Tweety goes nuts, gets smacked down by Keith

[jgraz]

Run time: 03:41 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZTo0iGc_Dw   Posted on YouTube: February 20, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 20, 2008 By DU Member: jgraz Views on DU: 4170

 
Tweety goes medieval on an Obama surrogate, demanding that he name one of Obama's legislative accomplishments. KO steps in at the end and kindly presents Tweety with his own ass.

[shireen]

1. Tweety is a total asshole

That ambush was really really low. How the hell was that Obama supporter from the Texas state legislator (who had not served with Obama) supposed to have these facts at his finger tips?!


ANd for the record, I am not an Obama supporter. I am not a Clinton supporter. I'm just someone who thinks Chris Matthews is an IDIOT.

[RoyGBiv]

7. He was on television, answering for the campaign ...

He should *not* have been in that position if he didn't have those facts at his finger tips.

This is kindergarten campaign stuff. Whoever put him on there needs their ass handed to them. Pitiful, it was. Simply pitiful.

[elleng]

26. Hi, Shireen!

He sure is!

[jhrobbins]

61. I too am a CLinton supporter and thought Chris was an asshole,

but I'm not surprised anymore.

[FourScore]

2. I love Keith, but that wasn't exactly a smack down.

Matthews really humiliated that man, and he stole the whole idea from Hannity who did the same thing to one of his guests. Matthews also didn't give the the Congresswoman (was that Tubb-Jones?)any time to talk about Clinton. The whole thing was all around horrendous.

Keith should should have put a stop to that sooner.

[shireen]

4. Keith should have kicked his butt off the set

Matthews really hit a new low with that ambush,

[FourScore]

5. I don't know how he sleeps at night.

I'm a full believer in karma. Matthews has some nasty shit headed his way!

[RoyGBiv]

10. Ambush?

Mr. Bush, what have you accomplished as President?

Is that an ambush?

[dicknbush]

28. Actually I find it refreshing when a reporter or talking head insists on a straight

answer form a guest instead of talking points sent over by Axilrod.

[ladywnch]

56. it would actually be more refreshing if he and others did it on a regular baisis

istead of just when the mood strikes him. he has let Hillary and others off the hook any number of times or thrown softball questions to some while he badgers others. Tweety IS an ass.

[FogerRox]

66. Tweety = refreshing ? No whold on a minute here..... Tweety.... no way dude...

[Supersedeas]

46. it's all about Tweety when Tweety is on -- who cares what the agents of change think, Tweety has a

show to do.

[gateley]

3. That was uncomfortable to watch. nt

[RoyGBiv]

6. Ummm... what?

Because it seems necessary to give disclosure, I'll disclose that I was a John Edwards supporter until he dropped out. I voted for Hillary. I don't have a particular problem with Obama and will fully support him should he get the nomination.

I also have a strong distaste for Chris Matthews, went off on a rant about him a year or so ago (and got soundly thrashed by the "I love Tweety" crowd here as a result), and think he's pretty much not worth hearing. I love Olberman.

That out of the way ...

Matthews asked a perfectly valid question, and Obama's supporter utterly failed to address it, even in the slightest detail. Were that some Republican hack, *everyone* who isn't some troll would be all over him for failing to answer the question asked. Olberman too asked a valid question, but not one that really defends Obama since he is in fact a part of that Senate that Olberman's question implies has done *nothing*. Olberman's question, whether he intended it or not, was an indictment of the whole Senate. The best answer one could give to it is that Obama only sucked as much as the entire Senate sucked. Faint praise, there.

That's handing Tweety his ass?

The real story here is that an Obama supporter got showed up as ignorant and incapable. If the Obama campaign lets him on television again to support their candidate, they're idiots. That was an elementary question that should have been handled easily. As it was, the Clinton supporter didn't have to answer to a damn thing and instead had an attack angle handed to her on a silver platter.

Tweety wasn't the fuck-up in this. Oblerman wasn't the genius. They were just there, facilitating that fiasco.

