Chris Matthews Has Heated Run-In With GOP Delegates In Tampa

[trailmonkee]

Source: huffingtonpost

Chris Matthews and his crew had a very contentious end to the Republican National Convention.

The close of the forum that officially nominated Mitt Romney for president brought with it twin stories of scuffles and shouting matches between Matthews, or members of his producing team, and delegates at the convention.

First, there was the shoving match that ensued between some hecklers and an MSNBC producer on Thursday. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the hecklers started shouting, "Hey Chris, how's that tingle up your leg?" This is a reference to Matthews' infamous comment that he felt a "thrill" going up his leg after hearing one of President Obama's speeches. He often gets snark thrown his way when he's in Republican settings; a 2010 interview with Michele Bachmann featured both a large sign mocking him for it and a jibe from Bachmann herself.

Matthews' popularity with the Republican crowd probably wasn't helped by his scorched-earth confrontation with RNC chair Reince Priebus on Monday.

Matthews himself had a run-in with some delegates at a restaurant early Friday morning. The Hill reported that, as Matthews was leaving the restaurant, he started getting booed and jeered, and went back in to confront his hecklers. Matthews said he told the group, "What is this, a douchebag convention?"

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/01/chris-matthews-rnc-delegates-shouting-match_n_1848853.html

[annabanana]

1. Keep on smiling Tweety! All this noise is a sign that

you've finally gotten it RIGHT!

[madokie]

76. Spot on

[valerief]

2. Maybe Tweety will stop coddling so many Rethugs on his show now. nt

[tanyev]

3. I think it's called a Confederacy of Douchebags, Chris.

[nolabear]

5. *snort!!* Just about cost me a keyboard there, tanyev!

One of my favorite books, and a damn funny post.

[Cracklin Charlie]

23. What book? Please share the title.

Always looking for a good book.

[bleever]

26. "A Confederacy of Dunces"

by John Kennedy Toole: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Confederacy_of_Dunces

[trailmonkee]

51. one of the absolute best.... we lost so much with JK Toole being gone....

Every time I read the book it kills me to think of the other things he may have brought to us if he would have stuck around a while longer.

[msanthrope]

35. One of my favorites, too...I think I have some wine baking in the oven...nt

[freshwest]

37. +1,000

[blackspade]

42. I prefer cavalcade of douchebags myself......

But 'confederacy' in this case rings too true.

[DWinNJ]

70. I don't think I could have adlibed it

But I would have gone with a scrum of scum

[blackspade]

74. LOL!

Thanks, I needed the laugh!

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Sounds like he's getting the Florida small town treatment.

[MADem]

6. HA~~~!!!!! Matthews said he told the group, "What is this, a douchebag convention?"

Classic use of the rhetorical device!!!

[trailmonkee]

7. awesomeness!

[awoke_in_2003]

9. Yeah, that was good. nt

[nolabear]

8. The stress is telling on these guys. Hope they rest up for next week.

Should be a lot more fun, though Charlotte does worry me a bit. I lived in Charlotte years ago. It's one of the most conservative "New South" places on the planet. And I don't mean old style mean conservative; I mean pretty well off, country club loving, smart, and very good at being assholes.

Edit to acknowledge the good people there. And there are a bunch.

[SoapBox]

15. About Charlotte...

I will never forget...and my friend still talks about this...

At least 20 - 25ish years ago, my best friend from 7th grade (thru today!) and her family had to relocate from Portland, OR to Charlotte for her husband's job. I think they had at least 2 of their 4 children by then...

I don't remember if they bought or rented a home...and I think that they were there for at least 1 - 1.5 years.

Its burned in my brain how she talked about a lack of "stuff"...frozen yogurt (apparently it just didn't exist), lack of "better" coffee at the markets (she said there was twice the amount of oils, Crisco, lard than there was coffee) AND how they, good honest Catholics (with warm hearts of gold), could NEVER break into the "click" of the neighborhood. She said it turned out to be a neighborhood where several generations of families had lived (just say'n...they are white and the neighborhood was white). They would get a polite but distant hello from neighbors but nothing more...kind of a snub for moving into the house that had belonged to one of the "old" families on the street (as she was finally told after they left).

I thought it was weird and she really thought it was weird. Needless to say, they were thrilled when he got a transfer back to the Portland area.

