Chris Matthews Is A Shill For The Insider Machine - Thom Hartmann/Truth-Out

[WillyT]

Chris Matthews Is a Shill for the Insider Machine
Tuesday, 04 August 2015
By The Daily Take Team, The Thom Hartmann Program | Op-Ed

<snip>

Mahatma Gandhi supposedly once said about all successful political revolutionaries that "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Gandhi was, of course, talking about his own struggle against British colonialism, but his famous line is as relevant today as it was in the 1920s or 1930s.

Case in point: how the powers-that-be and their allies in the mainstream media are responding to Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign.

First, they ignored him.

Then, when Bernie started surging in the polls and they couldn't get away with ignoring him, they laughed at him and said he was just another long-shot protest candidate.

When that didn't work, they went on the attack, seeking to paint Bernie as bad on race, guns, and immigration.

Now the mainstream media has started going after Bernie for, you guessed, it being a "socialist."

The man leading this line of attack is MSNBC's Chris Matthews, who first brought it up on an episode of "Hardball" Thursday night when he asked Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz the difference between a "Democrat like Hillary Clinton and a socialist like Bernie Sanders."

Schultz couldn't give a straight answer and flubbed the question once again when Chuck Todd asked her it on "Meet the Press" yesterday. That's when Chris Matthews, who was also a guest on "Meet the Press" yesterday, stepped in and gave the answer he'd been looking for all along.

The difference between socialist and Democrats, Matthews said, was that socialists want the government to control the entire economy while Democrats just want to make small reforms to the economy help out the poor. Matthews went on to say that the reason Debbie Wasserman Schultz wasn't making the distinction between socialists and Democrats was that she didn't "want to offend the Bernie people."

First things first, Chris Matthews is totally wrong about Bernie Sanders and socialism...

<snip>

More: http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/32198-chris-matthews-is-a-shill-for-the-insider-machine

[daleanime]

1. Not trying to be rude, but....

duh.

[WDIM]

2. The corporate controlled media is a propaganda machine.

They do the bidding of the elites that pay their paycheck. And if a mouth piece for the media steps out of line they are removed.

[nashville_brook]

7. there's something else too...ass kissing.

What Tweety is doing is ass kissing. He's trying to get ahead of everyone else with the most extreme version of the DNC's id. Like Glenn Beck: trying to turn the heads of the class of people he wants to please. Forever in their gratitude.

[Dustlawyer]

17. He saw colleagues like Ed Schultz get axed for supporting Bernie so he went on the attack!

[nashville_brook]

25. and he chose to attack by red baiting.

it's grotesque.

[840high]

56. I'm glad I don't watch "Mr. Tingles."

[FlatBaroque]

3. I was wishful that Jon Stewart would do to Chris Matthews what he did

to Tucker Carlson and the other puny guy's show...Crossballs or something.

[nashville_brook]

4. an insider, donor-class Dem red-baited my Facebook wall on Sunday

...with this Sanders = Socialist meme. this particular insider/donor plans on running for John Mica's seat...as a Democrat. He was straight-up challenging Sanders' legitimacy as a Democrat. And, you have to admit, he was challenging my own legitimacy as well, by trying to red-bait me.

Red baiting should disqualify folks from using the label of Democrat, and there's nothing less attractive than a donor-bro doing it. You might expect it from someone who didn't finish high school...maybe. And even saying that seems classist, because my grandmother only had a 10th grade education and she knew the difference between a Democrat and Socialist -- from having been red baited back in the day. She was poor as a child, you see. The poors, they're all socialists!

Those who don't know history...doomed to repeat it...rinse, repeat.

[nashville_brook]

8. and I should add -- the insider/donor edited all his comments on Monday

but I had previously saved it to Evernote. He's planning to run for John Mica's seat, and I guess he didn't want people to see him being intemperate on some little blogger's Facebook wall.

[ChiciB1]

5. Hey Willy T, Thom Just Mentioned Your Post Here...

Just thought you'd like to know. You may have heard it yourself, but giving you a "head up" anyway.

[Left coast liberal]

6. Love ya Thom, but I knew that long ago...

[jalan48]

9. I remember Mathews during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.

He was all for going after Clinton for having his tawdry affair. When I later heard him referred to as a 'liberal' commentator I thought WTF? It just shows how insidious the media slide to the right has been.

