Matthews Apologizes For "Enemy Camp" Remark...
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
December 3, 2009 1:31pm CST
During live coverage of President Obama's speech on Tuesday night, Chris Matthews of MSNBC said the following:
"I didn't see a lot of warmth in the crowd out there," he said. "He went to maybe the enemy camp ... to make his case."
To be perfectly honest, I didn't even think about it as being a slur towards the cadets or military officers in attendance for the speech at West Point. Attack me for that all you want but I'm only telling you the truth! It wasn't until, while flipping through the channels later that night, I happened to hear Greta Van Sustren of Fox News mention it and end with "Ouch" that I realized Chris was in trouble for what I'D thought was a bit of a slam against the President. .
On "Hardball" last evening Matthews told that he had gotten "some very tough calls" from former cadets and parents of cadets. He said he was told the audience of military officers and officers-in-training are trained not to show emotion.
Here is the rest of his statement on the matter:
"I've heard too many politicians say, `Oh, that was taken out of context,' to explain something they wish they hadn't sent. Let me just say to the cadets and their parents, former cadets and everyone who cares about this country and those who defend it, I used the wrong words and, worse than that, I said something that is just not right and for that I deeply apologize."
Read more here: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=9233849
Any comments?
Annie
1 person likes this
6 responses
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
4 Dec 09
(Sang over Sinatra's 'I've Got the World on a String')
I've got a thrill up my leg
Obama makes the rainbow
When he speaks my body trembles
What a voice, what a man
I'm in love!
I've got a thrill and I sing
Don't care about embarrassment
I don't ride no pole
I've hopped the fence
Look at me, Obama, please
I'm in love!
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 Dec 09
Since I know neither of you are fans or regular viewers of Chris Matthews I guess I should give you a pass for not knowing how wrong you are about him in general! Yes, he made that rather silly "thrill down my leg" remark, nobody's disputing that. Chris trends to use exaggerating terms in a lot of what he says, that's just how he is, like it (or HIM) or not. Having been around politics and politicians for much of his life, he's heard and written many speeches and apparently he felt Obama's had been particularly moving that night. That certainly has not meant he's heaped praises on Obama for everything he's said or done since then. He defends him sometimes and sometimes he criticizes him. He hasn't gone insane over Obama's bow in Japan but he's criticized him for it repeatedly. You probably think he's a Palin-basher but he often sings HER praises as well.
Annie
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
4 Dec 09
I'm seriously rewriting the Sinatra songbook and making 'em all about that Matthews-like love for Obama. Not that anyone would be interested in reading them, but I'm planning on singing them to myself for shts n giggles. 
Maybe liberal songs will sell better than liberal books. Yikes. 
Maybe liberal songs will sell better than liberal books. Yikes.
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
3 Dec 09
I don't even like MSNBC, but I didn't see anything wrong with his remark. When you actually view the clip in context, you can see he wasn't likening West Point to actual enemies of the president.
It WAS taken out of context. He shouldn't have had to apologize, but kudos to the man for doing so anyway - even if it was coerced by knee-jerk reactionaries.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
4 Dec 09
It's quite obvious that to the left's way of thinking, the (only) enemy is the right and they would/will? censor and remove the voice of the right in a heartbeat..
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
4 Dec 09
Thank you, Latrivia, for giving an honest and objective answer. This is NOT to say that anyone who took his remarks differently from you or me are dishonest so please, don't anyone take ME "out of context"...lol! I was beginning to think everyone thought I was just a liberal showing my own bias. I admit to being liberal but I'm not being biased on this.
From having seen Chris's show before the speech and from seeing him on a regular basis I simply took it as him commenting on the cadets perhaps not being as crazy about Obama as they were about Bush. I think, at the very worst, he could have chosen his words a bit better. Instead of "enemy camp" he could have said something like "not so friendly" or "not a receptive audience" or something like that.
Annie
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
4 Dec 09
And the right is any different? Need I remind you of the far-right's persistent demonizing of anyone who dare question Bush back when he was in office? How many times were those who didn't support the war or the patriot act deemed "un-American" and told to "get out"? More times than I can count on both hands.
As it is, Matthews wasn't using 'enemy' in the sense that the people in attendance were actual enemies of Obama. You can tell from the context of what he says.
