As far as MSNBC's Chris Matthews is concerned, David Petraeus, four-star general, commander of the Multi-National Force-Iraq, someone who has devoted his life to serving our country, is no better than Charlie McCarthy, a ventriloquist's dummy.
View video here.
As I noted yesterday, "Hardball" host Matthews had gone apoplectic over the fact that in his initial response to a senator's question, Petraeus wouldn't say whether the war in Iraq makes America safer. Shortly thereafter, in the course of the same Senate testimony, Petraeus made clear his view that America's security is indeed tied to our effort in Iraq. I observed that Petraeus's clarification had come after Matthews's rant had aired, and mentioned that I'd be looking for the "Hardball" host to acknowledge Petraeus's subsequent statement. But on this afternoon's "Hardball," Matthews utterly ignored Petraeus's clarification, and continued to hector the general for his original remark.
When guest Joe Klein of "Time," albeit in a back-handed way, made reference to the general's revision of his remarks, Matthews made his ugly "Charlie McCarthy" analogy.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: When [General Petraeus] was asked is this war, this blood and treasure we're losing over in Iraq making us safer over at home, he said "I don't know." I can't imagine Ike having said that at D-Day.
JOE KLEIN: Well, you know what? It was the truth, it's what he really believed, and then a really funny thing happened; I was in the room. They went into recess, and clearly, someone from the White House called him up and said "are you kidding me?" And when he came back, he was asked another question by a senator, and he went back to that statement, and he corrected himself, and said he hadn't thought it through, or whatever. I think that both Crocker --
MATTHEWS: That's sort of like "Charley McCarthyism," isn't it? I mean, are they using this guy as their puppet? They said he's speaking independently, and the minute he gets off the talking points, they fix him.
KLEIN: I think it's too strong to call him a puppet. I think he really believes what he testified to.
Remember Matthews's snide Charlie McCarthy/puppet poke next time he or other liberals claim to respect the military.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Too Funny
September 12, 2007 - 21:30 ET by Del DolemonteKlein works for "Time" Magazine, which has been losing so many readers that they continue to send weekly copies to my mother, even though she's no longer with us (yes, I told them to stop sending them, with no result). As for Matthews, he only has about 7 people in his viewing audience.
Mathews the subversive.
September 12, 2007 - 21:37 ET by Conservative_in_mass.We support the troops, not the mission, errr...well not all the troops, we don't support the Commander in Chief, errrr...well not just him, but the four star General in charge of the combat theater...we can't support him either. He's a puppet...so we can't support him. And for his staff well, if we dont support him, then we can't support his staff either...errr <spit flying> "Joe who else do we not ..umm...I mean do...ahhh not support....yeah the mission right.
I wish Matthews would just go away.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
How about Admiral William Fallon
September 12, 2007 - 21:39 ET by ding7777showing some respect for Petraeus instead of calling him "an azz-kissing little chickenshit"?
How about him dingbat7777
September 12, 2007 - 23:30 ET by SportPolitics" Fallon also privately vowed that there would be no war against Iran on his watch, implying that he would quit rather than accept such a policy. "
Fallon unwilling to take his orders from the Commander in Chief.
LOL - Hmmm.... tsk tsk! A POLITICAL policy setter - shall we ask him to sign up as President soon, or maybe we can tell him to OVERRULE CONGRESS when they declare war.
Yes, what a wonderful person you chose there... mr. ruler of the universe... policy setter ... mr centcom dictator.
Oh, lookie here - he thinks he is Commander In Chief ! He must be a libby ! It's the demolib commander! roflmao
" During the summer, according to the Post Sep. 9 report, Fallon began to develop his own plans for redefine the U.S. mission in Iraq, including a plan for withdrawal of three-quarters of the U.S. troop strength by the end of 2009"
Awwwwww, poor mr libby fallon LOST - little dingbats angry hero - his wittle pwan didn't get picked... LOL - SORELOSERMAN!
Gee, yer SUCH AN IDIOT dingbat.
Ding, I thought you renounced your Newsbusters membership?
September 12, 2007 - 23:31 ET by Free StinkerDing, I thought you renounced your Newsbusters membership?
. . . and no matter how horrific the terrorist attack, it's conducted by losers. Winners don't need to hijack airplanes. Winners have an Air Force. --P.J. O'Rourke
Sources said this? What
September 13, 2007 - 06:50 ET by RangerTomSources said this? What "sources?" Would they be Matthews and Olberman, perhaps? Maybe you can tell us just who these "sources" are seeing that they are not mentioned. Some "sources" have told me some things about you, a gerbil and a flashlight. Could you explain this for us? I don't want to give up my "sources" as of yet. I'll give you the first shot in explaining this.
