Chris Matthews while on Joe Scarborough May 4, made an inference that Al Gore had "psychological problems" after the 2000 election plus other misrepresentations. And of course, it was while making more unsubstantiated Gore/Clinton grudge match prognostications. This is nothing new, and is a known RW tactic to discredit someone. However, that doesn't mean we have to sit back and allow it. The video of it and my response which I also sent to him on May 5 is below.
Update:
I called MSNBC just a little while ago and got a human being... However, when I started to tell him how unprofessional Mr. Matthews's comments were regarding Mr. Gore, I got cut off and was switched to their automatic comment line. So I left a message demanding he apologize for his remarks that were unprofessional, immature, and meanspirited. Also, that Mr. Gore is a very brave man and dedicated American for making this movie to confront an issue that stations like MSNBC should be covering instead of tearing down good Americans like him, and especially VPs who served this country for over a quarter of a century. What good will it do? I don't know. But they know where I stand. I'm also sending a letter to management as well. Please do so also if you are tired of this unprofessional diversionary "jourmalism" and character assassination of a good man.
Thank you.
Video: Matthews Says Gore Has "Psychological Problems"
Chris Matthews's comments regarding Al Gore's mental health on Scarborough on May 4 were over the line. But of course, from where I sit this is what all those who are salivating for more of this tripe in 2008 are opening Al Gore up to by fanning the flames of unbased speculation.
He has a VERY important movie with a crucial message to bring to people, but all we hear from hacks like Matthews in the media is this meanspirited rhetoric which will in my opinion only hurt this endeavor because so many keep tying it to a run for President, when Mr. Gore himself has told people he is not planning on running.
This is what all of this unbased prognostication is getting us. Not a debate on global warming and the climate crisis, not a debate on what is REALLY going on in this country, but the same rhetoric from 2000 about "psychological problems" and can he raise more than Hilary... blah, blah, blah... I hope those who can't stop talking about Al Gore-Hillary Clinton as if that is all that matters now, or who they are going to "vote for" then (as if it even counts) when NOW is what we need to focus on see the point. And yes, this angers me because right now what is in front of our faces is what we should be discussing, and holding this media accountable for continuing to perpetuate this atmosphere of character assassination instead of truthful information.
I'm also going to do all I can to make sure Al Gore's movie is a hit based on its merits. I just received a mail from the theatre I wrote to, and in part because of my letter they are playing it at their theatre in Southern NJ, and they thanked me for my letter to them and my support of this important movie. And I'm writing to more theatres to ask them to play it as well. THIS IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT NOW, not this living in lalaland election cr^^.
He is SERIOUS about his passion for this crucial issue, and THIS is what we get? Well, I'm not going to sit back and take it.
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My letter to Chris Matthews regarding his slurs of Al Gore ;
CORRECTION: Thank you to niteskolar for pointing out that the other university Mr. Gore taught in was Fisk. MTSU is in Murfreesboro. See that Mr. Matthews, Mr. Gore is so busy even I can't keep up with him ;-).
Dr. Matthews;
That salutation is correct, is it not? You would most certainly have to be a practicing psychiatrist in order to make such a diagnosis of Mr. Gore's mental health as you did on May 4, on Scarborough. And frankly, I don't know whether to be angry about it or laugh at you. I do believe however, that it is prognosticators, pundits, and political hacks on these shows who keep people home on election days. The neverending use of people for your own ratings as opposed to providing substance is becoming a tired redundant tactic on cable news that to me serves no purpose but your own. And in this case, you were wrong on all counts.
Firstly, regarding the aftermath of the coup in 2000, because that is what it was regardless of how the complicit media in this country continues to cover it up: Al Gore needed a chance to reflect at that point after serving for over 25 years upon what he wished to do with his life. I think it was a very mature thing to do under the circumstances. He also wanted to spend time with his family, literally, unlike Bush's people who just use that as an excuse when they are pushed out of the circle as a political tactic.
He didn't actually withdraw from life either. He took on a professorship at Columbia, professored at MTSU and at Murfreesboro, joined various boards, put together an innovative youth-oriented television station, worked on starting a sustainable investment firm, made private appearances, held a workshop in Tennessee on families and one with Lamar Alexander on government, and only after a year's time returned to give a speech for the Florida Democratic Party in 2002. (I would suggest you read the article " The Resurrection of Al Gore" which was the cover story of WIRED Magazine this month. You can then get caught up on what he was doing since you really don't seem to know much on that account.) I would say he was quite busy.