In the GE, should Obama get the nomination, if that is the best the Obama campaign can deliver, we're doomed. I don't think it is the best they can deliver, but damn ... who the hell did that guy pay off to get his face on television?

[FourScore]

12. I never like watching people get humiliated.

Maybe some people here would applaud a moment like that if it were directed at a Republican. But I wouldn't. I derive no pleasure from watching well-intentioned people get humiliated on national tv. It was uncalled for. I felt bad for the man. I really did.(If it were George Bush or Cheney or one of their cronies...THEN I'd love it! But not a Texas state-senator.)

What's more important is that Sean Hannity did the same thing, only he did it with a whole roomful of Obama supporters. None of them could answer the question, so he nailed them for it.

I'm sure the Obama camp will address this problem pronto; but if they are not careful, this could turn real serious real fast.

Even I voted for him, and quite frankly, I'm not sure I could answer the question. Something for me to think about.

[Carolina]

32. great post and I totally agree

I do wonder, however, why Tweety didn't ask Tubbs Jones for hard specifics.

What has Hillary truly done in her Senate career aside from vote for and support the war?

[jhrobbins]

62. I agree and also, Kirk is here from Austin and he is a really good guy

and didn't deserve that. Perhaps they should outline the general tone of the interview so the people could be ready instead of the ambush to make someone look bad.

[shireen]

17. Matthews handled it badly

He was abrasive and confrontational.

I don't know who that Texas state legislator was, if he really was a part of the Obama campaign or a high-profile supporter who got pulled in to do the interview, so I will not pass judgment over his lack of knowledge. If he was the latter, I would not expect him to be familiar with the details of Obama's legislative accomplishment.

Hardball is a political gossip show with shallow coverage of the issues. So when I see Tweety acting that way, mercilessly putting someone on the spot to humiliate him, there can only be one reason for it -- high drama. That's entertainment!

[RoyGBiv]

23. The press should be ...

Every member of the press should be abrasive an confrontational. Tweety's problem -- and the problem with most of the press -- is they aren't abrasive and confrontational consistently. No politician should find comfort in talking to the press. Their job, as the fourth estate, is to make government official uncomfortable.

I will not fault Tweety for that here.

I fault him for not doing it consistently.

[shireen]

54. "abrasive and confrontational" makes for good drama, not good journalism

It is possible to be a good journalist, asking the tough questions, with courtesy and respect. There is absolutely no need to publicly humiliate an interviewee that way.

The question itself was appropriate, but he should have asked it once or twice. If the interviewee dodged the question, it would have been clear to the audience that he could not name Obama's legislative accomplishments. We're not idiots. But what Matthews did, by rudely persisting to put that guy on the spot, was what I meant as an "ambush" ... Matthews set out to embarrass and humiliate the interviewee. Matthews came across as a bully.

Our society is increasingly becoming disrespectful and crass. I'm getting so tired of seeing it, and that Matthews interview just set me off.

[muyojoe]

22. TWEETY ALWAYS GOES TOO FAR

I don't mean with his question, just his tone. The question is legitimate. If you are going to go on national television to support someone and you are in the same business, then you should know the accomplishments of the person you are supporting. I think Keith was just trying to ratchet it down a little.

Thanks for bringing a little reason to uproar about a Obama supporter who got asked a substantive question.

[Der Blaue Engel]

8. Why is asking him to name a single accomplishment considered "going medieval"?

For once in my life, I actually agreed with Tweety. The guy should have been prepared to answer a question like that.

I didn't see Keith smacking him down. :shrug:

[RoyGBiv]

9. No shit ...

I loathe Tweety myself, but I can't even find fault in that. It was an elementary question, one that should have had a pat answer at the read by *any* competent spokesman for the campaign.

[Matteon]

11. I've yet to see any smackdown.

That guy from Texas should have been able to answer. Period.

[littlebit]

13. He had a valid question

the Obama guy couldn't answer it. I don't think he was going medieval on him.

[DainBramaged]

15. Tweety blindsided him, period.

[Matteon]

18. How is that a blindside?

He went on the show as an Obama supporter and he was asked about what Obama has accomplished as a U.S. Senator. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that question. It is 100% relevant and that guy's failure to answer is absolutely his own fault. I mean, did it never occur to him that, if he went on the news to promote a candidate, that he might get asked about that candidate's public service record? Come on.

