This is insane...

Beyond insane. These conversations about "regular" Americans serve no other purpose than to make the participants feel like they are in touch with the "common man" and know what he/she thinks and feels. It's actually the worst kind of elitism and reeks of condescension and arrogance.

Is there not a racial component to this, too? Can Obama only be said to be connecting with Americans if he connects with blue-collar white voters, some of whom apparently reject him because he is black (or biracial)? Has Obama had any trouble connecting with middle-class black voters?    

Since when did "racial honour" become one with "patriot love," pray?

Wasn't "regular American" a common Archie Bunker-ism?  That's what our press has been reduced to?  Mathews is such a hack.  If there wasn't a conservative slant in the MSM he'd be out of a job.  Should be anyway, the no-talent @ss-clown.

Love America, hate Matthews.

All bow down to the mystic qualities and definition of true Americanus Idjit.

I'm relieved, are you relieved?

Tweety - read Obama's book.  THEN try to say that with a straight face.

Are you suggesting that Matthews is a closet "feigele?"  That may explain why he's a Republican.

The appelation "Tweety" for Matthews is so strikingly on target.

The appelation "Tweety" for Matthews is so strikingly on target.

I picked it up years ago on "Democratic Underground".  It just seems so fitting.

That's not patriotism Chris, that's a desperate search for meaning and hope when reality is doing all it can to rob those things from you.  That's not a bad thing, but it sure isn't good for anything more than to keep one trying.  It's a religion in disguise.

I believe in the symbolic America despite what any group of politicians running the government may be doing to screw up the reality of this country, it's one of the reasons why I even bother with crap like this.   But "Freedom's just another word for nuthin' left to lose," is not so much a happy sentiment as it is a cry of defiant hope for a better tomorrow, no matter what one has to do to get there.

I don't agree with Matthews, and I believe he is underestimating Obama, but he certainly is entitled to his opinion, and I am sure many around the country share it.  To put it up here like it's some misinformation or out of bounds agenda furthering is misplaced. 

So, disagree with Matthews, many do. 

I don't think it's humanly possible for a guy who summers in Nantucket to speak informatively to the subject of being part of and connecting with Middle Class America.

How is furthering the myth that Obama is some sort of unpatriotic alien who couldn't possibly be like a Real American(tm) NOT part of a conservative agenda of misinformation?  Maybe it really is Chrissy's poorly informed half baked opinion, but he enjoys quite the podium to spin this crapola out of and he should be called on it when it's nothing more than garbage.

It seems he's also entitled to Karl Rove's opinion.

Even opinions can be credible. 

Matthews' opinion of Obama is not credible, for the exact reasons MMFA states in the item.

What is a "gut sense of Americanism"? 

Some weird colloquailism, I suppose, who knows?

But I find it incredibly arrogant to say someone's opinion on something so subjective as this is not credible.  It's as much as anyones, I disagree with you and MMFA, sorry. 

Well, let's consider his basis...

"And by the way, his background doesn't include that struggling middle-class experience"

That's not true, as has been pointed out previously.

"OK, one thing you don't do is you don't do what he does. You don't thank America for giving you what you got, like, I got all these degrees, I got all these advantages, so I thank America. Love of country is not because you got certain things from it. It's not a transaction. You don't thank people for giving you stuff. It's like loving your parents. You don't thank them for giving you a nice school and education. You thank them because they're your parents. They're your parents. You love your country -- it's called patriotism. It's love of fatherland, of country."

Somehow, being thankful means you're not patriotic.

The only thing I've ever heard Obama thank America for is opportunity, not college degrees or "advantages."

Matthews is not just underestimating Obama, he's flat out WRONG. 

 

 

And if no one knows what a "gut sense of Americanism" is, how can Obama be held to the standard? 

Pete, I just told you I disagreed with Matthews, he is off base and wrong as far as I am concerned too.......but I just don't get that upset at his opinion, I disagree with much of what he says, but it is his opinion.  

if he's off base and wrong, then what's your beef with it being here, and why is it "arrogant" to express an opinion on what he said?

You honestly can't follow can you?  I never said it was arrogant to disagree, I said it was arrogant to call Matthews' opinion not credible just because you don't agree with it.

If you can't discuss without twisting words, then you wonder why I often bail on you.  You needn't wonder. 

it's not credible because obama does in fact not come from an ivy leaque background, and is from a middle class background.  if an opinion is wrong, it is not credible, and it is not "arrogant" to note that. 

