Stephanopoulos: Obama Speech 'Made a Start in Inspiring Hope' --2/26/2009

1. Stephanopoulos: Obama Speech 'Made a Start in Inspiring Hope'
Former top Democratic aide-turned journalist George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday applauded Barack Obama's address to Congress, lauding it for making "a start at inspiring hope out in the country." The This Week host appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning America and affirmed co-host Robin Roberts' question about whether Obama "hit his marks last night." Stephanopoulos asserted that the President needed to show that he had a strong plan to fix the economy. He then complimented: "And I think he made a good start last night." He singled out the section of Obama's speech on bailing out the banks and cooed: "And I think that was the single-most effective passage in the speech." And while Stephanopoulos noted that this plan will cost "billions of more dollars," at no time did he discuss how the country would pay for all the programs and reforms the President wants to enact.

2. CBS's Rodriguez: Public 'Loved' Obama, Jindal a 'Debbie Downer'
While discussing President Obama's Tuesday night address to Congress and the Republican response given by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, on Wednesday's CBS Early Show co-host Maggie Rodriguez observed: "And Americans loved it. The polls show that they're very optimistic, and then out comes Bobby Jindal, Debbie Downer, saying 'hated it, it's not going to work.'" Rodriguez made the remark while speaking with Democrat Dee Dee Myers and Republican Dan Bartlett. She turned to Bartlett and asked: "Do you think the Republican Party's taking the right approach, Dan, being so vocal with their objections?"

3. ABC Saw 'Hard Core' Conservative Bush in 2001; No Label for Obama
Despite calling for massive new spending on education, universal health care and more money for bailing out banks, no ABC anchor on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning used the word liberal in describing Barack Obama's February 24 address to Congress. In contrast, ABC host Terry Moran on February 27, 2001 anticipated that a similar speech by President George W. Bush would be "conservative." Following that address, he spun it as "hard core conservatism: fiscal restraint; deep, across-the-board spending and tax cuts; the privatization of part of Social Security." And yet, on Tuesday's post-speech coverage, on that evening's Nightline and on Wednesday's Good Morning America, no anchor applied the liberal label to Obama's address. The same Moran who saw "hard core conservatism" in Bush's appearance before Congress, described a "big and bold speech" from the current President. He also enthused that "President Barack Obama didn't sugarcoat it, he found bad guys on Wall Street and in Washington."

4. Matthews: Obama 'Wowed,' Jindal 'Odd,' DeLay Calls Chris 'Biased'
Attempting to explain Tuesday night's off-camera "Oh God!" exclamation before Bobby Jindal's response to Barack Obama, Chris Matthews, at the top of Wednesday's Hardball, claimed he was taken aback by "the odd, antebellum look of the scene. Some people heard my reaction at the time," which contrasted with his view of Obama's address: "He wowed us! That's the running headline from last night's presidential address to the Congress. Barack Obama gave a great speech." This naked display of bias was so transparent that it caused guest panelist, former Republican Majority Leader, Tom DeLay to point out the obvious: "Listening to your introduction somebody is gonna accuse you of being biased."

5. Obamas 'Hip,' CPAC Like a 'Star Trek Convention' Says Matthews
On Wednesday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews cheered how "hip," "today," and "youthful," the Obamas looked at Tuesday night's address to Congress before immediately transitioning into offering this backhanded blurb for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC): "If you like Star Trek conventions, you'll love this baby!" While it is fair to say you won't be seeing Jay-Z performing at CPAC any time soon, the comparison to a Star Trek convention crowd was definitely a dig at conservatives' expense. However Matthews did go on to out himself as a former CPAC attendee: "So if you can't catch a Star Trek convention you've got CPAC coming here. It's always fun. Because I grew up as a conservative. I liked a lot of this stuff."

6. Wash Post Gossip on Jindal: 'I Found His Manson Eyes Disturbing'
Washington Post gossip columnist Amy Argetsinger didn't bash Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal with some demeaning Indian stereotype. She overlooked ethnicity altogether and compared him to psychotic murder Charles Manson. In a chat session on Wednesday with her gossip partner Roxanne Roberts, she claimed Jindal had "Manson eyes" on the TV screen: "I found his Manson eyes disturbing."

