Sometimes, I just have to shake my head at how dumb shows like Hardball are. Somehow, these programs manage to give viewers less news and information than if folks just watched a blank screen.
This exchange, for example, is just mindless, ignorant drivel, offered by media figures who presumably know better. Here’s MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and Time magazine assistant managing editor Michael Duffy:
MATTHEWS: Joe Biden…said the other day, yesterday, that the people like Al Gore and John Kerry, the last two Democratic candidates for president, said — created an image that they were somehow — we’re looking at it right now — that if they were — as he put it, when they’re sitting next to the pew, that maybe he really doesn’t respect your view. In other words, they’re not really religious people. They don’t share your evangelical views and your deeply religious views. They’re too secular.
DUFFY: Yeah. Well, I think, for the last 25 years, Democrats have done everything they can to alienate religious voters, faith-minded voters, and the —
MATTHEWS: Not a smart move politically.
DUFFY: Oh, no. And it seemed to be part of the program. They did it to woo a secular left that they thought didn’t want to have anything to do with that.
Duffy said it started “with Jimmy Carter…making fun of Jerry Falwell.” Matthews added that Democrats have been “making fun of the people in the churches, in the tents, in the megachurches.” He added, “Elitism doesn’t really work in politics, does it?”
This is political analysis at most ridiculous. I’m practically embarrassed for Matthews and Duffy, because, as professional media personalities, they should feel some shame for having uttered such nonsense for a national television audience.
Let’s unpack their ignorance a bit.
First, Matthews can’t just blame Biden, who was talking about a public perception, not a reality. The perception is reinforced by pathetic “journalism” like that found on Hardball.
Second, the idea that Gore was anti-religion is absurd. This, of course, was the same church-going candidate who frequently reminded audiences in 2000 that he liked to ask himself, “What would Jesus do?” On the day Gore introduced Joe Lieberman as his running mate, the two led a large public audience in prayer. Gore spent the bulk of the campaign in 2000 infusing his speeches with religious talk, scriptural references, and spirituality — to the great annoyance of the secular left.
Third is the notion that Kerry was also an anti-religion candidate. I don’t expect Matthews and Duffy to remember this — it was three whole years ago — but I’d remind folks of these comments Kerry made during a debate with Bush: “I grew up a Catholic. I was an altar boy. I know that throughout my life this has made a difference to me. And as President Kennedy said when he ran for president, he said, ‘I’m not running to be a Catholic president. I’m running to be a president who happens to be Catholic.’ My faith affects everything that I do, in truth. There’s a great passage of the Bible that says, ‘What does it mean, my brother, to say you have faith if there are no deeds? Faith without works is dead.’ And I think that everything you do in public life has to be guided by your faith, affected by your faith, but without transferring it in any official way to other people.” A message aimed at fans of Richard Dawkins? I kind of doubt it.
Fourth, Duffy said the Democratic Party has spent the last quarter-century doing “everything they can to alienate religious voters.” Really? Name one example. Just one. Given that it’s been 25 years of constant effort, there should be hundreds of examples, but I’d like Duffy to name a single one. If he can’t, he ought to apologize for making such a ridiculous and baseless claim.
Fifth, these media personalities believe Jimmy Carter — a devout, evangelical Democrat — made fun of Jerry Falwell. And that’s proof of … what, exactly? Everyone made fun of Falwell. He was a clown who said ridiculous things on a very regular basis. Barry Goldwater used to make fun of Falwell all the time. By Duffy’s bizarre logic, that suggests Republicans are hostile towards religious people.
And sixth, Matthews had the gall to argue that Democrats have been “making fun of the people in the churches.” I’d offer the same challenge to him as I did Duffy: name once. Name a single instance in which a Democratic lawmaker or major-office candidate mocked a churchgoer for his or her beliefs. If he can’t, he ought to apologize for making such a ridiculous and baseless claim.
Honestly, what is wrong with these people? Are most secularists Democrats? Yes. Do Democrats honor the separation of church and state more than the GOP? Absolutely. Does that mean Dems have spent the last 25 years mocking the faithful and denigrating religion? Only if you have no idea what you’re talking about.
There’s a mistaken public perception about the party and faith communities. Instead of informing people about the truth, and actually using their positions as “journalists” to cut through the nonsense, Matthews and Duffy perpetuate the myth, buy into the caricature they helped create, and in the process, mislead their audience.
It’s just so tiresome.