So that is your beef with this from Matthews? The jist of what he is saying is that Obama will have a hard time connecting with certain Americans, as I said, that is an opinion, I disagree.  But to castigate Matthews for what you are saying and attempting to invalidate his entire opinion as a result, is sidestepping the point, intentionally.

it's an opinion based in large part on the statement that obama is not from a middle class background?  are you denying obama is from a middle class background?  yes or no?

Just because he is or isn't has nothing to do with connecting to certain people in an election.  That is Matthews' opinion, his point.

no his "point" is because obama is from that "not middle class" background, he can't relate.  it's a point based on something that's not true.

And this is where Tommy will bail. Not for the reasons he mentioned earlier but because you pawned him...again.

Tommy, the lunch buffet has been definitely canceled. Definitely.

And I'd prefer you not patronize me by saying you're "sorry."

I was not patronizing you Pete.

Not only is MMFA suggesting Matthews got his facts wrong (yes, Tommy, Matthews is entitled to his opinion), MMFA has demonstrated that the representation in some quarters of the media of Democrats as out of touch elitists is part of a longstanding pattern. Now, you may disagree, but that is MMFA's opinion, and they are of course entitled to their opinions, too.

We are entitled to our opinions, and to disagree or agree with others......it isn't complicated, yet some people just can't stand ones they don't like and try to move them from opinion into fact, where they then try and shoot it down, obviously because it threatens theirs and exposes some weakness, happens here all the time. 

Makes life alot easier when you can agree to disagree.

Matthews also asserted that Obama's "background doesn't include that struggling middle-class experience." As Media Matters for America documented in response to similar comments Matthews made the evening before during MSNBC's election coverage, Obama's autobiography, Dreams from My Father (Crown, 1995), contradicts Matthews' statement that Obama's "background doesn't include that struggling middle-class experience."

This is fact, not opinion.

tommy says we are entitled to our opinions and to agree or disagree with others...   except, of course, when tommy finds it "arrogant" for you to express that opinion.  

Speaking for myself only I cannot stand opinions that are rooted in ignorance and opinions that are based on outright stupidity.

Actually, Tommy - you're right.  I cannot stand Matthews' opinion - and the reason I cannot stand Matthews' opinion is because he has based his opinion on debunked material and put it out there as gospel, using his national platform to do so.  To call him out on it isn't arrogant.

If I say that in my opinion, the sky is lime green with purple polka dots, it's not arrogance for someone to point out the fact that I'm obviously wrong.

Why is it arrogant?

Re: " . . . I find it incredibly arrogant to say someone's opinion on something so subjective as this is not credible."

The "someone" is, of course, Chris Matthews.  The "something" is, of course, Barack Obama.  Your racial animus is so exposed, Tommy.  Pathetic! 

I agree Tommy. I'm not sure this really qualifies as Conservative mis-information or furthers a Conservative agenda. This is Matthews blathering on about his version of being an American. It's often difficult to translate Matthews but I guess he's saying many of us think of America as a country where we are able to attain things. Try as I may I can't figure just what he's getting at other than you should love your country just because it's your country.

I don't agree with Matthews suggestion that Obama somehow doesn't "get it" or isn't able to feel or express this so called gut sense of Americanism. I think Obama does this just fine. I don't think Matthews is saying Obama is unpatriotic, only that he can't [in Matthews opinion] express it very well.....Now had he said that McCain somehow gets it & Obama doesn't, then I'd agree Matthews is guilty of pushing a certain agenda.

Well stated Jeter, I agree completely.  And it's Matthews opinion, his mind races a million miles a minute and his mouth is right behind, he is always saying stuff like this - it's not rooted in some credentialed study somewhere, or some set of verifiable data or facts, as some here insist should be the barometer for all this political junkie talk on 24/7 cable news, it's one mans opinion on the appeal of a candidate for some in our country.

more blather from matthews.  obama is an ivy leaque guy, he doesn't know what it means to struggle.  it's not opinion, it's factually wrong.

HAHAHA!!  If you had more faith in your own opinions, you wouldn't get so bent out of shape with somebody elses.  That is too bad.

why can't i express my opinion without you thinking i'm "bent out of shape"?  seems like nobody deserves an opinion but you.

