If the "Oh God" was really Tweety

[Laura PourMeADrink]

he will probably be history - since he's been on thin ice with MSNBC for years.
I, for one, hope they don't fire him. (I know, I'm in the minority).

Guess there's still debate on whether it was Keith or Chris.

At first it was reported as Keith - then Tweety.


from http://wonkette.com

Aha, so indeed it was Chris Matthews who said “oh god” as Bobby Jindal came out to deliver his prepubescent speech from the Plantation Manor. This wasn’t so hard to predict since (a) Chris Matthews has no filter mechanism and (b) he was already LOSING HIS MIND over the very concept of Bobby Jindal earlier in the evening’s programming. Ha ha why does Tweety have such vociferous hatred for Gov. Piyush “Bobby” Jindal already? He’s just some random guy.

[GarbagemanLB]

1. why would they fire him? They WANT to be a liberal network.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. There was a great expose on Chris a year or so ago in the NYT

Magazine. The network doesn't like him. Guess loose
canon. Took a lot of heat from Hillary against Mathews.

Evidently, his ratings are lower that Keith's. Which
I found surprising.

The network thinks Keith and David were the golden
boys.

The article was sad, to me. I think it's just because
Chris (IMHO) has such a deep understanding and knowledge
of history compared to others and he doesn't get the
recognition.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. Half of KO and RM:

7PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Fox Report w/ Shepard Smith – 1,724,000 viewers (370,000) (770,000)
Lou Dobbs–1,156,000 viewers (387,000) (548,000)
Hardball w/Chris Matthews–821,000 viewers (277,000) (425,000)
Kudlow & Company—372,000 viewers (141,000) (223,000)
Glenn Beck – 467,000 viewers (134,000) (249,000)

8PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor- 3,060,000 viewers (731,000) (1,253,000)
Election Center–1,166,000 viewers (431,000) (576,000)
Countdown w/Keith Olbermann– 1,635,000 viewers (509,000) (771,000)
On the Money—207,000 viewers (65,000) (106,000)
Nancy Grace –1,166,000 viewers (412,000) (618,000)

9 PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity & Colmes–3,136,000 viewers (716,000) (1,375,000)
Larry King—1,710,000 viewers (496,000) (801,000)
Rachel Maddow Show–1,801,000 viewers (534,000) (872,000)
Business of Innovation—a scratch w/102,000 viewers (a scratch w/42,000) (59,000)
Glenn Beck- 656,000 viewers (211,000) (354,000)

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/17/cable-news-ratings-for/5165

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. thanks ! I I wonder whatt the affect of having it on twice (it is

where I live, anyway) has on all this. Like the ratings are for 7pm. But Hardball have already
been on once at 5. If I see it at 5 I don't watch again at 7.

[bermudat]

70. Rachel has more viewers than Keith?

The 'girl' is beating the boys? That's great.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

71. Almost immediately upon receiving her show.

It proves that there is an untapped market.

[Capt. America]

72. Holy shit! 3 Million people watch Ass-hat O'Liely and Hammity? Yikes!

[SteppingRazor]

2. I think it's pretty clearly Matthews.

It sure sounds like him.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. I wonder if he admitted to it. Because at first, everyone was saying

it was Keith. Maybe just because it was Keith talking a second prior to the "Oh God"

Or, maybe Keith told people it wasn't him?

[BuyingThyme]

3. I don't see him having a problem with this.

[BeyondGeography]

4. It would be pretty dumb to fire Tweety for being Tweety

after he has been Tweety all these years.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Guess it depends on how much pressure the Repubs put on the

network.

[liberal N proud]

5. WOW!

Is that strange or what?

Tweety had no control whatsoever

[ErinBerin84]

6. I doubt it.

MSNBC knows what it is getting when they put people who have opinion shows to do commentary on these sorts of things.

[Frustratedlady]

7. Tweety won't lose his job. If he'd added a couple ** to it, maybe...

I think MSNBC pretty much overlooks those comments unless someone complains, as they have increased their viewership with these guys being so open with their thoughts. I think they are just so disgusted with that whole party, they can't control themselves.

Finally! A network you can relax and enjoy.

[ErinBerin84]

12. yeah

Chris Matthews has said a lot more offensive things than this, "oh god" seems pretty benign to me. A bit rude maybe, but again, they could have put David Gregory on if they were going to pretend to be objective and not respond with their opinions.

[sufrommich]

8. How does anyone even know what he was saying "Oh,God"

in reference to? He could have spilled coffee in his lap for all we know. This is a manufactured "issue" if ever there was one.Good Lord.