Having grown up on the West Coast and then spending 30 years traveling around the country, most of it via the "South"...I'll stay to the left of America, thank you.

[freshwest]

38. I hope the city there doesn't start a mess with the demonstrators and make the news. That'd be bad.

Tampa is run by Democrats and there was not much, if any, violence or ugly behavior reported there about the GOP convention except the GOP attendees. Or at least I haven't seen a thread on it.

I don't know if the city is run by the GOP. Would a GOP city mayor, etc. start trouble to make the DNC look bad on the news?

I hope not, any violence would get more reporting than anything good at the convention.

[ms liberty]

39. charlotte's mayor is a democrat...

An African American democrat. The chief of police is an African American. North Carolina is not as red a state as many du'ers seem to think.

[freshwest]

43. Thanks very much. I'm sure the whole thing will handled well, then. Sorry to be so partisan, but...

After the insanity in Tampa, the delegates and others assaulting news people and who knows what else, and the guys planning to kill Obama, I'm a bit paranoid.

I'm looking forward to seeing a convention to give Americans a true picture of Obama and the vision for America. The GOP has been inciting hatred for so long, it's been a nightmare.

[csziggy]

44. My sister, who lives in Tampa, talked to me about the demonstrations today

She took part in some of the demonstrations. She said the police chief is a liberal, gay woman. The police, though they showed up in overwhelming numbers and dressed in their riot gear, did not start any confrontations and did not actually arrest anyone for the protests.

Some of the protestors who were discouraged by the number of police near the convention location went thirty miles away to the TECO (Tampa Electric Company) site and chained themselves to a pipe. The police covered the protestors to prevent burns and used either a grinder or a welder to cut the chain (sister was not there and heard about it third hand). None of those protestors were arrested.

My sister thinks maybe the police chief had decided ahead of time to not escalate any situation and to save the city money by not arresting anyone unless it became necessary.

She was really surprised that there were no arrests, having come close to it during the Dubya years when she protested him and his brother anytime they showed up in Tampa.

All this is from a telephone conversation with my sister today so no links.

[freshwest]

46. Thanks. I read of the police presence but no violence. From upthread, I think NC will be peaceful.

If only the rest of Florida would be like Tampa. More Democratic and more sanity, less of the hateful Repug influences. I feel bad for all our Democratic kin in red states. One thread the other night was about someone trying to intimidate with a very gruesome threatening note left on their car while shopping because of their Obama sticker. And other things have been happening. So the more peaceful it is, the more we can get done.

[csziggy]

47. I live in a blue county in Florida and still worry about putting Obama signs

And bumper stickers out.

Since I don't go very many places and since my farm is rural so the signs wouldn't be seen much anyway, my worry is probably unfounded. But in 08 I had four Obama signs stolen from my driveway.

[davidpdx]

56. I think the threat of the hurricane made some difference in keeping things calm

If anything positive could ever come out of a storm, that maybe it.

We know who some of the groups will be protesting at the DNC, but I'm sure there will be others.

[Jellybeanz]

63. Thank You..

Hi Everyone,

My first post. And I live in Mississippi. It doesn't get any more red. I even live in a red household. ( Husband lol) .

I honestly would be afraid to put an Obama sticker on my vehicle or let my political leanings be known other than to those I am certain feel the same. Those are few and far between. My husband and I don't discuss politics.

That's how we stay married. He's really a good guy. He works for his uncle who of course is rather well off and does not want to pay more taxes or kick in any for health insurance, and he was raised in that atmosphere. I know I cannot change him, so we just agree to disagree.So clearly I'm not afraid of him .

However, quite seriously.... you just don't put Obama stickers on your vehicle here, or you would not have a vehicle in decent condition very long. It boggles my mind how people the majority of folks that I live around think. Fox news is on no matter what store or restaurant you walk in. We rank at or near the bottom of most everything.. income, education, teen pregnancy, etc.

I just do not get the mindset. I feel like I should have been born somewhere else. I feel so out of place. I'm glad I found it here. And I found it by visiting a very conservative board where they referred to this place in a very negative way. So that was my sign...

[Panasonic]

65. Glad you're here.

Too many isolated blue people in a very red household is a dangerous thing to tiptoe.