No, it's because you can't differentiate between fact and opinion.  This is an opinion by Matthews, you are free to disagree, which you did.  But to say it is not credible, or he is lying?, is ridiculous.

didn't i just say it was my opinion?  i have an opinion of his opinion.  ok, mr. hall monitor?

Good. 

Now hurry to the restroom, others want to use it.  ;) 

thanks tommy.  your permission means everything to me.

Good.

Now can I have back the key attached to the wooden block you used to gain restroom access? 

No you may not. The woods are over there... to the right. Use 'em.

True redneck humor, Tommy.  It didn't take long for you to invoke the imagery better left in the latrine.

I must have missed where someone said Mathews was "lying". Can you point it out to me Tommy? 'Cause I know you wouldn't twist a poster's words, after ridiculing another for that very charge.

"factually wrong", implication > lying.

is obama from a middle class background?

I answered you earlier, gheesh.......just because you don't like my answer doesn't mean I am somehow compelled to answer it over and over, so keep asking, you'll get the same answer.  

no, you didn't answer earlier.  you said "whether he is or isn't....".   you refused a direct answer because you know that matthews "opinion" is based on a false assumption. 

to be precise:  "just because he is or isn't...".  that is not an answer, it's your usual evasion. 

You really are keeping Tommy's tootsies to the fire, arencha?

Yes, mine are really burning.  (lol)  The more you liberals spin yourselves around trying to invalidate an opinion the sillier you look.  Accept it, it's cleansing.

Silly?

Wanna know what's REALLY silly? Matthews spouting trash about 'gut Americanism' without even defining it. And you think it's 'arrogant' to call him out on it? What the hell ever...

So now I ask you: What IS 'gut Americanism'? What constitutes a 'regular American' or, as Sean Hannity calls it, a 'great American'?

It's Matthews' opinion, so you will have to ask him.  And for the umpteenth time, I am not protecting Matthews or even agreeing with him, and anyone who feels like it can certainly disagree, but to treat his opinion on this whole topic as some fact is ludicrous, and yes, arrogant.  Matthews is talking very subjectively about a candidate's appeal in an election, that is the point, that is his opinion, nothing more.

And his opinion is based on... what?

Read the entire exchange reprinted here, he lays out his reasons. 

Why is it so tough for you?, I disagree with his opinion but I accept it.  If I were to have a conversation with him I would tell him my reasons why, and he would do the same.  We agree to disagree.  It's not a difficult concept, try it.

There is no point in our continuing disagreements here, just as you don't accept Matthews' opinion, you don't accept mine.  I am fine with that, sorry you are not. 

You really don't get it, do you?

Matthews is basically talking out of his ass with this 'regular American' tripe and we haven't heard from him or you or ANYONE what that term means. At the same time, you call us arrogant for calling him out on it. How about calling MATTHEWS arrogant for pretending to know what he's talking about?

Could one not simply have the facts wrong?

If one is "factually wrong", is one necessarily lying? I was not aware that was the case. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I guess that President Bush was lying about WMD after all, he wasn't just "misinformed". Thanks, Tommy.

Not necessarily, I put a "?" after the word "lying", indicating the word may or may not have been accurate in what mefirst was describing with "factually wrong".  Read it again.

it would help if you would just give an answer.  was matthews wrong about obama's middle class background?  but it's what everyone has come to expect from you.  no hard questions for our guy tommy.

He won't give an answer - if he does, he paints himself into a corner....again.

I've noticed that with cons... they think they're slick but in the end they look like morons. Just like Kevin James. :)

How do you know Matthews' opinion is not based on some verifiable, quantifiable data? How else would Mattthews know what the average, everyday American is thinking?

Yes, Matthews is clairvoyant and knows what the "average American" is thinking.  No opinion offered there, well done.

All Matthews is doing is speaking white racist code. He is saying that Blacks can't ne considered real Americans. Of course he has to use plausible deniability as a cover. Stop pretending you don't know Mr. Two-Time Bu$h Voter.

Matthews accused Obama of:

Never experiencing the struggling middle-class experience,

AND

Thanking America for "giving him" college degrees and "advantages."

These are not opinions, they are accusations. 

Both of these accusations are complete BS.  

I agree Tommy. I'm not sure this really qualifies as Conservative mis-information or furthers a Conservative agenda.