[NYC_SKP]

10. I don't sense that wanting him to stay is a minority opinion. I don't think he'll be fired.

I like him too, he brings energy and viewership to MSNBC and this "being on thin ice" is news to me.

And much as he is mocked by a few, I think far more approve of him and want him to stay.

This side story is entertaining but grounds for removal from his job it is not.

[Waiting For Everyman]

11. It was obviously involuntary, and obviously justified.

Firing anybody would be the height of hypocrisy.

[NYC_SKP]

14. Yep, talking heads on both sides are this morning saying "oh god"...

After the fact.

Matthews just knew what was coming before it happened.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. Great point !

[Clio the Leo]

15. And if the REST of the nation wasn't also saying the EXACT same thing....

.... at the exact same time, you might be on to something.

Tweety's remark wasn't controversial .... he wasn't saying it against a popular figure ..... it was simply hillarious.

[Waiting For Everyman]

19. Yes, God forbid that a moment of reality might creep in to a news event.

It was classic. Beautiful. Right-on. And hilarious! You couldn't ask for anything that true and genuine to be on a news show ever again.

I think it's right behind Matthews' "Bachman Moment".

[Laura PourMeADrink]

18. Interesting from Politico - Not confirmed by MSNBC

As MSNBC led into Bobby Jindal's response tonight, you can hear an MSNBC host or producer -- which to me sounded like Keith Olbermann -- mutter "Oh God," just as the Louisiana Governor walks out.

Although Olbermann and Chris Matthews were removed from the anchor chairs late in the 2008 campaign, both have been out in front during MSNBC's coverage of major news events recently.

For Bush's prime-time farewell last month, both Olbermann and Matthews took shots at the former president just after his speech.

UPDATE: My initial reaction, similar to many who emailed, is that Olbermann was speaking. But it's not 100 percent clear from the clip. So I've put out a request to MSNBC to confirm, changed some text, and will update when I hear back.

UPDATE 2: I've heard from a good source that it's Matthews, but still, the network has not released any statement.

[ErinBerin84]

21. Politico are such shit stirrers

Other networks do opinion reactions in the guise of objectivity. I think MSNBC might have had to put Tweety/Keith back in the anchor chair (though, I could see why people could have a case against this in future debates or the RNC convention) because Gregory was so boring and people wanted to see Tweety and Keith. Most of the pretend objective reporters were on NBC. The "oh god" thing is such a nontroversy to me. Sure, it will be used as more "proof of liberal bias, oh my gods!", which is a shame, because we all know that Chris has crushes on Repubs too and is quite conservative in a lot of areas, including the stimulus. Whatever. I don't remember the rest of the media complaining during his Bushgasms of yesteryear.

[ShortnFiery]

25. Let it GO? Or are you wishing to do the GOP's job and replace Tweety with a right-winger?

:thumbsdown:

Tweety once referred to us in the netroots as "The Pajama Hudeen" BUT he's about as PROGRESSIVE as we can get on M$M.

LET IT GO lest you wish to feed into the Republican Noise Machine of a "Liberal Media."

[Renew Deal]

30. I was pretty sure it was Matthews.

It sounds like him. It's a dumb thing to do.

[Egnever]

68. They are gunning for olberman

no way in hell you could mistae that for anyne but mathews

[ShortnFiery]

Oh no, Tweets is golden at MSNBC. Don't play GOP talking points a la Chicken Little.

:thumbsdown:

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. NYT Mag - article about Mathews. not so golden - excerpt

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/magazine/13matthews-t.html?pagewanted=4&_r=1

at least when Russert was there. Excerpt

A number of people I spoke with at NBC said that Russert can be disdainful of Matthews, whose act he often sees as clownish. They also told me that Russert believes Matthews is something of a loose cannon who brings him undue headaches in his capacity as NBC’s Washington bureau chief. This friction was immortalized in notes revealed during the trial of Scooter Libby. Mary Matalin, an adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, was quoted as having suggested that Libby call Russert to complain about Matthews’s rants against the White House’s Iraq policy. “Call Tim — he hates Chris,” Matalin supposedly told Libby. Russert denies that he felt this way then or now. “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Chris,” he told me. “We do different things.” Matalin, for her part, insists that she doesn’t remember ever saying that Russert “hates Chris.”