[info being]

24. I agree

[DainBramaged]

14. Tweety needs to be stiffled

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2886661&mesg_id=2886661

[Radical Activist]

16. Nice tag team job.

What an asshole. Like Chris can't spend five minutes researching the answer himself and hasn't already.

[Matteon]

19. Chris wasn't the one on there to support Obama.

n/t

[Radical Activist]

21. Aren't they both supposed to be objective?

He knows some State Senator from Texas wasn't the right person to ask. It was ugly bullying by Chris.

[revolve]

20. Did he ask the same question to the Clinton plant? NT?

[Cardboardurinal]

25. Got to it first...

I want to ask the same question...sure, Obama hasn't gotten much through, but what the hell has Clinton done in the Senate other than following the lead on everything?

[eShirl]

29. let's see, she voted for the IWR, and, uh....

uh...?

[dicknbush]

27. Why is he an asshole for asking a legitamate queston and insisting on an answer?:

Only a vapid shallow supporter of a vapid shallow man who has no real answers would get up set about that. KEEP HOPE HOPING FOR HOPE IS THE HOPE OF ALL AMERICANS WHO CAN HOPE FOR HOPEFULNESS! JI HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THIS THE HOPFULNESS OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING HOPE IS HOW I HOPE TO GET HOPE BACK INOT THE CONVERSATION OF BEING HOPEFUL.

[dbmk]

30. Good chance..

.. that The Hillary supporter would ahve been just as unlikely to do it. Now, she might have done so before the clip started - but she was seriously deflecting when the guy tried to turn the question to her.

Still, I am from Denmark - and I think I could have done better there. Its not exactly like Obama has been hiding his work on the ethics reform and the nuclear proliferation. Obama-Luger or something, right? (I swear I didn't google :) )

[kdpeters]

38. Because the question wasn't asked in good faith and it wasn't asked of Clinton's surrogate

Don't get me wrong, the Congressman was a dumbass. I'm not trying to defend him for being so unprepared. However, hether or not Matthews is an asshole is independent of the Congressman Watson being a dumbass. Indeed, Matthews is likewise a dumbass as Keith Olbermann demonstrated he was just as ignorant and unprepared as Watson -- and it's HIS own game.

Asked in good faith, Matthews' question would have been legitimate. Instead, he was playing Slanthead Hannity gotcha games not having a good faith dialog. That's what makes them assholes. Getting stumped unprepared is what makes them dumbasses. If he'd asked Congresswoman Tubbs Jones the same question Hannity-gotcha style, he would at least have been an even handed asshole to them both.

[bluerum]

31. Get used to it. Obama better get some talking points together for his fanboys.

It's pretty clear that they aren't much for research.

[Berry Cool]

33. With all due respect here, Tweety never asks Stephanie Tubbs Jones the same question

about specifics Hillary has accomplished. She just gets to beam a big smile and talk in vagaries about how wonderful Hillary is and what a great president she'll make. However, when the Obama guy tries to get away with the same thing, Tweety pins him down.

[Tyler Durden]

37. With all due respect here, if Obama blows that question in the GE, and he WILL get asked it NOW...

...that his representative on national television BLEW the answer, Then he could lose the election with ONE QUESTION.

He hasn't got much record: his reps should have it MEMORIZED.

[LaloBorges]

41. Hillary may have made a few mistakes in her career

but you cannot argue that she has many accomplishments and that Obama does not have enough which will be a problem during the presidential campaign.

You need to open your eyes and stop the Hillary hate and criticism, Obama will most probably win the nomination so now concentrate on getting some answers from the attack he will suffer from the republicans.

[Bette Noir]

48. Huh?

Exactly what are her legislative accomplishments? Tell me. Now. On national TV. Without preparation. I'm waiting.

[provis99]

51. still haven't been able to come up with Hillary's accomplishments?

Even though you've had access to google for hours? Pot, meet kettle.