Stephanopoulos: Obama Speech 'Made a
Start in Inspiring Hope'

Former top Democratic aide-turned journalist George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday applauded Barack Obama's address to Congress, lauding it for making "a start at inspiring hope out in the country." The This Week host appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning America and affirmed co-host Robin Roberts' question about whether Obama "hit his marks last night."

Stephanopoulos asserted that the President needed to show that he had a strong plan to fix the economy. He then complimented: "And I think he made a good start last night." He singled out the section of Obama's speech on bailing out the banks and cooed: "And I think that was the single-most effective passage in the speech." And while Stephanopoulos noted that this plan will cost "billions of more dollars," at no time did he discuss how the country would pay for all the programs and reforms the President wants to enact.

[This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [1] ]

Co-host Roberts, on the other hand, should be commended for actually raising that question when she interviewed Joe Biden in a separate segment. Speaking of those who bought houses they couldn't afford, she pressed the Vice President: "And now, billions of dollars are going to help both. Isn't that rewarding bad behavior? Folks are still outraged about this." In a follow up question, she challenged again, wondering, "Quite ambitious. Is there a danger of promising too much?"

As for Stephanopoulos, he actually seemed, comparatively, somewhat restrained. In addition to GMA, the ABC host also appeared on the Tuesday edition of Nightline to give a post-speech report card. In a previous edition of the grading segment, after the February 9 primetime press conference, he gave Obama A and B grades. See a February 11, 2009 CyberAlert posting for more: www.mrc.org [2]

On Tuesday, however, the "report card" graphic appeared onscreen, but Stephanopoulos offered no letter grades, instead complimenting Obama for more generic things such as "reminding people of the popular parts" of stimulus package that has already passed. He also allowed that the President's "unfamiliarity" with the form of the address showed.

A transcript of the February 25 Good Morning America segment, which aired at 7:05am:

ROBERTS: But, now, to the President's speech last night. It was his first address to Congress. And at a moment you could see him scanning the crowd for first lady Michelle Obama, when he introduced her before he began his speech. The state of the U.S. economy, of course, front and center. And here are some of the key moments from last night.
BARACK OBAMA: I know for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. And rightly so. The impact of this recession is real. And it is everywhere. This time, CEOs won't be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days a over. I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. If we confront without fear, the challenges of our time and summon that enduring spirit of an America that does not quit, then someday, years from now, our children can tell their children, this was the time when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, something worthy to be remembered.
ROBERTS: So, how did the President do last night? We turn, now, to our chief Washington correspondent, and host of "This Week," George Stephanopoulos. And the bottom line, what did the President need to achieve? And did he hit his marks last night, George?
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: I think he did, Robin. Number one, he had to show the country that he gets it, that he understands what they're going through in this very, very tough economy. And that he has a plan to fix it. And then, he had to move to buy some time and build support for that plan. And I think he made a good start last night. Now, it was interesting. It didn't seem like he moved every one in the hall. The hall was still pretty split between Democrats and Republicans. But, what will be interesting to see is did the President did a good job of convincing doubters back home, including Republicans, that his plan should have a shot to work?
ROBERTS: Yeah. The hall did respond when he talked about the debt. That's the one time they all seemed to be in agreement. But the President, when it comes to bailing out the banks, he knows that there is much resistance. And he talked about that, addressed that last night.
OBAMA: So, I know how unpopular it is to be seen as helping banks right now, especially when everyone is suffering, in part, from their bad decisions. I promise you. I get it. That's what this is about. It's not about helping banks. It's about helping people.
STEPHANOPOULOS: That is the single-most important challenge the President faced last night, to try to build support for this plan to bail out the banks, to ease the credit crisis. It's going to cost billions of more dollars. And I think that was the single-most effective passage in the speech. When the president said two things: Number one, I get it. I understand how angry you are about this. And number two, he said, it's not about helping banks. It's about helping people. The administration is going to have to drive home that message again and again and again, to try to ease the anger over this bank plan.
ROBERTS: The anger. And also, there was a lot of talk about his tone prior to this speech, that it was too grim. Did he do anything to change that?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Came right out of the box and said, make no mistake about it. We are going to recover. That's the most important thing he wanted the country to hear last night. He began on hope. He ended on hope. Now, in between, there's a lot of hard things to be done. And the President did not engage in any kind of happy-talk. But I think he made a start at inspiring hope out in the country.
ROBERTS: As always, George, thanks for the bottom line. Have a good day there in D.C. Thanks so much.