snip
Matthews is also aware that little brother Keith Olbermann has become the signature talent of MSNBC. Matthews seems less than thrilled with “co-anchoring” MSNBC’s election coverage with him, as he has done on many nights during this campaign. When Olbermann is on the same set, Matthews appears different — restrained, even shrinking at times. According to people at NBC, Matthews has not been shy in voicing his resentment of Olbermann. Nor, according to network sources, has Olbermann bothered to hide his low regard for Matthews, although when I spoke to him, Olbermann denied any personal animosity toward Matthews and told me that he appreciates his “John Madden-like enthusiasm for politics.”


snip
There is a view within the TV industry that MSNBC is positioning itself as the younger, edgier, left-tilting cable network, and no one there embodies this ideal better than Olbermann. NBC executives have been promoting him heavily, and three network officials asked me why I was writing about Matthews and not Olbermann

[DevonRex]

20. All he has to say is that he was saying it about something else

like maybe he spilled his water all over his desk.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. too bad there wasn't the sound of breaking glass, huh.

[DevonRex]

51. Yeah. I like old Tweets, though, except for the days I dislike him. :)

[Laura PourMeADrink]

60. yes agree. I think I just appreciate his intelligence and knowledge

don't have the clip, but yesterday he gave a synopsis of the economic crisis - causes and effects
that was so succinct and well stated - much better than anyone I have heard. I was thinking,
god, not only does he know history and politics but economics as well.

you are right - sometimes I want to throw something at the tv.

[Occam Bandage]

22. Nah. That's what he's hired to do: be a half-sane, always-interesting sparkplug.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

24. If it wasn't such an utterly shite speech, Matthews might have been in more trouble.

[global1]

26. Kinda Even Looks Like Tweety.....

[lamp_shade]

27. Thin ice with MSNBC? Really? I hadn't heard.

[ShortnFiery]

29. Forgive me, I could be wrong. However, I SMELL "Faux Outrage" from the GOP noise machine.

:thumbsdown:

[Fovea]

28. How much of a time delay was his headset on?

Could be that he reacted to the speech at pretty much the same moment I did, but without the thrown object.

[bullwinkle428]

31. If he gets fired, it will be for the "outsourcing" comment -

yes, one can give props for a certain degree of cleverness, but it's also walking a fine line in terms of racial sensitivity...

[ErinBerin84]

35. true

I didn't see that, and when I saw it posted, I WAS like "oh god". But people said he claimed to be talking about them needing to get someone "outside of Washington". Still, kind of a tone deaf thing to say, given the implications.

[jberryhill]

47. He knew exactly what he was saying....

He probably had planned to work it in, well before he made the comment.

[rvablue]

40. I totally agree. My mouth fell open when he said. Treading a fine line, indeed! n/t

[jberryhill]

46. I lost the entire point of whatever he was trying to say

...in my shock that he said it.

I hope he got a dressing down for that comment.

It was absolutely uncalled for.

Jindal's speech, and delivery, was what it was. Jindal is a conservative republican and he's doing what they do.

But aside from that, Gov. Jindal is as American as apple pie, and that "outsourcing" crack was as out of bounds as the NY Post chimp cartoon.

[WinkyDink]

32. So what if he said it? Tweety has never been "objective news".

[Dappleganger]

33. If they haven't fired Joe Scarborough yet...

for his verbal gaffes, they probably won't sack Tweety either.

[rvablue]

41. Yep. I would say "fuck you" trumps "Oh God" in terms of gaffes. n/t

[Uzybone]

34. Ridiculous

He isn't going anywhere because of "oh God" He has spewed much worse rubbish than that.

[TTUBatfan2008]

36. Uh, he knew what was coming...

Tweety lambasted Jindal on Hardball Monday and Tuesday for Jindal's comments on Meet the Press, where he repeated the extravagant lie about a high speed rail from "Vegas to Disneyland." Tweety said it was insulting to turn everything into a cartoon or joke instead of seriously debating it, never mind the fact that Jindal was actually lying about it in the first place.

[camera obscura]

37. If Scarborough can say "fuck" on live TV, I think Tweety can be forgiven an "oh God"

[Fleshdancer]

42. Ironically, Tweety said what we all thought...just 5 seconds earlier

It was an odd thing to say, but we don't have any context either. Do we know he said it in response to Jindal?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

45. no, not yet. I agree odd. He said it before Jindal

started talking - so I suppose it was just that general sigh that I have done a zillion times
as Bush started walking up to the podium.

[backscatter712]

43. He'll probably get called to the carpet for it,

and he'll get one hell of a tongue lashing, but I don't think they'll fire him quite yet.