Good grief Jeter you just lost any small credibility you might have had!  If this statement by Mathews doesn't further the Conservative agenda what will it take?

Jeter has been promoting the Con agenda for over a decade. What do u expect from someone who voted for Bu$h twice. Not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Matthews is no expert on knowing what "everyone thinks". He doesn't know what he's talking about, but he has a national forum, a show where his "opinion" ... which he is entitled to ... carries to a few million more people than OUR opinion does (which WE are also "entitled to", while not being given such a national forum. Who made Matthews "entitled" to that forum? Rightwing power brokers, that's who.).

So this bigot Matthews is spewing to his audience that "nice family + Ivy League education = elitist, out of touch with average Americans."

I.E., don't vote for this guy if you want to be represented.

Shouldn't Matthews just start wearing his "McCain for President" button, as a nod towards TRUTH in ADVERTISING?

Sure, Matthews is "entitled to his opinion" as is everyone else, but IF that opinion is predicated upon lies, half-truths, myths, a gut feeling or even nothing at all, the so-called "opinion" is open to criticism and it's certainly not arrogant to criticize it and point out the opinion's  lack of connection to any supporting facts.

I don't believe that Matthews' statement is actually a true opinion.  It is an old right-wing talking point.  Pundits tend to suggest that liberal or Democratic candidates are out of touch with the salt of the earth regular folks.  His comment is the same as David Brooks' comment (with the last week, right?) about Applebee's.  It is something that the right-wing has been doing since the Nixon presidency to manipulate lower and middle class whites.  Furthermore, this sort of thing is never said about wealthy, elitist, ivy league conservatives.  That's why when a pundit accuses a liberal or Democrat of being elitist and never accuses a conservative of the same thing, we know that it's nonsense. 

Since Media Matters tries to track right-wing propaganda, Matthew's statement actually does belong on their site. 

Tommy, you're once again overusing the "opinion" defense.  This isn't simply Mathews stating that he thinks that Obama has a funny name.  He's not simply speaking for himself.  He's making assertions with regard to Obama's own thoughts and the opinion others have of Obama.

Unless Mathews is omniscient, then he better have some support for his assertions. Otherwise, it is likely misinformation.

Ranking this crap by Matthews...among his many idiotic musings...I'll put this one right at the top of the lunacy scale.

 

 -- People that don't have anything, including beautiful families and Ivy League degrees, know what they got. -- Matthews

For god's sake...can anyone make sense of that? 

I've long stopped trying to make sense of Chris. If you look at him when he talks it's like a churning machine going on in his head. NOw  I don't know what's happening and being said in his head but when it get's past his lips it can be quite non-sensical. This is just one of those many times. Now sometimes CM suprises me and I love it when he sticks to historical fact he's pretty good at that, he's got good re-call.

Tweety really seems to be losing it... big time.

Is this what we've become?

Every four years we'll have a pissing contest to see who's the most patriotic candidate, full of Americanism?

If that's the case, then maybe we don't deserve to think of ourselves as the greatest country on earth?

“If that's the case, then maybe we don't deserve to think of ourselves as the greatest country on earth?”—WK

Yes,  where who’s a real American and who isn’t can be manipulated so routinely and massively that it makes a joke of our two party system--- allowing profiteers to dominate one party while the other is very happy with itself that it did the right thing and are good people---meanwhile all but the elite and their hand maidens suffer from the result.

I just sent Tweety an e-mail...

I tried to be nice, but I lost it a little at the end.

I wouldn't consider saying "you suck" to Chris Matthews can be considered as losing it.  ;)

The posters above seem to have missed that even though what matthews said was his opinion, it is still a lie. Obama grew up in the midwest, to a middle class upbringing. Just because someone managed to go to an Ivy League School, doesn't mean that they grew up going to country clubs. My son will start college soon and I'm trying to get him into the best school I can afford. Some of the better private schools have programs so people like me can have their kids attend. And the republic party is always asking us to be thankful for the freedoms and oppurtunitys (sp) this country affords us (I am). So thanking your country is something they demand we do all the time. Tweety is way out there on this one.

"Soddy buster guy"? More of Tweety's stream-of-consciousness wet dreams.

Tweety's new book "Dreams of my Blather" will explain it all.

That's excellent reading when I go to the dinette for breakfast.

Oh Blather was 30 years old today.