[LaloBorges]

60. I don't spend countless hours on this blog

but if you don't know about her accomplishments as I am sure you don't know of any of Obama's then you shouldn't vote and I don't have to educate you, go and read.

[Lochloosa]

34. Video pulled. Damn n/t

[MindMatter]

35. Quick, name the capitols of every US state

and in backwards alphabetical order.

Well, let's see, there's Walla Walla. Wait that's not a capitol, is it?

I wish he would have named one accomplishment: not voting to allow Cheney to start a war in Iraq.

[greenman3610]

36. has chris ever been this tough on republican shills?

[DainBramaged]

39. Nope, he is an asshole

[LaloBorges]

40. This is a question that should have been asked earlier

I have to believe that the people criticizing Mathews are blind Obama followers.

Chris Matthews asked a very legitimate question, and mind you I don't watch him; I don't like him, but on this interview he was right to ask the question. Don't tell me you support someone but cannot talk about his/her accomplishments; you are telling me that you support this person because he/she is a good speaker?

I believe that, once again, the Democratic Party has shot itself on the foot by electing Obama as the presidential candidate. If you did no like this Mathews interview then brace yourself for what is coming when McCain and the republican trash machine start going after Obama, then you are really going to get angry.

You should all be upset that the Obama supporter (obviously that I don't know his name) was not able to mention any of Obama's accomplishments. Are there any worth mentioning?

[DirtyDawg]

45. It's The Ability Stupid...

...first, it would appear that the peckerwood that was being interviewed was as dumb as a stump (and was probably selected by MSNBC for that very reason - they had to 'even out' their/Tweety's irrational rants)...second, it's obvious that the Obama campaign hasn't done an adequate job of distributing it's 'talking points'. They must know that he's gonna be vulnerable in this whole area of accomplishments. It goes along with being young and, comparatively, inexperienced - as opposed to being old and with a record of failures and divisiveness. Fact is, had I been the guy Tweety was demanding an answer to the question of what has he accomplished as a legislator - I'd have been ready with a 'what had Hillary accomplished - other than sleeping with the President (which doesn't exactly put her on a short list) - at a similar point in her 'legislative career'?'...and...I'd have followed that up with 'You know Tweety, just because you say I have to answer your question, doesn't mean I will, but I will say that I find it interesting that you seem to be hammering Senator Obama's supporters about the fact that he's only been in the Senate for a short time and just eight-odd years ago failed to expose the country to a man whose only 'accomplishments' were a succession of failed personal character issues, failed business ventures (from which he was 'bailed out' by his Daddy's Arab oil friends) and a single term as Governor of a state that doesn't let their Governors wipe their own asses.'...and finally, the only way to respond to this continuing line of 'swiftboating' is with, It's The Ability Stupid. Obama has it and his supporters know it, and that's more than you can say about the other two.'...

Bottom line folks, the mindset that will win the day for the Democrats in November is, to borrow a line from Paul Craig Roberts: We've got to wipe out the Republican Party before it wipes out the Country.

After this past seven-plus years, no way the Republicans will be rewarded with another four. This is about, finally, holding the bastards responsible for who they are and what they have done...and, frankly, that goes for the Clintons as well.

[jhrobbins]

63. I'm not even a 'sighted' Obama supporter - Go Hillary - but I think that

Chris, as he is wont to do, took the attack way too far.

[kdpeters]

42. What are Clinton's leglative accomplishments in the Senate?

I'm seriously asking, because I can't name any of her legislative accomplishments. None. I can think of several votes off the top of my head that stick out in a negative way. I can also recall her excuses blaming Bush and the Republicans for her failure to take action on DADT. She was "waiting" to become President first. That's not an accomplishment. That's a failure.

So, off the top of my head, my list of her legislative accomplishments are a list of reasons to vote against her. That's probably the biggest reason I'm supporting Obama; I have too many reasons to vote against Clinton and did just that on Super Tuesday.