But you can easily convert your SO to purplish then blue once he is properly educated on the politics.

Leave a few clippings here and there - and see what your husband thinks.

In any case, I know a very good friend of mine, Aerows is also from Mississippi and resides there, so she knows exactly what you are talking about.

Welcome to DU!

[kestrel91316]

66. Welcome to DU! Hope we can help keep you sane.

Living in MS is not for the faint of heart.

[SunSeeker]

67. Glad to have you on board!

I live in a very red part of a blue state (Orange County, CA) so I know what you mean about fearing for your car if you put on Obama bumper stickers. But it's nothing like Mississippi. And my spouse and friends are of the same mind as me, so at least I don't feel isolated.

You have my admiration for maintaining your sanity. I used to live in Louisiana. It is a completely different world in the deep south. You really are the "Democratic Underground" down there, in every sense of the word.

I raise a toast to you, my brave Jellybeanz!

[freshwest]

69. Thanks for joining and your input. And keep us 'Underground' if you must for family harmony.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

73. Welcome to DU!

You'll like it here

[trailmonkee]

52. I wonder what type of convention he is going to call the dnc when he gets pissed at some dems?

?

[Voice for Peace]

10. I thought it was Bush who caused his tingle.

?

[Kali]

11. yeah, me too - the manly cod piece

[jzola]

19. It was! Leave it to Huffington to get it wrong.

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

21. No. It was Obama

Though HuffPo now does suck, or a Jon Stewart calls it,"The Side-Boob Gazette".

[DiverDave]

22. I just never really liked her, or

her site.
When it came out she wanted to keep all the money and not pay the writers,well that sealed it, I never go there.
I try and find another source.
I know, I know, big deal,eh?
But it makes me feel that I'm doing something...however small it may be.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

59. I'm sorry but you are wrong. It was Bush, his cod piece and the landing on that aircraft carrier

that got Tweety all tingly. He had a man crush on W for eight long years.

[Ino]

60. YOU are wrong.

Although the codpiece did impress Matthews, it was OBAMA's speeches that gave Matthews a "thrill up my leg." Watch the clip.

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

80. Danke.

[riverwalker]

78. it was Obama

I remember the moment.

[magic59]

12. Rebublicons are very desperate

and very dangerous. They have already proven to be econoterrorists. If Obama gets reelected you will probably see wingnut terror acts across the country and you can thank the koch brothers for that.

[amuse bouche]

13. "What is this, a douchebag convention?"

Why yes...yes it is


You go Tweety, I'm officially back in love with you

[TNLib]

14. Ugh I wish the republicans would stop being so belligerent and confrontational

I'm scared for reporters and anyone that gets these assholes riled up.

[BlueCaliDem]

27. Very difficult for them to do since they're horrible sore losers

and it shows all the time.

They've never learned etiquette and proper behavior or manners.

They're also the first to fall into "Nelson-mode" (of the Simpson's) when a Democrat makes a mistake or when something doesn't go the way Progressives would like them to go, but you turn around and do it to them and they wail like spoiled babies!

[JHB]

31. Forty years of harping on "liberal media" as traitorous enemies...

...will do that. Peppering everything in your environment with talk radio and FOX is the secret ingredient that makes bullshit taste like chocolate. Need proof? Look how fast they spoon it up, smiling at every bite.

[jtuck004]

33. Will only increase. That is part of their philosophy, the intimidation and/or

deliberate destruction of the public forum, buying people or purchasing their position of influence.

Our Repub rep has a picture of him standing in the Democratic opponent's driveway, so one can clearly identify her house on a side where the garage door blocks the view, with the address, posted on his web site. For some reason someone painted Nazi swastika's on some of his campaign signs. (I've meet the guy, and I thought that was wrong. Makes Nazi's look bad.)

Better get used to it though, 'cause the opposition is just getting warmed up. Our future is very likely to be putting out fires instead of working on the real challenges facing us, whether the Democrats win or not.

[wordpix]

41. I ran for office once and same thing - repugs vandalized & stole my signs

Gawd forbid people should know the name of a Dem candidate in that Repug district

The signs were hand-painted very large plywood signs that my supporters made one day at a sign party. They were grassroots and beautiful and only on lawns for a day or so when they were smashed up. I felt badly for the supporters who had put in so much time and effort.

