After repeatedly calling McCain's behavior "erratic," Matthews suggested Obama's doing so was a reference to McCain's age
SUMMARY: On his NBC-syndicated show, Chris Matthews suggested that when Sen. Barack Obama used the word "erratic" to describe Sen. John McCain or his campaign, he was making a reference to McCain's age. But in recent weeks, Matthews himself has repeatedly described McCain's actions, and those of his campaign, as "erratic."
Despite having previously referred to the actions of Sen. John McCain or his campaign as "erratic" on several occasions in recent weeks, on the October 12 edition of his NBC-syndicated television show, Chris Matthews suggested that when Sen. Barack Obama used the word to describe McCain, he was making a reference to McCain's age. Matthews asserted, "Obama and [Sen.] Joe Biden have been making their own suggestions about McCain's age and stability." Matthews then aired a clip of Obama saying, "I don't think we can afford that kind of erratic and uncertain leadership in these uncertain times," and one of Biden saying, "Not an angry man lurching from one position to another." Matthews then asked Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, " 'Erratic'; 'lurching from one position' -- are they going after the guy, 'He's an old crank.' What are they trying to make him into?"
However, in recent weeks, Matthews himself has repeatedly described McCain's actions, and those of his campaign, as "erratic":
- On the October 6 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, Matthews asserted that the "almost Zen calmness" of Obama "seems to be helping him, compared to the erratic-seeming McCain." Later in the show, Matthews asserted that the "pattern of attack by the McCain forces" was a "pattern of erratic effort to try to change the subject no matter what it might be to."
- On the September 26 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, Matthews asserted: "I think this other problem with McCain is the Captain Queeg factor here, which is starting to emerge. It's not there yet, but the erratic nature of calling for the firing of the chairman of the SEC, attempting to fire these debates in a sense, this effort to constantly change things ... I mean, he's always trying to rip up the score card."
- As Media Matters for America documented, on the September 26 edition of Hardball, Matthews asserted: "Everybody seems to agree, the conventional wisdom is John McCain's too hot, maybe erratic this week -- I'm not going to come; I'm going to come. I'm going to fire this guy; I'm going to fire that guy. I'm going to fire the debates." Later in the broadcast, Matthews said, "It seems to me that John McCain's behavior the last week has been erratic -- I mean objectively, not psychologically."
From the October 6 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
MATTHEWS: One thing I noticed about Obama -- and it sometimes drives me crazy, Peggy --
PEGGY NOONAN (Wall Street Journal columnist): Yeah?
MATTHEWS: -- is that he seems very calm. And I keep wanting him to be more like me or more like [CNBC host Jim] Cramer. We're just -- we're very much alike.
NOONAN: Responsive. Energetic.
MATTHEWS: And yet that almost Zen calmness of him -- in our -- Perry Como calmness of his --
NOONAN: Yeah.
MATTHEWS: -- seems to be helping him, compared to the erratic-seeming McCain.
NOONAN: Yeah.
MATTHEWS: Is that tenor important, or is it -- at some point, do you have to show some passion?
[...]
MATTHEWS: Well, it seems to me, Tom DeFrank, that if you look at the pattern of attack by the McCain forces -- as you say, they have to change the subject -- first of all, it was kind of odd things like Barack's no good; he's a celebrity. Then it was Barack's no good, 'lipstick on a pig' is a bad phrase to use. And now, it's Barack's no good because he hung out in the Chicago politics, Democratic politics, with a guy named Bill Ayers back when. It seems like there is a pattern of erratic effort to try to change the subject no matter what it might be to.
DeFRANK: Well, I don't know whether that's a prima facie evidence of erratic behavior by the McCain camp, but I do think it suggests that they don't have an overall strategy. It's basically tactical responses to the problem of the day. And the problem of the day today and for the last two or three weeks has been the economy.
From the September 26 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:
MATTHEWS: I think this other problem with McCain is the Captain Queeg factor here, which is starting to emerge. It's not there yet, but the erratic nature of calling for the firing of the chairman of the SEC, attempting to fire these debates in a sense, this effort to constantly change things -- he did it in Memphis a couple of years ago when he went down there and he knew he was going to lose the straw vote at that Memphis meeting of Southern Republicans and he endorsed Bush so that there wouldn't be a vote. I mean, he's always trying to rip up the score card.
From the September 26 edition of Hardball:
MATTHEWS: Let's go right now to Newsweek's Howard Fineman. You know, that is the issue. Everybody seems to agree, the conventional wisdom is John McCain's too hot, maybe erratic this week -- I'm not going to come; I'm going to come. I'm going to fire this guy; I'm going to fire that guy. I'm going to fire the debates. And on the other hand, you got -- this guy is so cool, you wonder if he's really engaged. Is that the -- is that the sort of the instinct out there?
