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Matthews on ACORN video: Beck, others "know what they are doing because they are getting an audience from this"

September 17, 2009 7:53 pm ET

From the September 17 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:

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Previously:

Matthews says that "the right wing and its allies on talk radio and on Fox TV have claimed another victim": ACORN

Network news largely silent on Fox News' role in hyping, distorting ACORN story

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    • Author by funnymanpants (September 17, 2009 8:10 pm ET)
      1  
      Yes, the Republicans smell blood. This is what this is about all along. It's funny, because question mark Tommy (otherwise known as righton) was just declaring that this was a small issue.

      The right wants to be in perpetual outrage mode, to have a scandal every single week. This scandal is Obama=Acorn=corruption=the other.

      If this one goes away, they will just hit on another (the Czar "problem" missile defense in Europe, etc).
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    • Author by fawltylogic (September 17, 2009 8:23 pm ET)
      1  
      Glenn Greenwald wrote the absolute best column about ACORN and the populist right today: The distracting benefits of ACORN hysteria

      I've never seen anyone put it better.
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    • Author by Dem02020 (September 17, 2009 9:11 pm ET)
      5  
      The observation "they know what they are doing because they are getting an audience from this" went completely against the grain of what all of these guys, chris matthews included, each said.

      They each and all observed how this issue is being used politically, and that it's meant to erode the political capital enjoyed presently by Democrats and by President Obama, and not for the simple (even innocent) purpose of driving up ratings.

      Why did chris matthews contradict the others and himself too, by suddenly injecting television ratings into the analysis, as though he were trying to figure why American Idol wants Ellen DeGeneres as a judge...

      "they know what they are doing because they are getting an audience from this"

      It's political, as these three guys each and all observed.

      Don't let these media hacks such as limbaugh and beck off the hook so easily, by making them out to be mere 'shock jocks' seeking higher ratings and bigger audiences... that's not what they're doing, they're playing politics, they're essentially trying to corrupt our Democracy by practicing political propaganda on our public airwaves, by using an FCC License to manipulate and influence the political opinions of the American People.

      You know, anytime the criticism of these media hacks veers toward what I just said, about them using the public airwaves for private political purposes, that's when even they themselves start misidentifying what they do, and start referring to themselves variously as 'entertainers' and 'clowns'... true?

      Again, it's not being done "because they are getting an audience from this", it's being done to erode the popularity (political capital) of Democrats in general and President Obama in particular... which is actually what all three said in the first place, until chris matthews then seemed to contradict the others and himself too, by implying it's a ratings game... it's not.
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      • Author by Reality TV (September 18, 2009 8:59 am ET)
           
        Fox News is the only news channel that is reporting anything of substance at present. They present the news in a manner that provides the viewer with factual information and they ask that "You Decide." Left to the others, we would not have known about the corruption and abuses of ACORN and taxpayer support - a staggeringly significant amount - that I personally had no knowledge of until the reports on Fox brought it to our attention.

        There were so many times that I commented to my husband when listening to ABC News that the headline style of news did not provide enough information for one to make a determination about the facts surrounding the stories and yet they like the others who bring news similarly, on a nightly basis, fell short of truly informing the public concerning newsworthy items and hot topics. There is bias from every direction and this is undeniable. Each person has their own perspective and it's true that bias exists in part due to sponsors. So let's not be naive. What I appreciate about Fox is that they have guests on from opposing views, both liberal and conservative to debate the pros and cons of the topics they discuss.

        I only recently began watching Fox and I find it is at least in-depth reporting and equally thought provoking. Let's give our fellow Americans credit that their intellect will serve them well when listening to anyone despite the usual rhetoric by either side of the aisle.
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    • Author by IRONY 101 (September 17, 2009 9:32 pm ET)
      1  
      I don't think Beck's audience will last, though. Not only will the subject peter out but Glennnn can't keep up these frenzied diatribes every day. Audiences aren't going to invest the energy in it. There are more entertaining shows to watch that won't leave them exhausted. It's all about entertainment...
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      • Author by jcrawford (September 18, 2009 7:59 am ET)
           
        Beck's new found glory..(lol)..doesn't have to last...the man made 18+ million this year. He can walk away a very wealthy man. And your right it prob. won't last...just like Howard Stern, viewers tend to be exhuasted after 1/2 hour or so.

        The real question is why MSNBC is paying Keitho 7.5 million for a show that only draws 800,000 viewers, which in turn, only beats 1 show...Rachael Maddow, at 600,000 viewers.
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      • Author by thundavolt (September 18, 2009 8:50 am ET)
           
        Beck has become so big headed he will take himself down. He's already going down but he's trying to take anyone else he can with him. Right now he's riding on a wave of "winning" while under fire. The ACORN thing became a stick issue even though he came out alright. Those two kids are going to reveal some interesting stuff about how Fox treated them if they end up in jail.
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    • Author by bintx (September 18, 2009 9:08 am ET)
         
      That "audience" is MINISCULE when taken in context. I wish everybody would quit blowing this out of proportion. Very few Americans are tuned in to ANY cable opinion outlets at night. When you combine the primetime viewers for ALL cable news opinion outlets, they still don't even come close to the ratings for reruns of Smallville on the CW.

      I work in a very, very conservative office with 30 other people. I can pretty much guarantee you that only one or two watch ANY cable opinion networks at night.

      As for Rush and the rest of the hate radio folks . . . I don't even think that one of my colleagues who used to be Rush's No. 1 fan [as a comedian, he knew Rush was a joke], listens anymore.

      Yes, the Fox and hate radio fans are vocal, but most of the folks around here think that these "fans" are complete idiots.
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