[uhnope]

10. Hartmann is a shill for the Putin machine so he shouldn't point fingers

I agree with Hartmann on this though
Oh and Truth-Out just reposts Robert Parry's Counterpunch BS so they are shills too I guess http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/25981-the-whys-behind-the-ukraine-crisis

[bigdarryl]

12. Yep

[Marty McGraw]

15. Whatever....

[senz]

18. I think Hartmann has been impressed by Stephen Cohen's elegant pro-Russian arguments.

Professor Cohen has a certain cachet as the husband of Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation. But I keep hoping that someday Thom will see how blind with bias Cohen is.

[uhnope]

20. I think that's a very polite way of putting it

although the fiscal motivation from his association with RT cannot be ignored

[RoccoR5955]

24. No way is Thom a shill for the Putin machine.

He just wanted to get his show on any way that he could. He has total control, and has said things against the Putin machine on his show. I guess you never watch it.

[uhnope]

35. Yes way

Responsible folks quit RT when Russia invaded Ukraine and the propaganda of PutinTV went into overdrive

Hartmann has spent hours in embarrassing Putin apologia with the shill Stephen Cohen, so don't tell me he doesn't. If you can cite him attacking the fascist regime of Putin, go for it

Saying he has "total control" over his show is like saying an employee has "total control" when they are at work. Nope

[Cleita]

41. Responsible folks quit who worked for RT.

Hartmann is not and has never been an employee of RT. He rents a studio. How hard is that for you to understand. All independent radio and TV people, who own their own shows, do the same? Do you really think RT can tell an independent business what to do in their business?

[uhnope]

43. How much $$$ does Hartmann get from RT for carrying his show?

You can't answer that and you don't seem to care. Funny how Hartmann won't say either

[Cleita]

44. I don't think he gets anything because renting the studio would indicate that he pays them.

Maybe allowing them to air his show is his payment. But I don't believe he gets paid anything. Like I said call him up on his show and ask him. It's really simple if you really wanted the truth.

[uhnope]

46. you're the gobsmacked fan--why don't you get this vital info about the man instead of

just what you "believe" is true.

Can you cite any proof of what you say about Hartmann "renting" the studio from RT? His bio says his show is "produced in the RT studios"--nothing about the rent.

[Cleita]

47. Well, do you have the leases and rental agreements for everyones' show you disagree with?

I don't think so. So ask him. You have his phone number for his show. You may not even have to talk to him. His call screener or producer might be helpful. If you think you are so right, what are you afraid of? I don't have an issue with him so I don't need to see his quarterly balance sheet, but you do it seems. So wouldn't it be better to get the facts than have to eat crow when it turns out you have been believing some smears and hit pieces on him.

[uhnope]

48. Here's the deal--which you can't accept if you are engaging in a crush or something

basic: If Hartmann was on RT but called Putin out on what every progressive knows Putin is-- a fascist running a homophobic regime that crushes free speech and dissent--then Hartmann would be okay. (But then he would probably lose his show, right? And what does that mean?)

If Hartmann just avoided the subject--that would be understandable.

But no--Hartmann actually has an infamous Putin apologist on his show, and Hartmann repeats the Kremlin talking points himself, makes excuses for Putin, as I have shown (all during Russia's disgraceful invasion of Ukraine!) That's the problem. It's embarrassing and sad. There's no sugarcoating it, no matter how you try.

[Cleita]

49. If you ever watched or listened to his shows, you would know that he has a lot of people of

of diverse political sides and opinions. He actually agrees with Naomi Klein on this:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/10/us-fracking-companies-climate-change-crisis-shock-doctrine

So if you think she's a card carrying fascist, I dunno what to think because she's not. I agree Putin is or rather I believe he's a Stalinist. I think she's right though about our oil companies using this crisis as an excuse to continue fracking. It's happening in my community. The oil companies are Satanic and I 100% agree with Naomi Klein and Hartmann on this.

[RoccoR5955]

50. Don'tcha know

Many of those third wayers KNOW that Naomi Klein is a fascist commie pinko freak!

They just need an excuse to not like Hartmann because he is a Bernie supporter, and has had Bernie on his show many times. So I guess that Bernie is a Putin supporter if he colluded with Hartmann to be on his show, and said nothing against Putin on the show!

[Cleita]

29. That's a lie. Stop repeating it.

He rents a studio from RT TV in Washington, DC to do his TV program from. No one at RT tells him what to do. He rents a studio from the Heritage Foundation for his radio program. No one at the Heritage Foundation tells him what to do considering he doesn't have many nice things to say about them on the air. Does that make him a Koch Bros. right winger?