[jtuck004]

48. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Many good people won't put their families out

there because of this, and we are missing good ones because of it. Things are getting meaner and more violent. Too bad, 'cause we really need to figure out how to stand against the tyrants, (by that I mean the greedy and wealthy, and the people who cooperate with them) but that becomes harder every day, because treating people without respect has become so common, it's almost an export commodity for us.

My dad ran in Oklahoma (60's?) and we had shotgun pellets hitting the side of the fake train built on the car that was towing us.
I must have been around 9 or 10. Not particularly dangerous, as I know now, a shotgun at that range wouldn't kill anyone. I am quite sure the shooter knew that. But it is a signal that you should go elsewhere

[ejbr]

16. I wished I a progressive was there

so that he/she could have responded "DUH!" to his question about the type of convention!

[rfranklin]

17. Well, yeah, it is the douchebag convention...

I am surprised that he had to ask.

[Grammy23]

18. I'm Surprised he even had to ask

What kind of convention they were holding. He HAD been there all week, after all. Guess he had to have his nose rubbed in it to finally get the message. Yes, they really, really are like that. Ugh.....let's hope the Dems do better and have a few more manners.

[chuckstevens]

20. Chris Mathews Showed Courage

What Chris Matthews did was to stop "Rancid Penis" from trying to get away with laughing off the birther crap off as just a "joke." It was no a joke; it was a deliberate, cynical attempt to exploit hatred for votes. Sadly, there are many Americans who hate Obama simply because he is black and while they would love to call him the N word in public, they know in the 21st Century it's not acceptable. This is why they call him things they've heard on Gobbelsvision, er I'm mean Fox "News", like "communist", "socialist", and fascist." Many of the so called "Tea Party" members don't even know what the terms mean, but that's what they said on Fox, so it must be true.

How disgusting that Mitt Romney is willing to cynically use crap he doesn't really believe to exploit the hate of ignorant racists. Anyone who is THAT that desperate to become president should be rejected by the American public.

[davidpdx]

55. Gobbelsvision...lol

Oh I got that one. Nice one.

[otohara]

24. I Worry About His Health

when he was here in 08 for the DNC. If I remember correctly, he had just found out about the Diabetes and he looked tired and paler than usual...anyway stress is never a good thing for ones health, especially when your immune system is compromised. I worked in radio, when ever there was a big event to put on, it was nuts for everyone.

I think Matthews has come full circle - he's not playing like he's "fair &balanced" any more.

[trailmonkee]

53. what a way to go though... I am sure he is loving it... he is totally in his element....

[SunSeeker]

25. Honey Badger don't care.

His run-in reminds me of the hilarious "Honey Badger don't give a shit" video where the Honey Badge eats the cobras--then passes out from the venom--then wakes up and goes again.

[rhiannon55]

62. Tweety IS a honey badger! LOL!!!

Thanks for that video. I needed a laugh!

[SunSeeker]

64. That's right, he can get stung by a thousand bees. Honey badger don't give a shit!

He's badass!

[graham4anything]

28. all that was missing at the convention was the white sheets

these current repubs/teaparty/libertarians are hate filled

same with those that listen to Rush and Sean

hate is what they offer in the republican party
and those people are getting dangerous like a rabid mob

And then they tamper with the elections
they should be thrown in jail for that, and the irony would be, they would then not be able to vote as they would be the criminals

[freshwest]

57. +1

[flamingdem]

29. Good! Just keep bringing attention to the Rinse Penis interview

That's worth a mill in anti-Romney ads

[Faygo Kid]

30. That's what happens when you speak truth to power

Go Tweety! The teabaggers always resort to threats and confrontation.

[LovingA2andMI]

32. Thank You Tweety!

Although not a "trained" journalist, I respect Chris Matthews (Tweety) because he DO ask the tough questions on both sides of the political spectrum. On the case of Preibus (who has a name like that anyway), Romney and the Oakland County, MI based "Birth Certificate" jab at President Obama; Matthews did what ANY commentator should do, if they're doing their DARN JOB....call the party leaders and its' candidate OUT on using "Dog-Whistle Racism"!