CBS's Rodriguez: Public 'Loved' Obama,
Jindal a 'Debbie Downer'

While discussing President Obama's Tuesday night address to Congress and the Republican response given by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, on Wednesday's CBS Early Show co-host Maggie Rodriguez observed: "And Americans loved it. The polls show that they're very optimistic, and then out comes Bobby Jindal, Debbie Downer, saying 'hated it, it's not going to work.'" Rodriguez made the remark while speaking with Democrat Dee Dee Myers and Republican Dan Bartlett. She turned to Bartlett and asked: "Do you think the Republican Party's taking the right approach, Dan, being so vocal with their objections?"

At the top of the show, Rodriguez interviewed Vice President Joe Biden and asked: "...the Republican party came out with their own charismatic, young, dynamic, ethnic spokesperson after the speech and said 'we don't buy it, we're not on board.' Are you taking any of their objections into account? Are any of their objections legitimate in your view?" Biden replied: "Sure. I'm sure there's -- there's some legitimate objections they have. But what I don't understand from Governor Jindal is, what would he do?...if you choose the inaction that Governor Jindal is talking about, how responsible is that? While people are just sinking into the abyss."

[This item, by the MRC's Kyle Drennen, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [3] ]

Prior to interviewing the Vice President, Rodriguez touted the CBS poll numbers showing Americans "loved" Obama's speech: "Shortly after President Obama's address last night, CBS News and Knowledge Networks conducted a poll. Among the findings, 3/4 of those who watched say they believe the President's plans will make the economy better, 74%. Three out of four, say they believe Mr. Obama's plans will help the nation's housing crisis, 76%. And while about 1/3 before the speech believed that the President's plans would help them personally, after the speech, 51%, more than half, said they would be helped." What Rodriguez did not mention was that 38% of the poll respondents were Democrats, while only 26% were Republicans. CBS poll results here: www.cbsnews.com [4]

In another segment, while talking to Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer, co-host Harry Smith echoed Rodriguez's suggestion that it was risky for Republicans to oppose Obama: "It is interesting. Because you look at the poll numbers and the public is clearly buying what the President is selling, but as you watched that room last night, there were plenty of Republicans who were sitting on their hands, reluctant to stand up in certain parts of the speech. Are they doing that, do you think, at their own risk of peril?"

Here is the full transcript of Rodriguez speaking to Myers and Bartlett:

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: I'm joined by two CBS News consultants, Harry. Dee Dee Myers, who was President Clinton's Press Secretary, and Dan Bartlett, who was President George W. Bush's communications director. Good morning to you both.
DAN BARTLETT: Morning, Maggie.
DEE DEE MYERS: Good morning, Maggie.
RODRIGUEZ: You know, the first thing I noticed when President Obama got up there, boy, the Democrats really are in charge, that picture of the three of them, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Speaker Pelosi. They have all the power right now.
MYERS: They do, and the energy when, not just President Obama, but when his cabinet, and then Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice of the Supreme Court, entered the chamber, you could feel the enthusiasm mounting as the speech approached.
RODRIGUEZ: I never saw Nancy Pelosi so smiley, smiley during one of those speeches in my life. So different.
[LAUGHTER]
MYERS: Well, not in the last eight years.
BARTLETT: And they now have the keys to the kingdom and with that comes a lot of responsibility.
RODRIGUEZ: Responsibility. Are they up to the job, Dee Dee?
MYERS: Well, I mean, that remains to be seen. But I think, certainly, this president has had a very busy first five weeks, passing the huge stimulus package, beginning to lay out his other plans. And last night was about a couple of things, about, I think. Trying to connect his programs to the lives of the American people. It was about explaining how that's going to work. It was about laying out a broader agenda, saying not only do we need to fix the economy, but we have to do health care, we have to do education, and we have to do energy independence at the same time. And then, I think, he -- maybe the main overarching theme was 'we can do it.' It was a very hopeful speech. It was one that was loaded with responsibility and calls on the American people to be part of it, but it was hopeful.
RODRIGUEZ: And Americans loved it. The polls show that they're very optimistic, and then out comes Bobby Jindal, Debbie Downer, saying 'hated it, it's not going to work.' Do you think the Republican Party's taking the right approach, Dan, being so vocal with their objections?
BARTLETT: Well, what they have to do is clearly articulate how they would do things differently, but in a constructive way. If they are appearing to be the party of no, the American people are going to reject that.
RODRIGUEZ: Right.
BARTLETT: The challenge for Barack Obama, and for the Republicans for that matter, is that the steps that have to be taken in the coming days and weeks, whether it be the auto bailout, or even more money to banks, and what, really, Barack Obama was doing last night was preparing the country for some very difficult political choices. The public does not want to throw more money after bad, as they would say, and he was basically warning them that we're going to have to do it. Now, I agree with Dee Dee, he did it, in a very layman like term, did it -- explained to people why we have to take these unpopular steps, but the bottom line is, is what the Republicans are hoping is that his personal popularity will start matching the unpopularity of some of these bailout measures he's going to have to enact in the coming weeks and months.
RODRIGUEZ: It's not that they're hoping it fails so that they can be right, which could be the impression that some people can get.
BARTLETT: Not -- well, I'm talking a very -- I agree -- I mean in a very -- they're making a political calculation that the public is not as supportive of some of the measures he's going to have to take as they are of him personally. But I would agree, it would be a very dangerous road for the Republicans to go down if they just stand up every time and say 'no, no, no.' They have to have a constructive seat at the table, they have to be offering solutions.
RODRIGUEZ: In the last seconds-
MYERS: And right now the public sees President Obama as much more reaching out to the Republicans than the Republicans reaching out to him, by more than a 2-1 margin.
RODRIGUEZ: How much time do you think that he has before the tide turns and this optimism gives way to something else?
BARTLETT: Well, I know the polls show there's patience from the American people and I think broadly suggesting that there is patience. However, having worked in politics, and Dee Dee knows this as well, the more and more that this becomes President Obama's decisions, the more he's going inherit the challenges. I think the public is going to start growing weary if he has to continue to throw taxpayer dollars at a lot of institutions like the auto companies and such, so most people will say he's got until the mid-terms, two years. I think people should, by the fall of this year, start seeing light at the end of the tunnel. If not, I think they're going to grow very weary.
RODRIGUEZ: Alright, Dee Dee, Dan, thank you so much.
MYERS: Thank you, Maggie.
BARTLETT: Thanks.