[uhnope]

34. That's a mantra. Stop repeating it.

Read up on the subject
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/11/1283668/-Thom-Hartmann-Sticking-with-RT-despite-Resignations-over-Putin-s-Actions-in-Ukraine#

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2014/07/stephen_cohen_vladimir_putin_s_apologist_the_nation_just_published_the_most.html

Because to my knowledge Hartmann has never said how he profits financially from using the RT studios and has refused to say. Correct me if I'm wrong (with links).

The possibilities are that Hartmann is of the Chomskyite Putin apologists school, or he just knows who pays his rent and gives lip service when due.

[Cleita]

36. It's just a bunch of smears. I have been listening to Thom since he took over for

Al Franken at Air America. He has never praised Putin or even talked much about Russia or the Ukraine. Instead he talks a lot about Germany and the Scandanavian countries. You want a link? Here is the one to his show. If you can find any pro-Putin propaganda there put it up. http://www.thomhartmann.com/

Also, if you want to accuse someone of something, be mensch and do it to his face. He takes callers every day on his show: 12:00PM to 3:00PM Monday through Friday [phone]. Ask him directly.

That first story indicates he's an employee of RT. He's not. He uses a studio there and allows them to air his show, which is 100% his content and not anyone else's. He owns his own shows and businesses. He has addressed this on his show. He is moving studios he announced recently probably in September. It could have a lot to do with mundane stuff like leases and the like. However, call him up and ask him. If you are polite, you will get an answer.

But don't be repeating the lies and character assassinations directed at him because he has successfully circumvented all media to shut down any liberal voices in the media. They got Ed and now they will go after Thom and probably Amy Goodman. Don't be part of the smear.

[uhnope]

38. that's just a bunch of hero worship

The article I linked to totally cites Hartmann talking about Russia and Ukraine and spending long segments on it when he has the Russian apologist Stephen Cohen on his show. Guess you missed it, but to pretend it never happened is to engage in religious-like worship and denial.

This part you write is funny:

He uses a studio there and allows them to air his show, which is 100% his content and not anyone else's.

Hartmann "allows them"? And how much does he "allow" them to pay him for that? That's what I'm talking about.

Hey, I feel for the guy--he's got to pay his bills and the temptation of signing up with RT must have been strong. I agree with Hartmann on most everything, especially domestically. But having Cohen on to shill for fascist Russia was disgusting. Look at the article, look at that stuff that came out of Hartmann's mouth. It's embarrassing.

Ed got canceled cuz his ratings sucked. Don't fall for CT.

[Cleita]

39. Call him up and ask him and get the straight poop from the horse's mouth.

Are you afraid he'll hand your ass to you? You must be.

[uhnope]

40. ooh your daddy can beat up my daddy?

is that what this is about?

[Cleita]

42. Daddies? Red Herring anyone?

[RoccoR5955]

51. Not another one?!?!

Who does not understand Chomsky, or more than likely has an excuse for anyone who is backing Sanders.

[uhnope]

53. I was just thinking about that sort of deranged logic

That if you say something bad about St. Hartmann, you must be anti-Sanders, and your secret motivation in saying something about Hartmann must be something to do with Sanders.

[RoccoR5955]

55. If you say so.

As you seem to be the professor of deranged logic. I see that from your posts in this topic.
Have a nice day.

[ananda]

11. The Insider Machine

Wow, that could be a new potboiling political book title.

[JDPriestly]

13. Brilliant opinion piece.

Insiders v. outsiders.

By the way, ordinary voters are all, all of us, every single one of us, outsiders.

It's us that the insiders form their cadres and line up against.

We should boycott Chris Matthews and let MSNBC know we are doing it. Better yet drop your cable subscription and watch everything on-line. You pay one bill for your internet and YOU ARE THE BOSS, you don't have to pay part of your cable fee to the broadcasting of Fox News. You can donate to your favorite news source instead.

Choose internet over cable. Spend the money you would pay for cable on donations to your favorrite internet source of news.

As for entertainment, Netflix, Hulu, and many other sources provide you with the shows you want. Let the conservatives keep their cable TV. Liberals should be, well, liberal and support choice, even in TV programming on the internet.

OK??

[senz]

22. Yeah, paying monthly cable fees & hardly ever watch TV.

Doesn't make sense. Someone at DU recommended a roku box, which is now on my list of things to research. I signed up for a monthly donation to Bernie and thought again about all the drawbacks of cable...

