Matthews insults Breaux

Christopher Matthews "hit" a new low today.  He had former senator John breaux as a guest on Hardbrain, his program and asked him why his name had an "x" at the end.  He then asked if the Breaux family had added the letter to "suck up" to the French in Louisiana. Astonishing.  pl 

Comments

[alnval]

Col. Lang:

Chris Matthews (Tweety-Bird) has had a problem with impulse control for years. That's why he never let's his guests finish their thought before he interrupts. Would it be too unkind to suggest that he might need to get his prescription renewed?

[Cronin]

Col. Lang:

I've gone back and forth on Matthews over the years. For a long time I couldn't stand him, maybe something like 2004-8. He just seemed the epitome of shallow conventional DC wisdom. I think that's all still there -- witness his pedestrian book on JFK -- but in the last few years, maybe with the rise of the Tea Party, he's become a much more open and forceful, old school, New Dealer Catholic Democrat. I've come round to him for that reason. I'm also of a New Deal persuasion in my politics (though from a more rural perspective), as well as an Irish-American from the northeast, so for me he's kind of like an uncle whose views are basically sound, but who has a kind of wild rudeness that makes him impossible to put in a room with some people. I wonder if Matthews' rudeness is not particularly offensive to those sections of the country which put a high stock on friendliness, etiquette, or both. Neither of these elements are highly valued in northeastern Irish-American conversational habits -- or, I should say, friendliness is shown in ways that might be off-putting to people from outside this culture, like applying a minor insult or asking someone an absurd question or questions; the response people acculturated to the Irish-American neighborhoods of northeastern cities expect is a kind of retort and amplification. Of course, the question of why there is an "x" on Breaux is indeed ignorant, but I think Matthews, in his context, was trying to be friendly in his own way, and had Breaux been from, say Worcester, Mass., (n.b. New England, at least, is full of French names from our Quebecois neighbors -- I can't speak to Matthews' Philadelphia), he would have answered with something like: "I don't know, is the "h" in Matthews for ham sandwich, because you seem to eat a lot of those." Not great, obviously, as a joke, but the idea is the instateneity of the response. Even rural Yankees talk fast by the standards of the rest of the country, as I found out in Michigan's Upper Peninsula -- also northern, but far from New England (Of course, Matthews is from Philly, not New England, so I am generalizing to a certain extent; nevertheless, you're going to find certain traits in Irish American neighborhoods in all the big, Eastern cities).

All of this is a long-winded and academic way to say: I think Matthews means better than he acts, and that he views his actions as more venial sins than you might, Colonel. I don't in any way excuse rude behavior, and do my best to be courteous in written and spoken word. However, I did want to explain -- rather than excuse -- the world Matthews is coming out of. And though he's impulsive, I'll take Matthews over many of the other talking-heads (I find Rachel Maddow's talking down to small-town American particularly grating).

[Tim Vincent]

You obviously loathe Matthews.
Why watch him?
He's certainly not entertaining.

[Agincajun]

As someone who proudly carries a surname listed in the "300" that comment was very personal and incredibly offensive to me. And yes I am drafting a letter to MSNBC. Let it be noted that I totally lost my sense of humor. The guy has always been a clueless rude twit. But the fact that he has the nerve to brag about his grasp of history makes me puke. I would not venture into Cajun Land after that remark. The gators are getting frisky and hungry about now. For the record, I have never been a fan of the former Senator. Like most pols from the Gulf Coast, he was bought and paid for by the Petrochem industry. Party affiliation is moot when it comes to the oil bizz money. I wonder how Tweety reacts to Paddy jokes?

[William R. Cumming]

Chris is definitely ADHD!

[turcopolier]

TV

Unfortunately, his antics are part of my "sampling" each day. pl

[turcopolier]

Agincajun

Matthews is so bad and so rude that in a better age he would be gone by now. pl

[turcopolier]

cronin

I lived in rural Maine when I was in high school.Matthews reminds of the Massholes who would arrive for the "summah" or "deah gunnin'" in "Novembah." Downeasters have a certain terse reserve in their manner. Matthews is just shanty Irish trash. pl

[Paul Deavereaux]

Believe me, you get use to it. One of my T.I. sergeants always called me 'Deveroski' -- but I think he was just giving me a hard time. The 'X' throws most everybody except Southerners and Irish.

[jonst]

I always assumed Breaux was a Black Muslim.

[rjj]

I think Matthews is employed because he is "so bad and so rude." Callow also helps, but abrasiveness is the audience hook.

QED. Pinata service.

[Fred]

Matthews a New Deal Democrat? Why, because he worked as a staffer for Tip O'Neill? He voted for GWB in 2000 according to his interview with Salon. As to 'Irish' banter, he's a professional journalist interviewing a member of the United States Senate, not a guy bs'n in a Boston bar room.