ABC Saw 'Hard Core' Conservative Bush
in 2001; No Label for Obama

Despite calling for massive new spending on education, universal health care and more money for bailing out banks, no ABC anchor on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning used the word liberal in describing Barack Obama's February 24 address to Congress. In contrast, ABC host Terry Moran on February 27, 2001 anticipated that a similar speech by President George W. Bush would be "conservative." Following that address, he spun it as "hard core conservatism: fiscal restraint; deep, across-the-board spending and tax cuts; the privatization of part of Social Security." See a February 28, 2001 CyberAlert posting for more: www.mrc.org [5]

And yet, on Tuesday's post-speech coverage, on that evening's Nightline and on Wednesday's Good Morning America, no anchor applied the liberal label to Obama's address. The same Moran who saw "hard core conservatism" in Bush's appearance before Congress, described a "big and bold speech" from the current President. He also enthused that "President Barack Obama didn't sugarcoat it, he found bad guys on Wall Street and in Washington." Regarding the President's obviously liberal plans on the economy and health care, Moran reiterated, "The answer, the President argued, go big, big plans, big changes."

[This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [6] ]

Regarding the new spending, the Nightline co-anchor stated, "With taxpayers already on the hook for more than a trillion dollars and the banks still staggering, the President said he will not let the financial system fail." He also extolled the "grand entrance" Obama made and cooed, "For a moment though, the splendor of American democracy on display."

The contrast between not labeling Obama's goals as liberal and calling Bush's speech "hard core conservatism" is even more stark when you consider that in the 2001 address, Bush advocated increased spending on entitlements.

Later during Nightline, George Stephanopoulos appeared and contended of the Republicans: "Basically, they're going to stand their ground, and stand their principles, oppose what the president is trying to do. They say he's spending too much money. That there's going to be too much waste." However, he, too, skipped the dreaded "L" word. (ABC's George Will also was featured just after the speech and made similar points.)