[libdem4life]

54. I've had TV mostly because of the weather and MSNBC.

It was time to renew, and I dumped TV, kept my phone and internet. That's the only way to really think for yourself...a liberal highlight. If I don't care for something online, I can just move on. Or I can watch highlights. I have a short attention span anyway.

[True Blue American]

14. Chris Mathews

I learned long ago that Chris Mathews is a shill for Chris Mathews.

They are all hoping right wing to please Phil Griffith and COMCAST. All of them are running right as hard as they can to get the same thing MSNBC gave Ed Schultz. Ed was a Bernie fan. He was against the XL Pipeline and the TPP..

I have not watched MSNBC since I heard. Aljazeera is my go to station,plus LINK and Free Speech.

Most of my favorites are there. Bill Press, Hartman,Ali Vishi.

I have found out more about the world in the last three weeks than I heard in three years!

[Cleita]

32. Me too. I will still be monitoring Chris Hay's and Rachel Maddow's show this week.

But if all they have on is Donald Trump and the Goober Klown Kar like they did last night, I too will be turning it off permanently.

[senz]

16. Thom's point is well-taken.

"Democrat" and "Republican" are not the only hard divisions in our political landscape. Within both R and D we have insiders and outsiders. Insiders play the game, go along to get along, and are rewarded for doing so. Outsiders remain true to their values at the expense of their own material gain/media support. Chris Matthews is of course an insider, as are Clinton and Biden. Bernie has always been an outsider -- but one who is loved by his constituents and also by those among the rest of us who know about him. The ultimate insiders would be the oligarchs (but not all insiders are oligarchs, obviously). Democracy is, by definition, inclusive of all. Bernie champions democracy, and if he wins, it would be due to the workings of our own (hopefully unfettered) democracy. His win would be a huge loss for the oligarchs -- and so they will do everything they can to defeat him.

I like Thom's closing paragraph.

"And that's something everyone needs to remember as the 2016 presidential campaign moves forward, because the attacks aren't just going to come from the right - they're going to come from all over the place from insiders who want to keep the status quo in place and their multi-million dollar paychecks coming."

[WillyT]

21. Yep... Status Quo = Gravy Train...

[navarth]

19. kick for Thom and Bernie

and please everybody, ignore the trolls....

[Duval]

23. Yes, he is wrong and we have stopped

watching that jerk as of last night. As my granddaughters would say "Ewwwww"! Oh, I also remember when he made that remark about Bush's great photo with "Mission Accomplished" after we bombed Iraq. Matthews said it "gave him chills to watch". Oh really! It gave me nausea!

[senz]

26. lol -- Matthews does "airhead" very well. nt

[Faux pas]

27. I agree

100000000000000000000000000%

[olddots]

28. Tweety comes from politics not sports .

ex sports casters tend to love the game played fairly by great players , Tweety is into the crooked game of politics from the top down that cons people into voting against their own best interests .
He is a shill for the con man on stage who slips him some cash after the show/sermon or seminar .

[Cleita]

30. This is what I wrote on another post on the same article.

Tweety has a political weather vane attached to his brain.

His opinion changes as the vane changes direction. It's too bad that he has become a news demimonde to the corporation that pays him. It's too bad to because Chris really knows his history, politics and how Washington operates. There was a time he was an honest journalist. I used to read his columns in the San Francisco Chronicle before he became a television personality and they were brilliant. It's too bad he followed the money instead.

[George II]

31. Thom Hartmann is just pissed off because there are a bunch of openings now at MSNBC...

.....and he ain't gonna get one of them.

[Cleita]

33. Thom isn't interested. He owns his own radio and TV businesses.

He's a best selling and award winning author of 23 books. I don't think he needs any crumbs M$NBComcast has to throw at him.

[Juicy_Bellows]

37. Agreed.

Why would he want to be on MSNBC anyway? No one watches it and every commercial seems to be for an energy company or some other thing that isn't purchased by ordinary people. This, of course, is done to control the me$$age.

Same as it ever was.

[uhnope]

45. yeah his decision to throw in with RT probably has something to do with that

His whole "The Crash of 2016" thing is also pretty hucksterish, and he runs ads for gold on his show like any of these doom-and-gloom talk show hosts

[RoccoR5955]

52. Oh, you talked to him on that?

Do you have a link to that statement?
Or are you making it up?
Inquiring minds want to know.

[awoke_in_2003]

57. We've known that

since he fawned all over Bush in the flight suit