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Hardball Host Chris Matthews Obliterates Conservative Talk Show Host On Bush’s Obama “Appeasement” Charge (UPDATED)

May 15th, 2008 by JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief

MSNBC Hardball Host Chris Matthews dealt with President George Bush’s charge that Senator Barack Obama would appease terrorists on his show and obliterated Los Angeles conservative radio talk show host Kevin James who was on the show to give the Barack-is-an-appeaser side of it.

James’ problem: he had no idea what actual appeasement is. Note how he tries to get around the issue by talking loud and changing the subject. The problem: even though he takes a lot of heat from some partisans (particularly Democratic progressives), Chris Matthews was an excellent reporter and op-ed column writer (he had an excellent record for political prognostication) before he got on the air.

It’s a classic case of radio talk show host polemics and volume versus a reporter who’s trying to get a substantive answer from an interview subject and insisting that his follow up question be answered. You can see Matthews’ combination of amazement, absolute dismay and seeming contempt for James’ (a) attempts not to answer the question and (b) ignorance about the question he asked him even thought he is “dittoing” President Bush. (Listen closely as Matthews makes his own historical error in a side comment about the Cole…but he’s not the one charging a candidate with something based on inaccuracies).

This is a classic and is Matthews as professional reporter at his best (be sure to cover the eyes and ears of small children):

SPECIAL UPDATE NOTE: To those coming in late to this controversy who want to read our earlier posts on this story:

Read my FIRST POST reporting Bush’s comments. Then read my SECOND POST giving my reaction to what he said. Then read some QUOTES OF THE DAY on the issue. Also be SURE to read Matt Eckle’s MUST READ take on this on TMV coblogger Jeb Koogler’s great blog.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Republican Party, Democratic Party, Neoconservatives, Terrorism, Voting, Newsweek Blogitics, Demonization, MSNBC, Chris Matthews, Negative Campaigning, Media, Barack Obama, Iran, Middle East, 2008 Elections, Politics, War On Terror, Cable Talk Shows, Israel, Republicans, George W. Bush, Democrats, Television. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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