Screw diversity, celebrate competancy
KLEIN: I think it's too
September 12, 2007 - 21:44 ET by Conservative_in_mass.KLEIN: I think it's too strong to call him a puppet. I think he really believes what he testified to. "
Such a nice, back door insult by Klein. "oh no Chrissy, I wouldn't say a "puppet" he just so stupid, he actually believes what he's saying."
You could combine the moral fiber these two individuals and still not come up with HALF A MAN. What weasels.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
Gee can you two morons figure it out ?
September 12, 2007 - 22:06 ET by SportPoliticsSorry Chrissy and Joel, NOONE can absolutely determine if the war in Iraq or Afghanistan is making us safer... There is no real world method to predict the future or make that determination.
However, the rabid argument claimed by the left is that more terrorists are created by the war in Iraq than are being killed, and there really is no way to figure that, either.
What can be reasonably determined in a non-perfect way and method is that Al Qaeda agents are BEING KILLED AND CAPTURED.
Strangely, that seems to be a good estimation- as in "when AQ members are taken down here or over there - conditions head toward "safer".
The problem is, one more attack will make any and all others thwarted to be "instantly forgotten" and I am more than certain you braindead talking heads will shriek " See we are not and were not safer !!!" -
Of course, those who were killed or captured over there, and who did not therefore come here and execute a plot in the last six years, or were captured BECAUSE of the INTEL we get being OVER THERE - will be entirely discounted....in favor of your INSANE and INCORRECT lies, huh, Joel and Chrissy.
Joel, if you think Patraeus was telling what he "really believes" when he said " I don't know" to the "is it making us safer" question, why then, it just proves HOW MUCH SMARTER HE IS THAN ALL YOU BABBLING TALKING HEADS, BECAUSE IN FACT IT IS THE ONLY CORRECT ANSWER POSSIBLE. NOONE REALLY KNOWS, IS IN FACT THE TRUTH, YOU MORONIC RETARD LIBS.
I ASK THIS AGAIN...
September 13, 2007 - 06:52 ET by danybhoyI asked this about BathTubBoy aka Keith Overbite, & I'll ask it of the host of Slimeball w/ Barney Rubble...This schmuck Mathews, he does know he's pulling a large(he's not worth 1/10 of what he's paid)paycheck from GE, who owns MSNBC? GE is 1 of the biggest military contractors. Mathews, your company makes plenty of money from being involved with the military industrial complex, they are 1 reason they can bankrole that money pit called MSNBC.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
It's a great recruiting tool
September 12, 2007 - 22:16 ET by SportPoliticsYeah, sure it is:
libspeak: " 650,000 dead in Iraq "
libspeak from Osama the recruiter: " They have killed- Bush has killed 650,000 thousand of us, and we have killed 3,500 infidels, do NOT let this 200 to one our loss ratio alarm you, we are winning, now onto bagdad bob's address...
Yes, must be the greatest of recruiting tools..LOL
Or as P.J. O'Rourke put
September 12, 2007 - 22:18 ET by Free StinkerOr as P.J. O'Rourke put it:
. . . and no matter how horrific the terrorist attack, it's conducted by losers. Winners don't need to hijack airplanes. Winners have an Air Force. --P.J. O'Rourke
Joe Klein: "They went into
September 12, 2007 - 23:12 ET by TEJoe Klein: "They went into recess, and clearly, someone from the White House called him up and said "are you kidding me?" Evidence provided by Klein to support his allegation that "someone from the White House called [Patraeus] up": None. Challenges by Matthews to Klein's unsubstantiated allegation: None. Surprising performances offered by Matthews and Klein: None.
You Can't Make This Stuff Up
September 13, 2007 - 07:57 ET by BourbeauJoe Klein is sitting in a hearing room; listens to the General make a statement that clearly raised some eyebrows, and when a recess ensues, he jumps to the conclusion the White House called the general and straightened him out. Another MSM magic trick, reaching an extraordinary conclusion without even the hint of a fact. Then you have the Master of Hizzy Fits Chris Matthews going bananas over every aspect of the general's testimony. All one can conclude from this is that it's apparent from Matthew's carrying on that the general must have declined to be interviewed by Matthews - now that's a brilliant tactical move, and well done I might add.
Anyone else see irony in
September 13, 2007 - 12:38 ET by fitzfongAnyone else see irony in Chris Matthews asking Joe "Cyrano" Klein about Charlie McCarthyism?