Matthews did a EXCELLENT job calling Preibus out on Morning Joe last week (which I personally don't care for that show), continued on his Program later, during the Talking Head analysis after RNC Klanvention day one and two....along with the next day. Matthews repeating this event and identifying it as what is was, should be respected in network news-casting.

I believe in the theory of ten. A person should mention an issue they desire to stick in another persons' head for them to analyze, debate, confirm or review at least TEN times before they MIGHT would take action. Matthews pursuit of repeatedly calling the RNC's, Romney's "Dog-Whistle Racism" stuck in the public minds that listened to him. The GOP masses were angry and worried for good reason!

[BrainMann1]

34. Keep

doing what your doing Chris. Bring on the republicans they show all america that they are very good lier's.

[Cha]

36. Actually the convention as a whole

was rather douchebaggery. Thank you, Chris!

Thanks for the link, trailmonkee.

[wordpix]

40. "douchebag convention"---very good, Chris, keep 'em coming!

BTW, I'm watching Chris' show more than ever now that he's Mr. Feisty.

[trailmonkee]

45. he deserves major cred.....

[snooper2]

49. So is douchebag back off the banned word list again?

[trailmonkee]

50. only a douchebags list of banned words would have douchebag on it....

[Politicalboi]

54. GOP expecting an apology in

3-2-1......

[King_Klonopin]

58. I witnessed a confrontation on MSNBC

Matthews was brave enough to take a mic into the crowd to
solicit some candid feedback.
He asked for a republican to step up and make a comment.
Up steps a smug, bullyish-looking cement-head with his talking points
cocked and at the ready to fire:
"When are the democrats going to define 'fair share'? (referring
to a fair tax rate for the wealthy) The richest 10% pay 36% of
the taxes already."
Tweety just chuckled. Nothing. C'mon, you can't let BS like that
pass by without a smack-down.

Firstly, where did Mr. Fair get this math? Limbaugh? Savage?

Secondly, he's speaking in half-truths, telling half the story:
The "1%" in this country possess 90% of the wealth!!!
I'd say "36% of the taxes" in exchange for 90% of the wealth
is a fucking pretty sweet deal. Some would say it's rapacious
and unfair. My tax rate is 22%. Romney only paid 13% (allegedly)
and the top bracket is supposed to be 34%

Thirdly, democrats have been defining "fair" since 2008:
returning to the tax structure when Clinton was in office
is "fair" -- 39%, 40%, 41%, whatever. It's not the horrible
burden they make it out to be. (and it's still a lower %
than during the Reagan years)

I can tell you what's NOT "FAIR" -- the present system.
The powerful interests of a few wealthy elites in our country
have bought the media, bought our government, and
now they are close to buying (owning) us -- unless we say,
"enough already!"

Finally, Why should I defend someone else's interests at
my own expense? Which is exactly what this dude in old
jeans and a white T shirt was doing. I guess he is proud
to be in the socioeconomic class that gets saddled with
paying for everything in the U.S.A.
He can kiss-up to these guys all he wants; they're never
going to let him into their club.
If he wants to give Mitt a 0% tax rate on capital gains in
exchange for eliminating the mortgage interest deduction,
that is his right. But it makes him a FOOL, and his stupidity
effects my life in bad ways. Wake the fuck up, morans.

[KevTucky]

61. As my name implies..

I live in Kentucky, Lexington to be exact. Lexington is a wonderful town, we elected a gay mayor last year. We have had several women as mayors, all there people are Democrats. Lexinton is home to UK, and the university exerts a progressive infulence on the town. The same thing could be said for Louisville. You get outside of these two cities and you run into the reddest of the red. A cities location does not mean they are not with the good guys.
Don't judge Charlotte because it is in the south or in NC. They went blue last time, and there is a chance again this year.

[MrMickeysMom]

68. As a matter of fact, it IS a douchebag convention!

HA!

[progressivebydesign]

71. Chris was wrong.. it was actually, a Douchebag Convention. The entire thing. Not just the table. nt

[CatWoman]

72. dayum!!!

I have to give Tweety 10 snaps up!!

[sarcasmo]

75. Tweety has awoke to the reality that is klanapalooza.

[titaniumsalute]

77. You go Chris...they are a bunch of douchebags

[Arugula Latte]

79. Matthews should have said: "The jerk store called, and they're running out of you!"