MSNBC’s Matthews: ‘I Forgot He Was Black’

[alp227]

Source: Kate Phillips, The Caucus (NYTimes.com blog)

Updated After President Obama’s address Wednesday night, Chris Matthews, the host of “Hardball” on MSNBC, began reviewing the speech in almost completely racial terms. First he called the president truly “post-racial,” adding, “I forgot he was black” during the hour-plus of the speech.

The comments are already whipping around the Internet, drawing a storm of criticism. (Later, Mr. Matthews sought to clarify his remarks on air with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow — see below.)

(video at link)

Here’s a transcript of what he said:

I was trying to think about who he was tonight. It’s interesting; he is post-racial, by all appearances. I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. He’s gone a long way to become a leader of this country and past so much history in just a year or two. I mean it’s something we don’t even think about. I was watching and I said, wait a minute, he’s an African-American guy in front of a bunch of other white people and there he is, president of the United States, and we’ve completely forgotten that tonight — completely forgotten it. I think it was in the scope of the discussion, it was so broad ranging, so in tune with so many problems and aspects and aspects of American life. That you don’t think in terms of the old tribalism and the old ethnicity. It was astounding in that regard, a very subtle fact. It’s so hard to even talk about it. Maybe I shouldn’t talk about it.

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/msnbcs-matthews-i-forgot-he-was-black/

[corporatemedia]

1. I forgot my beard was white. n/t

[Toucano]

2. More media nonsense.

Post-racial. What the hell is that even supposed to mean? After race? After racism? As though racism died when a black man became president?

Whatever.

[eleny]

3. Too bad he believes that he should forget

[No Elephants]

14. Yes, but also too bad that Matthews stops himself while listening to the SOTU to remind himself.

I had a lot of thoughts during that speech, all having to do with what Obama was saying. Not once did I say to myself Ooops, I forgot to keep his race in the forefront of my mind while I was listening to stuff about the economy, joblessness, health care, the SCOTUS scolding, etc.

[dem629]

15. Obama doesn't seem to want to be defined by it, either.

Seems to me Matthews was pretty much making the point that it's a good thing most of us see a man, and not a race, when we look at our president.

Of course there are some for whom race is everything (racists and the p.c. crowd on opposite sides) so they don't like any hint that most of us judge based on character and achievement, not skin color.

[Turborama]

4. Not really LBN material, IMHO

If we posted every quote from a TV anchor this place would be like TMZ.

[No Elephants]

16. I guess the mods agreed with you bc they moved it, but I don't agree.

A news anchor making a dumbass comment about the race of the President of the United States needs to be highlighted, IMO.

[Cirque du So-What]

5. Matthews is truly a simple fuck

An overgrown man-child who cannot contain his excitement over whatever shiny object crosses his field of vision (Chimpolini's flight-suit codpiece a case in point). Once that motor-mouth is set in motion, there's nothing upstairs to act as a brake. Hilarity often ensues, and sometimes racist claptrap comes tumbling out.

[damyank913]

12. Exactly Right.

[Raine]

13. True nt

[shireen]

6. so did he also forget that Bush was white?

what a moron.

[bitchkitty]

7. Is Tweety on drugs? n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. He either is, or isn't and SHOULD be.

Used to be there was good Tweety and bad Tweety. I don't think he has a "good" personality anymore.

[bitchkitty]

26. Meth does that. n/t

[ddeclue]

8. WHY? Because "if he was black..." WHAT?

:eyes:

[Blue-Jay]

10. The Sheriff is a Ni *BONG*

[high density]

18. The sheriff is near!

[JCMach1]

11. Verbal di.ar.rhe.a

take something for that or STFU!

This is wrong at SOOOOO many levels.

[lukasahero]

17. Holy f*&%

There are no words...

[Toots]

19. Obviously he didn't forget or he wouldn't have mentioned it several times.

Sometimes Tweety is just plain ridiculous..

[annabanana]

20. I think he was really trying to say something nice...

If you can let yourself see it through the prism of his background and upbringing...it seems kind of nice..
(True he is a media guy and should have known that his attempt would be stomped on royally - and for that he deserves the trouncing)

I felt kind of sorry for him

[old mark]

21. Chris Matthews is absorbed with his own importance to the point

where what ever he has to say is worthless. He's just showing off on camera. I used to watch his programs a often, but seldom manage to sit through a complete show anymore- even a few minutes of Chris is more than I want to watch.

mark

[KharmaTrain]

22. Another Tweety Brain Fart...

This dude has a bad case of verbal diahrea...he can't keep his inner racist and sexist child in check. He's truly a weathervane...caught up in moments where he becomes fluxmosed in the games and bloodsport that is his lifeblood. He still lives in a 50s and early 60s world where everyone had their place and thinks of those as the "good old days". He can't help it...you are what you are.

I'm hoping MSNBC sees what an embarassment he can be on the coverage of big events...the time when the network needs to shine. They'd do a lot better having Keith or even Shuster anchor the coverage...reporters rather than weathervanes.

[PRETZEL]

23. I think I'm going to let Tweety off the hook on this one,

I kind of took it as a direct shot at those RW's who still refuse to see President Obama for what he really is and that he is not "the first African American President" but that he's "President of the United States"

[ecstatic]

24. I didn't see it, but based on what I've seen Tweety say with regard to Pres. Obama

I don't think his words were meant to be insulting. Tweety loves History as a subject, so oftentimes when he looks and listens to Obama, he's also keeping in mind the historical aspect of Obama being the first black president (and it still may even shock him a little). I think he was trying to say that last night he didn't even have time to think about that particular aspect of Obama's presidency because so many real issues were addressed. I DVR'd the speech and hopefully will get to see it soon.

[mainer]

25. Tweety can be irrepressible and impetuous sometimes

I don't think he meant anything bad by it. He reminds me of a golden retriever -- they run around the house, knocking things over, but underneath it all, they're nice creatures.

[cry baby]

27. Was he drooling when he said it? nt

[marmar]

28. A lesson to Tweety that he runs off at the mouth too f**king much.....

A wise man is clever, seldom speaks a word....A foolish man keeps talking, but never is he heard.

[newtothegame]

29. God. Race again. n/t