They took away all of his toys.

His mother sent newspaper clippings to him.

About his old friends who'd stopped being boys,

 

Grace Slick and friends, near the end of the Airplane's time.

And the old men called him insane..

<a href="http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Lather-lyrics-Jefferson-Airplane/F7148A04D82CD45D48256BF40008EE3F"> Lather </a> sounds more appealing than tweety blather ;-)

Lather sounds more appealing than blather.  (rats, html code didn't create the link):

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Lather-lyrics-Jefferson-Airplane/F7148A04D82CD45D48256BF40008EE3F

Think your right it was Lather. Still Blather works and with the fidelity of the day many words in the music were unidentifiable on the radio.

My interpretation of this clip:

 

SCARBOROUGH: So, does all of that follow him into the fall or does he figure out a way to pick up these Hillary Democrats?

MATTHEWS: I think he's got a huge challenge and I don't know if he can meet it. John Kerry couldn't do it. Paul Tsongas couldn't do it. Al Gore couldn't do it.

I think Mathews is disingenuously establishing that he is not thinking of Obama as being Black to insulate himself from charges of being non-PC.  He’s establishing the predicate for his subsequent remarks by bringing up that non-Black Democratic Party Presidential nominees have lost a number of times lately.

 

SCARBOROUGH: How does he do it?

MATTHEWS: It's the connection with the regular person.

SCARBOROUGH: How does he do it? What does he need to do?

MATTHEWS: It is Ronald Reagan -- probably didn't hang out with regular people for 40, 50 years once he got to Hollywood, but he knew how to connect with the regular person. Nixon, in his own way, could connect with the resentments of the regular person.

Both of these successfully elected Presidents were of the party of the real American, albeit in its’ early stages.  It’s a false comparison—apples and oranges.

 

SCARBOROUGH: They did. So, how --

MATTHEWS: Sometimes, elite liberal Democrats have a problem connecting with the regular soddy buster guy who's got to work his butt off just to pay the bills.

SCARBOROUGH: They do.

MATTHEWS: They leap from poor to rich and skip 80 percent of the country.

SCARBOROUGH: The two guys that --

MATTHEWS: And by the way, his background doesn't include that struggling middle-class experience: tuition bills –

These two factual errors make obvious Mathews’ willingness to say what he doesn’t mean.  He didn’t explicitly name Obama but he is referring to him from the context here.  Obama is not of the elite, especially relative to other elected officials in the United Satates Congress, governers, etc. as he came from a single parent family of modest means and only recently came into some money.  Also as I understand it, he had to take out loans to pay for his education.

 

SCARBOROUGH: The two guys --

PAT BUCHANAN (MSNBC analyst): Jack Kennedy and FDR -- both were patricians. Jack Kennedy rolled through West Virginia.

MATTHEWS: And he knew how to do it.

If I remember right, JFK was greatly assisted in the WV primary by his father having the right contacts spread to spread his money around there.

And Kennedy was not of the Democratic Party of today.  Although JFK’s Democratic Party was the party of many non real Americans (including himself) it also had the Solid South.  There was no ‘real American party’ or ‘non real American party’ at that time.  

 

BUCHANAN: FDR of course --

MATTHEWS: He knew how to do it.

BUCHANAN: -- was a Hudson Valley patroon or whatever you want to call it, and he did it.

SCARBOROUGH: Well, Pat, Hillary's worth $100 million --

BUCHANAN: And Hillary's done it.. 

SCARBOROUGH: -- but she knows how to do it.

BUCHANAN: Hillary is one person that did it.

Hillary Clinton did not “do it”, that is show she could win the hearts, minds and votes of the real American in the general election.  She was in competition with a fellow member of the non real American party and a non real American to boot, unlike herself. 

 

SCARBOROUGH: So, the question is: How does he do it? Bill Clinton did it. Jimmy Carter --

MATTHEWS: OK, one thing you don't do is you don't do what he does. You don't thank America for giving you what you got, like, I got all these degrees, I got all these advantages, so I thank America. Love of country is not because you got certain things from it. It's not a transaction. You don't thank people for giving you stuff. It's like loving your parents. You don't thank them for giving you a nice school and education. You thank them because they're your parents. They're your parents. You love your country -- it's called patriotism. It's love of fatherland, of country.