[...]
MATTHEWS: Welcome back to Hardball, live from the first presidential debate locale down here at Ole Miss, Oxford, Mississippi. First time I've ever been here. Of course, it's always been in the news.
And with us right now is Newsweek's Howard Fineman, who sits with me, as he has often done over the last 300 years, and NBC News political director Chuck Todd.
Chuck, you're right outside the debate center. It seems to me that John McCain's behavior the last week has been erratic -- I mean objectively, not psychologically. He said he would not come here unless action was taken to avert a federal financial collapse. Action has most clearly not been taken. Why is he here?
From the October 12 edition of the NBC-syndicated The Chris Matthews Show:
MATTHEWS: Welcome back. With only three weeks left, both sides are operating on two levels. There's the top-lying message on policies, and then there's the subtext, that emotional message they're sending about the other guy. Just listen to John McCain and Sarah Palin on the trail this week suggesting that Obama's not like us.
McCAIN [video clip]: In short, who is the real Barack Obama?
PALIN [video clip]: Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists.
MATTHEWS: But Obama and Joe Biden have been making their own suggestions about McCain's age and stability.
OBAMA [video clip]: I don't think we can afford that kind of erratic and uncertain leadership in these uncertain times.
BIDEN [video clip]: Not an angry man lurching from one position to another.
MATTHEWS: "Erratic"; "lurching from one position" -- are they going after the guy, "He's an old crank." What are they trying to make him into?
IGNATIUS: You know, it's code. I mean, these are not subtle messages, I think.
MATTHEWS: I -- wait. Now, code is pretty dramatic.
IGNATIUS: These are -- you know -- we're getting to the bullhorn stage on the Republican side. I have to say that this scares me a little bit. The country's really frightened. The country's looking for people to blame, and as this rhetoric cranks up -- you know, the reporters out on the trail this week said that -- what they're really struck by was how angry people were. There's this rage that's out there, and I think both sides -- but especially the Republicans, to be honest -- are playing with fire. When you begin talking about Barack Obama and terrorists, you know, you're going to strike a match to something that's really explosive.
Words have connotations, and I think Matthews has a point-- of course those overtones are there, and Obama is well aware of it. Problem is, there's nothing culpable about it-- somebody should make his age a factor. It would be crazy not to-- many American people are already, on their own.
"Of course, it has nothing to do with his age."
But even if it did, McCain is freaking old! It's not like Obama would be saying McCain palled around with criminals.
But even if it did, McCain is freaking old!
Man how old are you? Are you over 30?? You'll see age differently the older you get.... 72 is not freaking old. Sure it's getting up there but I have Aunts & Uncles & a Mom who are functioning in their 70's just fine thank you. McCain is simply a a desperate man, who knows he's probably going down to defeat.
I am 73 and I can tell you that's OLD. There was a period when I was "mature", then, "older man", then, "elderly", now, OLD. There is nothing you can do about it. To be chipper at this age is a roll of the dice. We all know geezers who are still sharp and even athletic! Have you ever noticed all the OLD winos out there? Once, a short time ago, I had a conversation in a local bar with a black musician about my age. He asked me how old I was. I replied, in jest, 29. He looked at me sideways and said, "Man, you better slow down." I haven't a CLUE as to what's going on in McCain's head.
TO donaldmaddog5642:
The next time that I see your name above a post I will "NOT" be preparing to drink a glass of water.I justed LMAO with that comment.
Right, and I think Matthews is doing the country a favor by backdoor-wise sliding into the topic.
Donald, you may be old (according to you), but you are one righteous old dude if that's the case. McCain, not so righteous. "-)
How many 72 year olds do you know want a job that is pretty much a 24/7 gig? I don't know any like that. Heck, my Dad is 75, and well, he's been retired for quite some time, he's still chipper, athletic, walks and runs, and plays golf, but he's still good to go for bed at around 7PM.
I'm just saying. Being Prez ain't no cake walk.
Jeter, you're right. I should have been more specific, as I did not mean that all people who have lived the same number of years as McCain are "freaking old," only that McCain himself is old, especially for a presidential candidate. He would be older than Reagan, who famously lacked his wits about him at times and needed to nap during high-level policy meetings. Perhaps more importantly, McCain has indeed shown signs of being erratic, confused, and forgetful.