A transcript of Terry Moran's February 24 Nightline segment:

TERRY MORAN: Good evening, everyone. I'm Terry Moran. It was a big and bold speech by a new president facing deep challenges and huge expectations, delivered at a crucial moment when the country has been battered by talk of bailouts and the reality, the harsh reality of recession. And while President Barack Obama didn't sugarcoat it, he found bad guys on Wall Street and in Washington, he did try to strike an optimistic tone and a hopeful note that with patience and personal responsibility and by working together, the country can prevail and thrive.
OBAMA INTRODUCTION IN CONGRESS: The President of the United States!
MORAN: President Obama made his grand entrance into the House chamber and here too, he got mobbed. Mr Obama came to the capitol riding a honeymoon wave of popularity as a nation racked with economic anxieties looks for leadership. But he also faced a deeply divided Congress with Republicans so far almost united in opposition. For a moment though, the splendor of American democracy on display.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA Madam Speaker, Mr Vice President, members of Congress, the first lady of the United States-
MORAN: The preliminaries over, the President got right down to business- the recession.
OBAMA: You don't need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy in crisis. Because you live it every day. It's a worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights.
MORAN: President Obama has been criticized for being too pessimistic, for talking down the economy. So right off the top tonight, he sounded a new confident theme.
OBAMA: We will rebuild. We will recover. And the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
MORAN: His goal tonight was explanatory. Tell the country how we got here. How we'll get out.
OBAMA: We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet, we import more oil today than ever before. The cost of healthcare eats up more and more of our savings each year. Yet we keep delaying reform. Our children will compete for jobs in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for.
MORAN: The answer, the President argued, go big, big plans, big changes.
OBAMA: Now is the time to act boldly and wisely. To not only revive this economy but to build the new foundation for lasting prosperity.
MORAN: He spoke to a Congress dominated by Democrats. This was the friendly crowd that passed his stimulus package. President Obama faced a huge challenge tonight. Explain his plan for the banks and get people to like it. With taxpayers already on the hook for more than a trillion dollars and the banks still staggering, the President said he will not let the financial system fail.
OBAMA: We will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks that Americans depend on have enough confidence and enough money to lend even in more difficult times.
MORAN: But there is so much anger out there, anger at the banks and at Wall Street, anger that could undermine his plans and he recognizes it.
OBAMA: This time CEO's won't be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over. MORAN: The anger extends to the government too. To the system that's burdened the country with ballooning deficits and so much waste. And President Obama sought to tap into that anger too.
OBAMA: Everyone in this chamber, Democrats and Republicans, will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars and that includes me.
MORAN: There was hope in this speech. Hope in a grand Obama vision of a new energy future, a new healthcare future, a new education future for the country.
OBAMA: None of this will come without cost. Nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what's necessary to move this country forward.
MORAN: Mr Obama has sought bipartisan cooperation, but it was clear tonight a gulf still separates him from Republicans. Listen to their applause on this line.
OBAMA: There is of course another responsibility we have to our children. And that's the responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to them a debt they cannot pay. That is critical.
MORAN: But the President plowed on, unfazed, tweaking the Republicans for their fiscal stewardship.
OBAMA: With the deficit we inherited, the cost-
MORAN: And then as presidents do, he sought to rally all Americans with the stories of a few he'd invited to the capitol. Including a girl from South Carolina whose school is a shambles and who wrote the Congress and the president with a request for money to rebuild it.
OBAMA: The letter asks us for help. And says we are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president. So we can make a change not just in the state of South Carolina, but also the world. We are not quitters. That's what she said. We are not quitters.
MORAN: As he left the hall, the President seemed pleased with the night. The real question, however, is are you?

Matthews: Obama 'Wowed,' Jindal 'Odd,'
DeLay Calls Chris 'Biased'

Attempting to explain Tuesday night's off-camera "Oh God!" exclamation before Bobby Jindal's response to Barack Obama, Chris Matthews, at the top of Wednesday's Hardball, claimed he was taken aback by "the odd, antebellum look of the scene. Some people heard my reaction at the time," which contrasted with his view of Obama's address: "He wowed us! That's the running headline from last night's presidential address to the Congress. Barack Obama gave a great speech." This naked display of bias was so transparent that it caused guest panelist, former Republican Majority Leader, Tom DeLay to point out the obvious: "Listening to your introduction somebody is gonna accuse you of being biased."