If, however, she's the nominee, I'll be voting against McCain and any other Republican. It would be nice to have some reasons to vote FOR Clinton. So I ask of any of her supporters, what has Hillary Clinton accomplished in the Senate? How should Tubbs Jones have answered the same question for her candidate to make the case that Watson failed to make for Obama?

[provis99]

53. well, she voted for war on Iraq, and war on Iranian Revolutionary Guard

those are the only two legislative accomplishments I can think of for Clinton.

[Buzz Clik]

43. Not unlike Colbert asking the conservative Congressman to give the ten commandments.

The Congressman named two or three, and couldn't give one in its entirety.

It makes for good theater, but it's meaningless beyond that.

[BlueGirlRedState]

44. The state senator is Kirk Watson

The gentleman in the video is Kirk Watson, currently a state senator in the Texas legislature, formerly mayor of Austin. I saw this clip on the local Austin news and really winced. Kirk Watson was a popular mayor and not prepared for the interview. Ouch. Although I'm an Obama supporter, I feel that this piece of video is going to come back to bite Kirk Watson in his own political career as well.

[Buzz Clik]

50. My reaction was a wince, also -- for Watson, not Obama.

One would think that Watson would be able to do more than tapdance when asked what Obama's legislative accomplishments are.

It's not as if Obama never showed up in DC ....

[Jivenwail]

47. Tweety sucks

I have always believed in the premise that "anyone can be president" which in my humble opinion is how bush became president - what did he accomplish as governor of Texas before he ran? Did Tweety ask any of the bush supporters what bush accomplished - ever???? Even after his first term??? Geez the Texas Senator doesn't have to list accomplishments. And all the Hillary shill said was that she had accomplishments all over the place but didn't list one and did Tweety ask her to??? No. This was pure Obama bashing pure and simple. The guy got blindsided. Everyone has their reasons for supporting a candidate and it doesn't mean it is based in "accomplishments". Tweety is a low life among many distasteful shit in the media and KO should've shoved it up Tweety's anal cavity which is where Tweety's head is all the time anyway. 'nuf said.

[FATCATs]

49. Tweety, What an arrogant Jack Ass

As for Clinton accomplishments

Iraq, Patriot Act, Bankrupsy, Kyle/Liberman, etc.
Yea, She's got a lot to be proud of

NOT !

[Buzz Clik]

52. Dear State Senator Watson: Read Obama's website BEFORE you go on national tv.

In the Illinois State Senate, this meant working with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.

In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent. He has also been the lead voice in championing ethics reform that would root out Jack Abramoff-style corruption in Congress.

As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan. Recognizing the terrorist threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, he traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of non-proliferation efforts designed to find and secure deadly weapons around the world. And knowing the threat we face to our economy and our security from America's addiction to oil, he's working to bring auto companies, unions, farmers, businesses and politicians of both parties together to promote the greater use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards in our cars.
http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php

Repeating just one of these factoids from Obama's website would have kept you from looking like a total dweeb.

[LongTomH]

64. Thank You for this reply!

The first substantial reply to the issue. Yeah, Sen. Whatsisface shoulda done his homework!

The real issue is, Sen. Obama has some accomplishments to brag on!

[bdamomma]

55. Keith is great

[SaveElmer]

57. Tweety finally acted like a reporter...

Can't blame Watson though...hard to talk about what isn't there...

[PerpetuallyDazed]

58. Brutal!

I don't like either Obama OR Clinton and I am still voting Edwards in my primary. However, seeing this makes me somewhat defensive and driven towards a position of advocacy for Obama. That segment was completely unfair. These so-called "supporters" of his MUST stay on top of the facts! I, for one, am certainly compelled to research further into this candidate's political career.

[progdog]

59. Wrong place wrong time.

Keith did the right thing. "This is not Hardball."

[xxqqqzme]

65. "...HAVE to give me his accomplishments..."

Have to - WTF does he think he is? The look on tweety's face is remarkable - downturned mouth, chin jutted out. He disgusts me!

[Common Sense Party]

67. Tweety had a point, of course.

You should be able to mention SOME of your candidate's accomplishments, especially if you're going on National TV.

"Being inspiring" is not an accomplishment.