and Bill is a bedhopping problem.

Grasping at straws? John Edwards saying in New Hampshire that he would not rent out the Lincoln Bedroom.

Let's be clear The Clintons are not offering an agenda for change.

Insofar as that is true (which, as I've said before, is pretty far in the case of Hillary Clinton, who is the one actually running for office), that's what should be focussed on by Clinton's Democratic critics, not the kind of attacks that the Republicans tried to make stick but the American people largely rejected to make Bill Clinton the most popular outgoing President in the history of tracking approval ratings.

The Clintons are not offering an agenda for change….caroline at 6:53 PM

Liberal Democrat Chris Matthews misrepresented a story….ex-lax at 4:31 PM

Matthews has worked for four Democratic politicians, including 6 years as an aide to Tip O'Neill, the Demcratic Speaker of the House. He was a presidential speechwriter for four years during the administration of Jimmy Carter. (see wikipedia)

Suppose Newt Gingrich's aide were a TV host and someone claimed s/he was a Democratic mouthpiece. Would you buy that claim?

-*-

There are two types of moms.

Type A: The ones who claim they know it all and they are there for their children even if it's just to tuck them in at night and they are just absolutely certain their kids are benefitting from their superior mommy skills and they know how to run their own family and everyone elses.

Type B: The ones who always feel they could be doing more and feel every extra moment with their kids is valuable and wouldn't presume to praise their own parenting.

Type A is a royal pain in the ass. I am not interested in hearing from any candidate or candidate's spouse what wonderful parents they are.

Suppose Newt Gingrich's aide were a TV host and someone claimed s/he was a Democratic mouthpiece.

Depends, you know, a lot on the conduct since leaving Newt's employ.

Chris Matthews as a liberal - Well, conduct trumps resume.

He has oohed and aahed over Shrub - Talked about him being the type one could have a beer with.

Pads his panels with Repugs outnumbering Democrats - Speaks glowingly about his Republican upbringing - Talks about how the Democratic Party left him and others.

Constantly looks for angles of attack against Senator Clinton.

Drools over Rudy.

Yeah, some Lib.

I've been a fan of Somerby for a long time and I think his take is that Chris Matthews is neither a liberal (although he was against the war) nor a conservative. He's a multi-millionaire corporatist. A nouveau riche who sold his soul to live on Nantucket when he isn't busy degrading political discourse. He's got that Catholic guilt/fascination/longing for sex stories, particularly Clinton, and is consumed by trivia.

I am not interested in hearing from any candidate or candidate's spouse what wonderful parents they are.

Posted by: Chrissy

Me neither. There is another problem with Mrs. Obama: Put bluntly, she wants to be Mr. Obama.

I like Obama. My advice to him would be to lower her profile considerably.

I find her overbearing -- especially when she feels it necessary to criticize him. Not funny.

Good lawd, Crissy, you're as bad Drudge and Matthews. Not only do you mischaracterize what Michelle Obama said, but if you had done even the most basic cursory search, you would have found Elizabeth Edwards praising her own parenting in the July issue of Vogue.

You useful idiots really need to start looking at the big picture, unless your goal is to make sure we get a GOP POTUS in 2008.

Now THIS is important, not blowing up mountains or FISA or the endlessness of Iraq or falling incomes or increased foreclosures...

Not addressing these distortions and how they come into being could cost the Dems the 08 race.

Somerby's point is that big time media favors Republicans, and ambitious journalists have to toe the line to move up. Not Rush or the right-wing noise machine, but MSNBC, the NY Times, the Washington Post etc. Progressives are not allowed into the upper echelons unless they're harder on Dems than Repugs. And thus we see people like Frank Rich and Ariana Huffington, supposed liberals, pile on Gore.

Being a successful journalist means selling out, if you're a leftie.

If progressives don't wake up to the way this game is played, they'll keep losing.

Disputo: I'm guessing you are not a mom.

What Elizabeth was saying was how much fun she had with her kids and their friends. You just don't get it.

And, goog Lawd, you are as bad as Karl Rove.

And Mrs. Clinton stands above all this.

Listen to yourselves!

caroline "One thing is for certain, if the Clintons did not have lewd and lascivious baggage what Michelle Obama said would not be misconstrued as controversial at all. That is what democrats need to focus on. The Clintons and their salacious history in the WH."

Well, now, it sounds like you're already doing more than enough of that for all of us, caroline. Your self-righteous indignation is duly noted.