After a lifetime of professional work a 66 year old adult man does not know how to address a member of the US Senate with professional courtesy? Mr. Matthews knew precisely how condescending he was being. His attitude is part of the problem with the MSM today.

[Sidney O. Smith III]

There is also an x in Croix, so I assume C. Matthews the enlightened American Catholic would act just as condescendingly and arrogantly when dealing with La Croix.

I am tempted to say he would turn his back on La Croix but then I start thinking about sacramental priests lifting the Chalice and doing the same, aka facing the camera/congregation. Let's hope that crowd isn't Catholic in the same manner and to the same degree as Chris Matthews (and, to be fair, they aren't).

But, to be on the safe side, I hope, in my own admittedly disordered way, when they lift the Chalice with their backs to "La Croix" and utter some words sotto voce, it isn't what Chris Matthews says when facing his congregation -- "This is all about me!".

[steve]

What an absolute deaux-deaux.

As a former resident of Louisiana for 27 years, I think the proper Louisiana response would be, "That Matthews is a real Boudreaux for sure, cher"!

[Phil Giraldi]

Northeastern Italians have similar cultural traits. My two daughters married Virginia boys, neither of whom can quite fathom the shouting, faux anger, and finger pointing combined with what appear to be insults that accompany daily life in the average New Jersey household.

[Tim Vincent]

Keeps you informed and witty, eh?

[Morocco Bama]

I can't take Matthews...even with a spoonful of turbinado sugar. I bet he pronounces Beauchamp, Bow Champ instead of Bee Chum.

http://www.forvo.com/word/beauchamp/

[CTuttle]

*heh* Having lived and worked on my Grandfolks' Shaker farmstead on Lake Mascoma, during my freshman and sophomore years of HS, I totally agree with ya, Col..! Ironically, I'm working on my 22nd Anniversary, with a native Masshole, I'd met while stationed in Ft. Devens...! ;-)

[Cronin]

Colonel,

I think the comparison with "summer people" is apt. In my experience, as a rural Bay Stater, the Massholes from Boston Bay in the summertime can be tolerated -- the New Yorkers (and the Philadelphians, to a lesser extent) are far worse. Perhaps this is just proximity, that I'm more used to the Bostonians than the New Yorkers, as they are the "capital" city of my region. They're all rude, these urban summertime colonists, but the Manhattanites were just the worst. I remember thinking one time, when these beautiful 5th Avenue maidens were loudly insulting my small town for not having cell phone access one July day: "why don't you just go back home, then? We'll live without your tourist money." On the other hand, I remember being enraged last summer when a Bostonian was ruining an evening at my favorite trout pond by screaming loudly on a raft in the middle of the pond, pretending he was in trouble .... scared me and the fish away, not to mention the boy-crying-wolf aspect. So yes, he's of that ilk, but I still feel more affection for him than the John Kings and Erin Burnetts of the world.

Fred -- didn't realize Matthews voted for W in 2000. Wow. It's hard to square that with what he professes today. I'll have to keep this fact in mind as I watch him. Maybe Mr. Cummings' diagnosis of ADHD is correct.

Phil Giraldi -- Yes indeed! I do think there's a lot of cultural blending between northeastern Irish and Italians. I know many, many individuals of Italo-Hiberno background; this was from when marrying within the Church was still de rigeur. My mother's Downeast Anglo-Scottish (Yankee, for lack of a better term) side are far more reserved, less histrionic in their performance, but still very verbal and cutting. They remind me of the letters of John Adams, who was not rude like Chris Matthews or my uncle Tom, but infinitely more cutting. It's all that North Atlantic living, I say.

[Agincajun]

I would love to run in to Tweety in a bar bathroom. I doubt if little Chrisy ever had to roll in the "mud, blood and the beer"...would cost me some Karma points and my wife would most likely take the bail money out of my hide......but it would be sweet. We are close to the same age so I would feel no guilt. I think he would look good as a urinal liner. He could consider the experience a history lesson. I might not always agree Col., but you have honor, where I sprouted.....that means a lot.

[turcopolier]

Cronin

Yup. The New Yorkers are the worst. In my childhood my father's farmer neighbors in York County, Maine made a good living in deer season selling deer to these characters who did not want to go home without something to show for all that fancy gear. The average famer had a dozen deer hanging from the rafters of the barn, aging nicely in the November chill. Game wardens were careful not to disturb the Moultons or the Michauds over this. They knew that the deer licenses and carcass tags would match. Don't let this Bambi Holocaust bother you. There are far more deer in Maine than people. pl

[turcopolier]

Agincajun

"the "mud, blood and the beer..." I remember that line. I'll hold your coat. pl

[turcopolier]

CTuttle

FWIW, I was born at Ft. Devens. My father was out paying troops when this occurred. He always said that i had been "found on post and picked up on the unit property book." That was also my first ststion as an officer. I was there with the 2/2 Infantry Regiment. That happened because my first and present wife was a senior in college in Boston which was 40 miles away. pl