The implication of what Mathew’s is saying here is that Obama is very unlikely to win because he can’t meet the criterion Mathews gives.  Black people in America are generally not going to have a commensurate love of country with non-Blacks due their past mistreatment and the residual effects of it---IMO.  And so if non-Blacks generally have this criterion also (a big question), Obama will not get their vote as they won’t believe him even if he really does have a similar love of country.

 

I will tell this story I told last night. When I was a Capitol policeman -- my first job on the Hill. It was a patronage job. I hung out with this guy from West Virginia, Leroy Taylor, a real country guy. He had been an MP. He was double-dipper. He was working as a Capitol cop. And he called me aside one time. We would sit around and smoke together, talk about everything together. He said, "You know, Chris," because he figured out I was a college kid, he was right. He said, "Chris, you know why the little guy" -- he meant like himself, the little guy, the guy with not a lot going for him -- "you know why he loves this country? Because it's all he's got." That is so deep. When the guy is broke, and he's hanging around, he loses his wife, his family, everything is going wrong in his life, everything -- not his fault, some things are. And he's got one thing when he gets up in the morning: He's got his country.

BUCHANAN: All right, Chris --

MATTHEWS: And that gut sense of Americanism is deeper than the values we share. It's deeper than democracy. It's deeper than opportunity or freedom. It gets down to your sense of connection. And I think --

SCARBOROUGH: Connects him with the country.

MATTHEWS: -- it's a hard thing for someone like Barack Obama, as sophisticated as he is --

BUCHANAN: You're exactly right.

SCARBOROUGH: I think you're right.

MATTHEWS: -- to express that.

SCARBOROUGH: I think you're right.

BUCHANAN: It goes beyond ideology and philosophy and all that stuff.

MATTHEWS: Right. It's gut.

They’re talking about tribalism.  But tribalism by definition exludes others.  If there are no outsiders there can be no insiders.

 

 
BUCHANAN: But does Barack Obama, and do Michele and Barack have it?

MATTHEWS: If they have it, they better show it. And I'm not talking about whether he's a good American, because I'm sure he fights for his country, do all the right things. It's this sort of gut thing, that the average guy in Northeast Philly gets, a woman gets -- in Scranton they get it. People that don't have anything, including beautiful families and Ivy League degrees, know what they got. They're Americans.

In other words Mathews is saying that no matter what this non real American does; he will not win the Presidency.

MATTHEWS: -- it's a hard thing for someone like Barack Obama, as sophisticated as he is --

 

At least he admits that Obama is sophisticated, har har.

Even if being sophisticated is now a BAD THING in little Chris' mind. 

Excellent post Eddy. Of course Matthews is speaking in code. Especially note how he selects predominantly white Northeast Philly from the rest of predominantly Black Philadelphia as the regular American standard.

"Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion." "Say, Mad Dog, whadda think of this rash on my arm?" "Looks like AIDS to me, pal." "But, you're not a doctor. How can you say that?" "Well, ya asked me, an' thas my opinion."

Next day:

"Didja hear ol' Ralph's got AIDS?"

"Who said dat?"

"Mad Dog"

"He ain't no doctor. How can he say dat?"

"Hell, he's got a right to his opinion, ain't he?"

"But Mad Dog's got no right to say that ol' Ralph's got AIDS."

"Why not? It's a free country, ain't it?"

Several weeks later:

"Didja hear ol' Ralph's wife left him?"

"Why, that's terrible! Why's she leave him?"

"Heard he had AIDS."

Beautiful!  (Others may disagree ;-)

Sometimes, elite liberal Democrats have a problem connecting with the regular soddy buster guy who's got to work his butt off just to pay the bills.

Hey Tweety, how the f#%k do you know what or where Obama may or may not have experienced the middle class experience? ....do you recall that this man conducted community organizing ventures related to the quote-unquote inequities of the lower to middle class???

Does this compute in your frickin' ivory tower with your double mocha cream latte you pompous ass. 

NEWS BULLETIN:

 

Chris Matthews opens mouth, brains fall out. People were surprised to learn that Chris Matthews had any brains.

 

 

I guess Korean Americans, German Americans, Polish Americans and Russian Americans aren't regular Americans.  I guess any blue blooded Ivy Leaguer that comes from old money isn't a regular American.  I guess any one w=ho celebrates a culture other than their home country is not a regular American.  I guess the governor of California isn't a regular American.  The sad reality is there is no regular American.  This is supposed to be a melting pot of many cultures, and yet every four years we get to see what the media elites think of our country.  All they ever promote is division.  These are the same clowns who once asked if Barack Obama was black enough and then condemed him for any association to Farrakhan.  Guess he became too black.

