This community loves to hate on Chris Matthews - in my opinion because he's broadly establishment left of center and not ideologically pure. He's a talking head who does daily shows where he puts his opinion on the line. Sometimes people disagree with it, and in the current political climate that often means he becomes the enemy. He makes mistakes or his judgment is in error at times, like most people suffer from, and again that often gets him blacklisted here.
But I enjoy having the MSNBC team post Dr. Nancy during the day. I don't agree with all that's said by any of them, but it's better than the alternatives (and I do love their new graphics work, professionally).
Today Matthews successfully tears apart the Bishop who has picked the fight over Kennedy's communion and abortion rights.
Having few issues with the embed...
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Thanks for the link http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot...
But I'd suggest that if you didn't see it today you should do. He makes the practical, pragmatic case very effectively, and does so directly to a startled-looking clergyman who has no real answers. I think there's a genuine sense of moral indignation on the part of Matthews to this meddling in politics by religious institutions who want the government to simultaneously stay out of their affairs while doing their bidding.
This issue has those such as me, who believe that the religious institutions of this country have played an increasingly corrosive role in society over the last few decades, extremely frustrated. What I like is seeing someone who disagrees with my position - like Matthews, who is proud of his Catholicism and feels it is not inconsistent with a successfully running democracy - recognizing that this kind of meddling is unacceptable. And he uses this as an opportunity to ask a senior Catholic clergyman the really tough questions that are the heart of the abortion issue:
Are you going to put women in jail for having abortions? Surely if it's murder you must, no? If not then why are you trying to legislate against abortion and use the law to effect moral change you wish to see?
I thought it was good stuff - I am sure plenty of folks didn't...
In an unrelated comment I have to say that watching the Ed Show the guy who put up the Obama/Jihad sign is quite literally insane - you can look in that guy's eyes and see he's crazy. I don't think Ed dealt with them well, but what can you do when people like this are spouting their nonsense. I wish more people understood how dangerous nutjobs like this are and how hating on folks like Matthews is misplaced.