A must read from David Sirota: Matthews vs. McNulty

[devilgrrl]

Matthews vs. McNulty
Posted on Apr 24, 2008

By David Sirota

If television is the nation’s mirror, then no two TV characters reflect the intensifying “two Americas” gap better than Chris Matthews and Jimmy McNulty.

A recent New York Times profile of Matthews describes a name-dropping dilettante floating between television studios and cocktail parties. The article documents the MSNBC host’s $5-million salary, three Mercedes and house in lavish Chevy Chase, Md. Yet Matthews said, “Am I part of the winner’s circle in American life? I don’t think so.”

That stupefying comment sums up a pervasive worldview in Washington that is hostile to any discussion of class divides. Call it Matthews-ism—an ideology most recently seen in the brouhaha over Barack Obama’s statement about economic dislocation.

The Illinois senator said that when folks feel economically shafted, they get “bitter.” Matthews-ism spun the truism into a scandal.

The Washington Post labeled Obama’s statements “Bittergate.” Tim Russert invited affluent political consultants on “Meet the Press” to analyze the “controversy,” with millionaire James Carville saying, “I’m hardly bitter about things.” Hillary Clinton called Obama “elitist,” ignoring her mansions in Washington and Chappaqua, $109-million income, career as a Wal-Mart board member, and legacy pushing job-killing policies such as NAFTA.

This sickening episode was topped off by ABC’s Charles Gibson, who only months ago humiliated himself by insinuating that typical middle-class families make $200,000 a year (95 percent make less). Last week, while moderating a debate, Gibson segued from the “bitter” comment into a tirade against rescinding capital gains tax breaks, implying the proposal would hurt most Americans. This, even though the tax cuts in question delivered the vast majority of their benefits to the richest 1 percent.

more: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080424_matthews_vs_mcnulty/

[midnight]

1. I didn't know that middle class families made 200.000 dollars.

That's pretty good money. So why is most of America struggling?

[LSparkle]

2. Absolutely disgusting ...

I didn't read the article about Tweety -- I knew he was probably rich, but that's
absolutely sickening. How he can paint himself as "a man of the people," or an
"expert" on PA politics (like he's just one of the "good old boys") when he makes
$5 million???? He's as much a "good old boy" as Hillary is -- no wonder he's so
impressed with her downscale makeover (since he's been trying to commit the same
fraud with his audience).

[Indenturedebtor]

3. Yes they are a combination of

Yes they are a combination of hopelessley out of touch and hopelessley sinister.

[nashville_brook]

4. this is a MUST READ. we have to get corporate media out of our elections.

is it too much to ask that a normal, middle class person get to moderate a debate. something closer to the "house of commons" rather than the "house of lords." it was beyond outrageous to watch Gibson ARGUE about the capital gains tax as if it was some "cause of the common man."

[tblue37]

5. Besides, since when are debate MODERATORS supposed to argue with the

candidates?

[nashville_brook]

6. watching gibson argue with Obama was the icing on the cake -- to me, it didn't just show

Gibson's bias in terms candidate. it proved that he's unable to see past his own personal interest. add to that his inability to reason himself out a wet paper bad. i mean, come on. revenues from capital gains increased because of profit-taking, hence the largest expansion of top 1-percent income in history.