MSNBC PRESSURED TO BOOT HOST FOR TIES TO HILLARY
Left-wing activists ramp up attacks over Clinton election cash
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Chris Mathews and wife, Kathleen
Donald Trump isn’t the only one Moveon.org, the far left group supporting socialist Bernie Sanders, wants to oust from politics. It’s also trying to remove Chris Matthews from his anchor’s chair at MSNBC over complaints the “Hardball” host has a personal conflict in covering Hillary Clinton’s run for president.
In a stunning case of the left turning on itself, Moveon.org has persuaded more than 17,600 Democrat activists to sign a petition demanding the president of MSNBC suspend liberal Matthews while his wife, Kathleen, runs for Congress as a Democrat from Maryland. Kathleen Matthews has hitched her political fortunes to Clinton’s campaign.
“There is a clear conflict of interest between Kathleen’s new political career and Chris Matthews’ journalistic obligations to the public,” Moveon.org says in its petition.
“His wife, Kathleen, is running for Congress just outside Washington, D.C.,” it explains. “She has very publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton, has worked closely with the Clinton Foundation, is using footage in her campaign of her interviewing Hillary when she was a news reporter, is getting big bucks from Hillary donors, and her campaign is paying money to firms associated with Hillary.”
The group claims Matthew’s spouse may be “egging on” his “shilling” for Clinton, as well as his “disgraceful” bias against Sanders.
“In every episode of ‘Hardball,’ in every ‘exclusive’ interview with Clinton, he gives her endless time to make her case, repeats her talking points, gives her softball questions (and) denigrates Bernie Sanders,” it complains.
Therefore, the petition asserts, “Matthews should be removed from the air for the duration of the campaign, or he should be required to give Bernie equal time.”
Meanwhile, the Washington Post confirms that almost $80,000 in donations to Kathleen Matthews came from frequent “Hardball” guests or their spouses and political action committees. At least 35 of her donors have appeared on “Hardball” in this election cycle, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass.; as well as former senator Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and former congressman Martin Frost, D-Texas.
The Post questioned the timing of the donations and Matthews’ failure to disclose them on his show.
Some of the donations were made shortly before or after “Hardball” appearances – including a $10,000 contribution from Gillibrand’s PAC, logged only two days before she was a guest.
MSNBC denied charges of a political quid pro quo.
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“‘Hardball’ has never booked a guest in exchange for a political contribution,” MSNBC spokesman Mark Kornblau told the Post. “That is an offensive accusation that would violate not only the standards of NBC News, but also Chris’ personal ethics.”
Kathleen Matthews defended the many donor-guests by arguing, “It’s offensive to me as a working woman and to these women senators and members of Congress to suggest they can’t get onto ‘Hardball’ on their own merits.”
Still, her opponents aren’t buying it. In fact, Aryeh Shudofsky, the Republican candidate vying for the Maryland district seat with Kathleen Matthews, has called on MSNBC to remove her husband from the air for the duration of her candidacy.
Beyond sharing major donors with Clinton, FEC records show Matthews is using some of the same Democrat campaign consultants and strategists as Clinton. She also worked closely with her Clinton Foundation.
With his wife running for politics, Matthews has become more partisan than usual. The former aide to Democrat Speaker Tip O’Neill has spoken glowingly of Clinton while launching into angry tirades against Republican presidential candidates.
His vicious attacks on GOP Sen. Ted Cruz stand out.
“There’s a troll-like quality to Cruz,” Matthews said recently on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show. “He operates below the level of human life.
“He appeals to people’s negativity rather than their joy. I don’t think people feel good about voting for Cruz, I think they feel – I don’t know what it is he appeals to,” Matthews bellowed, before comparing Cruz to communist-slayer Sen. Joe McCarthy.
“There’s something about that guy who’s always reminded me of Joe McCarthy, and there’s something about him that is negative and menacing,” Matthews ranted. “So when I say below the level of human life, I mean the good nature of human life.”
Political analysts point out that the Matthewses have a personal stake in the outcome of the national campaign, as well. If Kathleen Matthews gets past the primary and runs in the general election, her campaign could be lifted by the national presidential ticket, which has a sizable impact on congressional races.
Copyright 2016 WND
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