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
3 Dec 09
Well I'm not in the least bit surprised to hear Chris Matthews say that. I think it's quite obvious that he was calling those attending the enemy and it's certainly not out of character for him to behave in such a manner. There were only two big surprises, 1. he actually apologized. and 2. people were actually watching his show.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
5 Dec 09
Gee, I happen to know lots of people who watch his show regularly. Maybe it's just us "dumb Pennsylvanians" since that's where he's from...lol? Hey, it's fine that you don't like him, his show or even his network, but to imply that he somehow makes a habit of dissing our troops is pretty low because it's simply not true.
Annie
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
3 Dec 09
I agree with you. It is shocking that he apologized and it is even more shocking that anyone is watching his show. MSN is a joke. Even more than FOX or CNN. Which is saying a lot.
@xfahctor (14113)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
4 Dec 09
It wasn't as bad as his "Well, they look like a white crowd to me" remark, certainly not as bad as the condiscending interview he gave my aquaintence, or as bad as a number of other things he has allowed to roll of his slobbering stupid lips, but it was a dig at the cadets none the less and I feel an apology was not only apropriate, but nessesary.
@xfahctor (14113)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
4 Dec 09
that would be the genious, chris Mathews. It was on a story they were doing about a Palin book signing. Here, have a listen. It comes in at about a little under 1:00 his gal in the field points out the racial make up of the crowd as mostly white and Mathews runs with it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXz-ebxcFMM
@xfahctor (14113)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
5 Dec 09
Annie, he was accurate, it was a mostly white crowd. I was not disputing the facts, but calling him out for even pointing it out. It was a a blatent and indefensable racialy motivated dig, period. there is no way to spin that. they were putting another racial angle on something completely non-racialy relevent. this has become an all too common tactic on MSNBC, you want more examples? They are becomming notorious for it. It is pety, stupid and alienating.
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
4 Dec 09
I didn't think it had anything to do with the level of attention the audience paid Obama. By his remark, he clearly told us that he thinks of our military as the enemy. Or, to give him the benefit of the doubt, he felt that Obama's decision on Afghanistan would be met with opposition by those in the military, thus making them "the enemy" as regards this speech.
Lot of people remarked on the bore factor of the president's speech, there was even a cadet in the audience reading a book called "Kill Bin Laden". I think he did that as a statement of protest since I am sure he would not be allowed to comment negatively in words or boo the president. It was a silent protest.
Aside from those in the business who must watch the competition quite closely, the rest of Matthews' audience would be hard-core fans. They wouldn't notice, nor object. If they didn't like his point of view, they wouldn't watch him. I think the apology was a hopeful sign that Matthews might actually realize that he can't afford to alienate any more viewers and that some things just aren't acceptable.
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@anniepa (27955)
• United States
5 Dec 09
The "bore factor"? Do you mean as in he didn't over-dramatize his speech with words and phrases like "Mission Accomplished"? I hadn't heard about the cadet reading the book so I won't comment on that.
As for your statement that, "If they didn't like his point of view, they wouldn't watch him," I'm sorry but you're mistaken and I should know because I DO watch him and there have been many times when I "haven't like his point of view". Were you even aware that he voted for Bush in 2004?
Annie
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
5 Dec 09
As I said, many people remarked that the speech was less than rousing. It also contained false charges against the Bush administration - 10 months into his presidency he's still trying to make the other guy the scapegoat, that's not really impressive.
I do remember several years ago when Matthews was a more moderate, sensible and less ideologically-driven commentator. These days he's all vitriol and snide remarks. That gets boring too. I have no idea who Matthews voted for in the past, although I would hazard a guess and say that he probably voted for Obama.
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
3 Dec 09
Well it was a bad thing to call West Point Cadets the "enemy". It is a military school. Therefore it calling our own military "the enemy". Not a smooth move. Not when any of the cadets graduating anytime soon will most likely be in Iraq or Afghanistan real soon fighting for this country and because this president commands them to. Talk about ungrateful for the sacrifices these cadets and other military personnel are and will be making for this country.
Glad to see he knows how to apologize. IT is up to West Point and it's cadets on wether they want to except it.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
4 Dec 09
Well, he didn't call them the "enemy" in so many words, he said the President had maybe gone to "enemy camp", which at the time I took as a dig at the President, NOT the West Point Cadets. I guess it really is all about perception and someone's preconceived option on the speaker, right?
Annie
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
4 Dec 09
what about perspective is there about calling west point "enemy camp" to the president of the us. That basically says that the military is our presidents enemy.
Pretty heavy thing to say comparing he is commander in cheif.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 Dec 09
He was implying the cadets didn't like the President, especially compared to the way they had SEEMED to adore Bush when he spoke there, not the other way around. I STILL say I take that as a dig at Obama not at the cadets but I'm clearly in the minority here.
Annie