And while you're on your holy roll, why don't you go to chuch, light a couple candles, and say a "Hail Mary" or two for the Clintons' salacious, shameless, lewd and lascivious souls?

Matthews has worked for four Democratic politicians, including 6 years as an aide to Tip O'Neill, the Demcratic Speaker of the House. He was a presidential speechwriter for four years during the administration of Jimmy Carter. (see wikipedia)

Citing Matthews' employment from decades ago must have given you an especially sick thrill from the mendacity and bad faith of it, "ex-liberal".

We get it, "ex-liberal." You take breaks from the right wing idiotosphere to come in here and insult us. You're acting out your psychodrama at the failure of the neocons and the rejection by the American people of dead-ender authoritarians like yourself by coming in here and pissing on the rug.

Why Kevin's moderator(s) tolerate your insultingly obvious disingenous bullshit remains a mystery.

This whole issue just pisses me off...and Somersby's piece is brilliant! But this is NOT an isolated incident...despite being yet another prime example of what our MSM exists for...not only "inventing" the news but "catapulting the propaganda"...and it's not only the fools on HARDBALL...I heard Bill Press (not exactly a conservative voice) while substituting for Ed Shultz on AAR run this same crap through an entire segment of the show all the while becoming quite arrogantly defensive to any caller who tried, in vain, to point out to him that it probably had NOTHING TO DO WITH CLINTON!!!! This is why the electorate continues in it's ignorance and why, unless these things are changed, we are doomed to head closer and closer to an ORWELLIAN NIGHTMARE...

I do am not a churchgoer Donald. I just hate when folks with illicit problems try and attempt to denigrate those who comment about their own circumstances to smear them with their baggage.
Michelle Obama's comments were only misconstrued due to TheClintons baggage. Not because of the remarks themselves.

TheClintons should not be getting a free pass. I suppose if Michelle had said their family did not drink that all the alcoholics in the world could have taken offense? Puhleeeze.

I have issue with Democrats attempting to misrepresent what Michelle said in defense of Hillary.

It is disingenuous for folks to try and act like Hillary is running when Bill is one the campaign trail right with her. So, THECLINTONS are running and for them to attempt to capitalize on Bill's 'pupularity' while at the same time being in denial about the man's inability to handle his own penis.

Frankly, I do not care how many women he screws or how many women Hillary investigates that is their personal lives. Yet, when it comes to being President of the UNited States and having the America people have to put up with his shameless behavior which was a disgrace to the prestige of the Presidency...then YES, it's time to speak out.

It's time for Democrats to stop attempting to ignore this huge tawdry problem. The GOP will not and we will have nominated the wrong candidate once again.
It boggles my mind that Democrats are even considering nominating a candidate with high negatives ...that only will get higher during the general. Hillary is unelectable and her 'inevitability' as the Dem nominee is nothing but the beginning of a repeat of their national nightmare for Democrats, their familys and the country.

I just hate when folks with illicit problems try and attempt to denigrate those who comment about their own circumstances to smear them with their baggage.

Interesting. You know what annoys me? Concern trolling.

TheClintons ... TheClintons

That online tic reminds me of someone...you don't by any chance have an paranoid nativist blog you'd like to point us to, do you? Anywho...

It is disingenuous for folks to try and act like Hillary is running when Bill is one the campaign trail right with her.

Um, no. Michelle Obama is on the campaign trail with Barack, but Barack is the one running for President. Candidates spouses are often on the campaign trail, but only the candidate is running for office.

And it is good for people who dislike Hillary that it be seen that way, too, since Bill Clinton is vastly more popular and less disliked than Hillary.

Yet, when it comes to being President of the UNited States and having the America people have to put up with his shameless behavior which was a disgrace to the prestige of the Presidency

Yeah, look, other heads of state have overt mistresses. Clinton's dalliances were not a "disgrace to the prestige of the Presidency" when he was President, and they even more certainly won't be as long as he isn't President, whatever office his wife is in.

It's time for Democrats to stop attempting to ignore this huge tawdry problem. The GOP will not and we will have nominated the wrong candidate once again.

There are many reasons why Hillary Clinton is the wrong candidate, but Bill Clinton's sexual history isn't one of them.

caroline,

If we could use Bill for a "Wickerman" moment in a giant purification ceremony, and possible crop renewal ritual, would this satisfy you?

Only the purest of the pure need apply - The rest in tumbrells.

Proof, Proof I tell you that the repugs are dumb as stumps in a corn field.After 8 years of getting bitched slapped around by the Big Dog Mr. Clinton you would think they would stay away from this one but.........................!