[City Lights]

48. Considering that they continue to employ Beady-Eyed Joe and Unkkka Pat Bukkkanon

despite their sexist, racist, bigoted views, which they spew on-air almost daily, my opinion of GE-TV's 24/7 news channel would drop considerably if they canned Matthews for saying "Oh God" in response to seeing Jindal. How could they prove what he meant? Maybe there was a millipede crawling up his leg.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

56. they should also be ashamed for keeping dimwit Mika. IMHO

[ErinBerin84]

49. (posting this on several of the threads)

His official "reaction". Again, not even sure what needs to be explained here. One could argue that it was unprofessional and show that he wasn't willing to give Jindal a "chance", but as I said, he's an OPINION commentator. He had said previously that he was not impressed with Jindal, and stagecraft is something that Chris talks about a lot. Anyone who watches his show knows that there personal reaction he has to certain people has little to do with their political affiliation. He's going to "address it" tonight. He has said some weird, offensive things in the past, but I don't get why this is a big deal.


http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0209/Matthews_I_was_taken_aback_by_Jindal_entrance.html

Matthews: 'I was taken aback' by Jindal entrance

After some confusion over who muttered "Oh God" last night on MSNBC, I reported this morning that it was Chris Matthews not Keith Olbermann.

And Matthews now plans to address the hot mic moment later on "Hardball," of which I've been provided a statement.

"I was taken aback by that peculiar stagecraft, the walking from somewhere in the back of this narrow hall, this winding staircase looming there, the odd anti-bellum look of the scene," Matthews said. "Was this some mimicking of a president walking along the state floor to the East Room?

Also, Jindal was invited on "Hardball" tonight but declined.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

53. thanks for the update. interesting. good explanation IMHO

[totodeinhere]

50. Here is the explanation that Tweety gave.

I was taken aback by that peculiar stagecraft, the walking from somewhere in the back of this narrow hall, this winding staircase looming there, the odd anti-bellum look of the scene. Was this some mimicking of a president walking along the state floor to the East Room?

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/oh_god_book_ii_chris_matthews_responds_109651.asp

When I went to Tvnewser to find that quote I also checked up on Tweety's latest ratings. It looks like if he gets fired it will be more for his dismal ratings than anything else. For instance, on Monday at 5 PM Glen Beck on Fox News got a 2253 rating while Tweety got a pathetic 673. Tweety did a little better at 7 PM, getting a 799 while Shepard Smith got a 1917 on Fox. MSNBC was in third place in both time slots behind Fox News and CNN.

[alwysdrunk]

52. And that's all there will be to it

Toast? Over this? Not a chance

[Laura PourMeADrink]

54. I asked this before - but I wonder - what the affect of showing his

show twice has. If I watch it at 5 - I don't re-watch it at 7

[renate]

55. I don't want ANYONE to get in trouble over this, but...

... if anyone does (and this goof isn't dismissal-worthy no matter who made it), shouldn't it be the technician who failed to cut the mikes in time?

[MadBadger]

57. It was him, and he will stay where he is

[Laura PourMeADrink]

62. is that an NBC peacock on his lapel??

[MadBadger]

63. Its an official Page's uniform of course.

Dont you recognize Kenneth Jindal?

[ErinBerin84]

58. this

and Keith's "why don't you get a shovel" to Joe Scarborough were funny.....but I'm sorry, nothing compares to Chuck Todd, Peggy Noonan, and Mike Murphy talking about Sarah Palin! LOL...I wonder if the network ever found out who leaked that one.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

61. haha. Hey, what about Jesse talking about Obama's nuts?

[ErinBerin84]

64. weirder

was Wolf Blitzer dancing around what was actually said until the clip was released.."Um...folks....he said something bad, something that we can't say on national tv....." Nuts, Blitzer? I thought it was at least Balls or sack or something, the way Wolf was so squeamish about it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

65. omg that's perfect. I can picture him saying that. he is so stiff - i

love it when cafferty says something wild - and wolf can't handle it. Don't
think I've ever heard him laugh or be funny

[Bozita]

59. It was Tweety having an Obamagasm

[Beacool]

66. I despise the twerp!!!!!

He's a sexist creep and one person I wouldn't mind if he lost his job. There are plenty of other people who can take his place.

Totally unprofessional, as usual........

x(

[Drunken Irishman]

67. Matthews is a pundit, not a reporter.

He can get away with this crap, just like Bill O'Reilly can at FOX News. We're not turning into Hardball for news, we're turning in for what it is...political punditry. He'll be fine.

[Quantess]

69. I think it was understandable for him to mutter "oh god" in the context.

He was probably thinking "this looks like it's going to be awkward", which it was. It's like he verbally cringed.