But to call a 72-year-old "freaking old" in general is not necessarily right. There are lots of septuagenarians who are srpy, fit as a fiddle, mentally competent, and not erratic. Just not the one running for president. Look, I'm not trying to pick on him, but I don't think it's ageist to notice that he's not in his prime anymore. It would be ageist to assume that about, for instance, your aunts, uncles, and mother. So, I don't.
I'm 34 years old, and looking forward to seeing age differently. :)
I meant "spry."
"There are lots of septuagenarians who are srpy, fit as a fiddle, mentally competent, and not erratic. Just not the one running for president."
Everyone ages differently. When looking at McCain, we really do not see any of the above mentioned characteristics (I don't think he's totally mentally incompetent--just enough to be scary). But there are other factors that combine to make him this way (stress, health, war injuries, guilt from lying, etc.) So it's not age; it is the things that result from age combined with everything a person's been through.
I, for one, was shocked at the debate watching him pace around and then walk in front of the camera as Brokaw was signing out. There may be other reasons for his behavior, but it sure doesn't look good.
Herb,
I agree. McCain actually gives other more spry & alert 72 yr olds a bad name. I wouldn't put McCain in charge of scheduling checker games at some old folks home anymore than I'd want him running this country.
All right then. We are in accord.
Mrhebert, old dude, Jeter just had a birthday yesterday, so he's a bit touchy about his advancing old age :-0) But he's still prime!
But he's still prime!
And of course you'd know that from personal experience Miz Julia ;-)
Damn straight, cowboy!!! :-)
Like fine wine....! Aged to perfection. or is that beef? Stop me now.....! Moooo.
Exactly, or if McCain said Obama was Black. It's not bigotry to point out that someone is old. There's scientific evidence that age hurts.
Of course, it has nothing to do with his age, but it has everything to do with how his campaign is being run.
I agree Mag. The McCain campaign is running scared now. They know it's slipping away. Desperate folks will say just about anything.
"...whoever is running his campaign..."? I'd hold McCain responsible for the McCain campaign. This morning William Kristol suggested in his column that McCain "fire his campaign", like it was Dr. Strangelove's wayward left hand, I guess. But I think McCain has some influence over his campaign, at least as much as, say, a master has over his dog. For whatever reason, both Matthews and Obama are right - McCain's behavior, and that of his campaign, have been erratic, chaotic, non-sensical, you name it. Obama cannot afford to overlook this; I think Matthews may be projecting his own concerns about McCain's age.
AJ, I agree, McCain seems to be getting a pass on distancing himself from his surrogates. What's scary is that even the official McCain spokespeople are indistinguishab;e from the am radio screechmonkeys at this point.
I turned on MSNBC before leaving for work this morning, and there was split screen with a rep. for each candidate. Obama's surrogate was talking about the economy, McCain's was screaming out "He associates with leftists!" and "He's never done anything!" repeatedly, as the host and the Obama spokesman looked embarrassed for him.
I actually heard one of these twits claim that Obama would never pass an FBI background check because of his "associations". Apparently they've decided to ride this horse all the way to the finish. How can these people not be embarrassed?
I hope Obama wins in a friggin' landslide.
Wasn't there someone on here last week claiming that as well? Something about Obama wanted to be a Secret Service agent, but couldn't pass the background check?
I also hope Obama destroys McCain on election day. The best thing about that, is that this would also probably mean that Palin would be over and done for on the national stage, and Tina Fey can hang up her up-do.
Actually I think it's true that the Secret Service would not hire someone who had an association with a former criminal. Like John McCain, for instance. But thankfully the presidency has a different, arguably much tougher job application process from that of Secret Service agent.
I keep hearing the same thing from McCain surrogates, and of course when pressed on what McCain has done, we usually get, "He was a POW." Of course Obama consorts with leftists, he's, you know, a liberal. And depending on who you ask, he's the MOST liberal Senator going (of course, he's not, but we all know that).
True enough. Good point. Ultimately, McCain is the ONE person really responsible for his campaign. But I'm sure that they have filled his ears with honey about what it takes to "win". I'm not absolving the man, but when you do run a campaign this large, there are some things that you don't control. It is all McCain's fault though that his campaign has now become downright insane.
Matthews is insane, his crazy screaming. He is worthless to even listen to.
Perhaps his erratic behavior is caused by the tingling in his legs?
Ha! Best post of the day so far.
Someone should buy Chris a dictionary.
Why buy him one where's one available online for free?
May I ask what makes Chris Matthews so special to where he gets his own section of MMFA (Matthews Monitor)?
He hates Hillary (and Bill and Gore) with all his heart and all his soul and all his mind. Now that it's all Obama the monitor isn't necessary.