Chris Matthews loves being a troublemaker.  He craves attention.  Whenever he can, he creates a fictitious problem and loves the attention he gets, whether positive or negative, as a result.  He is also sadistic.  Whether a guest on his show is right-wing or left-wing, as soon as that guest shows the slightest weakness, Matthews goes for the jugular.  Later, his bullying and merciless "beating" of the guest is shown on all the MSNBC cable shows as Matthews, off to the side, can be seen smirking with satisfaction and great pleasure.  I find him an exceedingly immature, needy, bullying nebish.  It's a good thing he is seated behind a table most of the time because I am convinced Kathleen is wearing his pants.

Hmmmm....Matthews sounds like Bill O'Reilly...

I guess Obama isn't send a thrill up his leg any longer.  Funny how got over that as soon as Hillary was out of the way.

Listening to the video, the terms "elite liberal democrats" is the objective terms here.

How much more partisan can a statement get?   Democrats are elite liberals, is what is really being said, therefore if you want someone to understand you and to understand your "regular" problems, then by god you better vote republican.  Else, you will get Obama, who is "just" an elite liberal democrat out to destroy your way of life.  Obama who has no clue to how "regular" Americans live, nor what their problems might be.

Of course now also, just saying thank you is elitism?  WTF?

In fact, Obama does relate well to Americans, how else would he get where he is with all the BS spouted out of pundits mouths.  I am pretty sure they will see the proof of the pudding come election day too, then they will be eating that pudding!

Right...and remember, Obama is so out of touch with 'regular Americans' that he drew crowds approaching 100,000 in Oregon...

Oh, and......I don't remember who said this but it is so, so true.

The idea is for derogatory characterizations of Democrats to become "conventional wisdom", to be accepted without question as a valid premise, to be injected into political discussions as if a "truth" known and believed by all.

Lorelei that is exactly it.  Glenn Greenwald has some excellent articles on this on his website.  John McCain and his wife are worth how much??? Yet you hear Tweety and other Pundits depicting Repugnican canidates as tough cop, common people with family values no matter how far from the scripted picture their actual life is.  Tommy and Jeter know this and this is far more dangerous than just someone spouting an opinion.  The press hated Al Gore and called him an elitist, and liar and not the kind of guy you'd want to share a beer with????  The MSM and Repugnicans strive on these artificial characterizations like they have anything to do with governing.  I'am tired with this assault on reason,look what it has cost us already.  Don't let Tommy and Jeter derail the conversation as they follow each other from thread to thread giving each other hand jobs.

pewforum.org.

"What Brain Science Tells Us About Religious Belief"  and how those beliefs relate to politics and whether we are Democrats or Republicans.  How emotions lead one to be a "hater", how being liberal might be a good thing, lol.  

 People who had greater liberalism seemed to do better or were more sensitive to altering some habitual response pattern, implying that they were more open to change, more open to other ideas, more open to conflict, than people who scored lower on liberalism. Does that mean something about people who consider themselves to be liberals versus conservatives, Republicans versus Democrats?

How easy is it for us to be manipulated in terms of the beliefs we hold?  Apparently for some......VERY EASY.

Wow...if you get a chance go read it...explains a lot...especially how (to me) little chris can continue to say the things he does, lol!!!!

Lorelei:

Nice posts, and nice site. 

With all the talk of having an "opinion", i will risk a little pedantry. 

 

An "opinion"  is the end result of a person thoughtfully considering both sides of an issue and selecting the set of facts that make the most sense.  

 

An "attitude" requires no such dual (or more) considerations.  Chris Matthews appears to be all attitude.

Soooo... Ivy Leaguers with beautiful families are now unAmerican.

I'm a working class American, I have dirt under my nails. I don't about anybody else on this board but Obama stirs my gut sense of the greatness of our country.

Shoot, man. What else does the guy have to do? He just today gave the boot to lobbyists and PACS. He worked hard and became a learned man, he lived all that is great about our coountry and now he wants to make sure we all have greater oppotunity to rise up.

Screw Matthews, flippin' idiot.