And oh yes, he was also refining his Powerpoint presentation on the global climate crisis that he has given over 1000 times all over the world to standing ovations which is now going to be the movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" which begins opening on May 24. He was in the spotlight, it just wasn't in the political spotlight where people like you in the media could pick on his every move like vultures, after the field day you all had with him for the entire time he was running in 2000. Is that what really bothers you and others in the media? That you didn't have him to kick around?
It is also obvious that you really have no idea what it takes to run a campaign, especially one where you have the media, consultants, pollsters, the DLC, and other elements spinning you in all different directions, and again, using you for their own purposes. It has been written in articles of late in reviewing Mr. Gore's movie, that in 2000 he was told to not discuss the environment. I'm sure he was told to not discuss many things, but to play the part of a Washington DC drone who has no heart and tows the status quo line, because that's pretty much what we have in Washington right now. He must have surely felt it was wrong, but knew he must do it to some degree in order to have a chance in winning the election...And in reality, he won that election because he decided at the end to go with his gut, and he was right on that score as well. Which as we know was why Joe Lieberman stabbed him in the back along with the Democratic Party leadership. Of course, we, well, I and others who don't sugarcoat it, also know the outcome of that USSC embarrassment to our Constitution and country. Who wouldn't want to have some time to decompress and reflect after the Constitutional and criminal fiasco that ensued from that?
Just who then is your source or where did you get your training to be able to make the claim that he had a "psychological problem?" Are you salivating that much to see the political feud you want that you will stoop to saying anything to get it? Mr. Gore has said repeatedly and as recently as last week for Newsweek to Eleanor Clift, that he has been there and done that as a candidate. He has found other ways to serve and he is enjoying that now. His heart and soul is the environment, and frankly, I think you do a great disservice to this good man in spouting the political bull you do against him at a time when he is sincerely out here trying to bring a very important message to people... People who have been lied to about this issue by the current regime that has done nothing about it because they want EXXON to keep making record profits at our expense. An Inconvenient Truth is also not a political campaign movie, nor has Al Gore made any moves in regards to running for any office, so again, it would be nice to know your source. He is however, a decent man who is free to now do that which he wished to do in 2000. Why is it that you all can't let him go? Who really has the problem?
I suppose I will have to alert my cousin that he needs to seek psychological help too as he is now growing a beard. I had no idea that growing facial hair was a sign of a psychological abnormality, nor that giving lectures in universities and making movies on the most crucial crisis we face today as a species was considered, "getting weird." How absolutely absurd.
Secondly, Al Gore was always against this illegal war in Iraq. He didn't have to come around to anything, and he has remained constant on it ever since. He was the first to speak out about it at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco in September 2002. He also made appearances on the Larry King Show and in other venues where he also spoke out against it and the Patriot Act.
He has been the force, the conscience, and the soul of America, and a true statesman regarding the civil liberties abuses that now bring America to a point where we are no longer respected in the world. Illegal war, illegal wiretapping on innocent Americans, torture, malfeasance, corruption, lies, fearmongering, warmongering, and abuse of power are what we now see when we look at America. And Al Gore has been in the forefront as an American speaking out against it all, when he doesn't have to. To many Americans he has been the only sane voice out here in a country where even our own Congress sells us out. I personally then believe you owe this man an apology for your over the line comments and misrepresentations of him. If you are an honorable man, you will offer it.
Jan Moore
Chairperson,
Patriots for Al Gore
Here is the link to that speech:
Al Gore Speech At The Commonwealth Club, Sept. 23, 2002
The audio version of his speech is available on this page as well.
It is time to hold these media whores accountable for their misrepresentations and slurs. And not just because you may want Al Gore to run for something, but because it is WRONG in principle. Oh, and as a point of reference (which really doesn't shock me,) I never even received a response from Mr. Matthews or MSNBC. Honorable, indeed.
You can start here: hardball@MSNBC.com
More info is at the link of the video.
My President.
Thank you to Neuvo Liberal for including this information:
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Thank you.