Uh Oh, Chris Matthews Went Too Far This Time

I personally never watch Chris Matthews of Hardball. He is bordering on the likes of Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly and I just don't have the stomach to listen to their lies and spin about Liberals.

The blogosphere is buzzing because it seems Chris Matthew's said..."Osama bin Laden sounds like Michael Moore." [shame on you Chrissy, you really stepped in it this time.]

Here's what it's all about...

Daou Report

by Peter Daou

UPDATE: John Kerry blogs on Daily Kos, Chris Matthews offers a half-hearted acknowledgement that he was "misunderstood." Nearly 20,000 people visit An Open Letter to Chris Matthews.

DEMAND AN APOLOGY: "Bin Laden sounds like Clint Eastwood" -- "Bin Laden sounds like Ron Silver" -- "Bin Laden sounds like Rush Limbaugh" -- "Bin Laden sounds like Bill O'Reilly"-- "Bin Laden sounds like Mel Gibson" -- "Bin Laden sounds like Bruce Willis" -- "Bin Laden sounds like Michelle Malkin"... Imagine the outrage on the right and in the press (but I repeat myself) if a major media figure spat out those words. Well, on Hardball, Chris Matthews just blurted out that Bin Laden sounds like Michael Moore. Simple: Matthews should apologize. On the air. This has NOTHING to do with Michael Moore and everything to do with how far media figures can go slandering the left.

And last I checked, Michael Moore didn't massacre thousands of innocent Americans. (The indispensable Crooks and Liars has the clip) And here's John Kerry's blistering statement on the Hardball scandal and Bin Laden's reappearance:"You'd think the only focus tonight would be on destroying Osama Bin Laden, not comparing him to an American who opposes the war whether you like him or not. You want a real debate that America needs? Here goes: If the administration had done the job right in Tora Bora we might not be having discussions on Hardball about a new Bin Laden tape. How dare Scott McClellan tell America that this Administration puts terrorists out of business when had they put Osama Bin Laden out of business in Afghanistan when our troops wanted to, we wouldn't have to hear this barbarian's voice on tape. That's what we should be talking about in America." -- John Kerry

MATTHEWS SCANDAL BLOG ROUNDUP

+++ Atrios: "Wanker of the Day: Chris Matthews" +++ Huffington Post: "Equating a prominent conservative activist to a murderous terrorist would bring the wrath of the rightwing machine on Matthews' head. But in today's political environment, Dems and liberals are fair game, either through insidious pro-Bush narratives like 'Bush is firm' and 'Dems are muddled,' or through blatant and vile comments like the one Matthews so glibly foisted on us." +++ Digby (who offers readers contact information to MSNBC): "This is ridiculous. This man is either working overtime to kiss right wing ass for some reason or he's been paid off to do full-on GOP character assassination. This is exactly what the Republicans did to Tom Daschle and Max Cleland." +++ Matt Stoller: "It is outrageous that Chris Matthews can slander the left, and take the threat of terrorism so lightly. I'd like to see a Democrat step up to the mike on this one." +++ Aravosis: "Pitiful. And terribly embarrassing for NBC and all of its namesakes." +++ More from Jane, Daily Kos, Seeing the Forest, The Green Knight, and The Left Coaster +++ Remember: This is not just about Chris Matthews or Michael Moore or Osama Bin Laden, it's about the willingness of a prominent media figure to slander an opponent of the war. +++

UPDATE: Markos adds: "The blowhards like Chris Matthews are orgasmic in their denunciations of liberals these days in the wake of the latest Osama Bin Laden tape. But let's remember -- it's not liberal who are in power. It's been George Bush and his neocon pals. It is THEY who have failed to capture or kill Bin Laden. It is they who have made our country less safe, and created a world in which terrorist attacks have increased. It is they who are making a mess out of the war in Iraq, failing to provide our troops with basic necessities like body and vehicle armor."

And don't forget to read An Open Letter to Chris Matthews