[This item, by the MRC's Geoffrey Dickens, was posted Wednesday evening on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [7] ]

The following is Matthews' entire opening monologue and then DeLay's reaction as it was aired on the February 25 edition of Hardball:

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Good evening I'm Chris Matthews. Leading off tonight -- the battle last night. It was his debut and he wowed us. That's the running headline from last night's presidential address to the Congress. Barack Obama gave a great speech filled with upbeat themes, common sense economics and a strong personal agenda on health, education and energy. If politics is strange to you and you can't really tell the difference between the two political parties you got it thrown at you last night. The Democrats are the party of Washington and strong government. The Republicans are the party that views reliance on government as embarrassing at best. The party coming into power has a leader and is proud to say so. The party that lost power did it's best to deny last night, it ever had power and put forth a spokesman who spoke as if the main perpetrator during the past eight years of budget deficits, untamed spending, Jack Abramoff and an unpopular war was not the very party he was representing. Add to that the peculiar stagecraft of the opposition party. That scene in the Louisiana Governor's Mansion. Governor Bobby Jindal walking from somewhere in the back of this narrow hall, this winding staircase looming there. The odd, antebellum look of the scene. Some people heard my reaction at the time. What was the message in all this? Was this some mimicking of a president walking along the state floor to the East Room? And at the same time did the Republicans, who are so far from Washington, they can't be blamed for anything?

...

[After playing clips from Obama and Jindal]

MATTHEWS: Well Mr. DeLay I liked that. It was a clear distinction between the parties. What do you think?
TOM DELAY: Listening to your introduction somebody is gonna accuse you of being biased.

To read about Matthews' initial "Oh God!" moment before Jindal's response to Obama: www.mediabistro.com [8]

Obamas 'Hip,' CPAC Like a 'Star Trek
Convention' Says Matthews

On Wednesday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews cheered how "hip," "today," and "youthful," the Obamas looked at Tuesday night's address to Congress before immediately transitioning into offering this backhanded blurb for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC): "If you like Star Trek conventions, you'll love this baby!" While it is fair to say you won't be seeing Jay-Z performing at CPAC any time soon, the comparison to a Star Trek convention crowd was definitely a dig at conservatives' expense. However Matthews did go on to out himself as a former CPAC attendee: "So if you can't catch a Star Trek convention you've got CPAC coming here. It's always fun. Because I grew up as a conservative. I liked a lot of this stuff."

[This item, by the MRC's Geoffrey Dickens, was posted Wednesday evening on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [9]

The following references to CPAC occurred on the February 25 edition of Hardball:

MATTHEWS DURING SHOW INTRO: And the Conservative Political Action Conference begins its three day meeting tomorrow in Washington. And take a look at some of the panels being offered. "Al Franken and ACORN: How Liberals Are Destroying the American Election System." "Will Congress Take Your Guns?" "The True Cost of Global Warming Hysteria." If you like Star Trek conventions, you'll love this baby.

...

MATTHEWS TO GUEST PANELISTS: Before we go on to something fun here, the Republicans coming to town, I was stunned last night by the way in which the First Lady wowed that audience. The way she came, the outfit. The way the President paid tribute to her, knowing that this was the best applause line of the night. It was, it was nice it was hip, it was today, it was youthful. A real change of pace. Anyway the Conservative Political Action Conference has the following panels on tap for the next weekend if you want to come to town here. "Al Franken and ACORN: How Liberals Are Destroying The American Election System." Here's another breakout session. "Bailing Out Big Business: Are We All Socialists Now?" Here's another one. "The True Cost of Global Warming Hysteria." So if you can't catch a Star Trek convention you've got CPAC coming here. It's always fun. Because I grew up as a conservative. I liked a lot of this stuff. It's kind of groupie stuff. Interesting curios you can pick up at these things, tchochkis and, it's fascinating to watch the real conservative movement. Will this become a launching pad for the next Republican nominee, the way it was for Ronald Reagan back in the seventies?

Wash Post Gossip on Jindal: 'I Found
His Manson Eyes Disturbing'

Washington Post gossip columnist Amy Argetsinger didn't bash Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal with some demeaning Indian stereotype. She overlooked ethnicity altogether and compared him to psychotic murder Charles Manson. In a chat session on Wednesday with her gossip partner Roxanne Roberts, she claimed Jindal had "Manson eyes" on the TV screen: "I found his Manson eyes disturbing."

The February 25 Washington Post chat session: www.washingtonpost.com [10]

[This item, by the MRC's Tim Graham, was posted Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [11] ]

This could be called "pulling an Eleanor Clift." Clift tried a similarly low blow on The McLaughlin Group of November 18, 1995, and the target was Speaker Gingrich: "Newt Gingrich teaching manners is like Charles Manson teaching nonviolence."

-- Brent Baker