Racism from the Left - MSNBC's Chris Matthews Parisan Rant on Workfare

A map of schools constructed in the U.S. by the WPA - image gjenvick.com

In a recent episode of MSNBC’s ”Morning Joe” program, Chris Matthews, an MSNBC personality, got into a bit of a dust-up with the RNC Chair, Reince Priebus – about all things, a work requirement for welfare recipients. Matthews called even considering such a requirement “racist”. The text from Real Clear Politics: (link to video) ”Hardball’s Chris Matthews gets into a testy exchange with RNC Chairman Reince Priebus about the GOP’s welfare ad and Mitt Romney’s birther comments. (Morning Joe)

"You can play your games and giggle about it but the fact is your side playing that card. When you start talking about work requirements, you know what game you’re playing and everybody knows what game you’re playing. It's a race card and if your name’s Romney yeah you were well born -- you went to prep school, yeah, brag about it," Chris Matthews said on "Morning Joe."

Apparently, Matthews is a quart short on history when it comes to blind partisanship. The concept of a work requirement for those able bodied individuals who required assistance in hard economic times, was the brainchild of one Franklin Delano Roosevelt - A Democrat who led the nation for three terms (before suggesting that a term limit of 8 years be imposed on the Executive Branch), and is a darling of most Progressives. FDR implemented the WPA, a work for assistance program during the “Great Depression”. “While FDR believed in the elementary principles of justice and fairness, he also expressed disdain for doling out welfare to otherwise able workers. So, in return for monetary aid, WPA workers built highways, schools, hospitals, airports and playgrounds. They restored theaters--such as the Dock Street Theater in Charleston, S.C.--and built the ski lodge at Oregon's Mt. Hood. The WPA also put actors, writers and other creative arts professionals back to work by sponsoring federally funded plays, art projects, such as murals on public buildings, and literary publications. FDR safeguarded private enterprise from competition with WPA projects by including a provision in the act that placed wage and price controls on federally funded products or services.” (History.com)

Apparently, during an election cycle, it is “convenient” to forget that bit of historical evidence that contradicts racism is at play. Furthermore, it uncovers the racists notion that Matthews holds, suggesting that those who oppose welfare without a work requirement must be referring to African American’s. The fact is that all ethnic groups as well as your “white-Caucasians” are on some sort of government assistance. In fact, half of the nation is currently receiving some sort of benefit. To suggest that when someone refers to welfare that they are being racists is beyond ignorance – it is the partisanship of the “talking head” attempting to distort history, and at the same time, make points for their “team”. In Matthews’s case, it is throwing one of the Democrat Party’s hero’s under the bus, while at the same time, being a racist himself for connecting the dots of welfare equals racism.

One would hazard to guess that if one on government assistance, were anything like those individuals of the 1930’s who were part of the WPA program, they would welcome the opportunity to have a place to go, something to build, and be compensated – by having a job. Apparently, building roads and bridges, or constructing parks and recreations areas, is something that is so beneath the “elite” Matthews, who must also consider, (if one were to reach inane conclusions out of thin air, similar to Mr. Matthews) that all blue-collar workers are beneath him, and should, in all likelihood be supported by the “State”.

It is those Progressives who are so blind to reality, and have a mouthpiece that reaches millions daily, that are extremists, no more or less on the left or the right. Perhaps, in Mr. Matthews case, those proponents of work for welfare, might want to include the position of “talking head” – perhaps offering those an opportunity to sit next to Mr. Matthews and get paid to pontificate - garbage. One wonders how the "prima donna" would react to that suggestion, especially if the individual did not hold a four-year degree (the litmus test of Progressives as to who may or may not be “Middle Class”).

GOP 2012 Update: Perry enters Race Takes Lead in Polls, Criticisms Heat up on Perry’s form of Dress, Diction and Straight Texas Talk

For all the brouhaha from MSNBC over Perry's Hat, one finds few photos, if any of Rick Perry near a hat! (unless being worn by someone behind him - that said, he would at the very least appear authentic in a cowboy hat - image mtv.com.com



Texas Governor, Rick Perry, entered the GOP race for the Presidential nomination this past weekend, and is now leading the field by 10 points in a new Rasmussen poll, Rasmussen poll. In addition, the critique on Perry from the media has been ramped up a bit:
From Chris “My legs are tingling for Obama” Matthews comes this gem:

"He looks like a clown," Matthews said. "He dresses very fancy. There's something about the way that he puts himself together that doesn't look authentic. He looks like, I don't know, a wax figure pretending to be governor. There's something about him that doesn't add up to me. Maybe it's this Texas B.S., this boots and tuxedo thing they do down there. Why does it work? Outside of Texas it doesn't travel very well."

Apparently, Chris Matthews might think Obama is the "height of fashion" in this attempt at fitting in - while visiting Texas - of course, not terribly authentic, now is he? image:rickperryme.com




Apparently Matthews has never travelled to Texas, or for that matter, out of the studio – it is Texas, Big Texas, Big Hats, Big Boots – Matthew should at least try Nashville first, where they do wear cowboy boots, and there’s country music and all – to at least dim the culture shock of leaving the studio prior to going onto Texas.

Of course, not to be outdone, the AP now has a charming way of insinuating that those that live outside of the bubble that is the east coast elite (and those that consider themselves elite elsewhere – headlines ”Perry's colorful tongue takes the national stage”. Apparently, authentic local colloquialisms do not belong in politics – to whit – you sound funny, you talk funny, you have “Perryisms”, why, even the President is being magnanimous.

Obama said Tuesday he was inclined to cut the governor "some slack" since it was so early in his run. The president was asked on CNN about Perry's suggestion that military members would respect the Texan more than him because Perry served in the military and he didn't.
"I think that everybody who runs for president, it probably takes them a little bit of time before they start realizing that this isn't like running for governor or running for Senate or running for Congress," Obama said. "You've got to be a little more careful about what you say." AP Source


This from a man who held one term as a community organizer, one term in the Illinois Legislature and half a term in the U.S. Senate – seriously – The President uses “Chicago Gang” colloquialisms when on the stump, what scares the U.S. Public more? A straight talking and shooting (see coyote/dog) Texan or a smooth talking hipsters that will bring a gun to a knife fight?

Not to be outdone by the President, the RNC inner circle is in a tizzy:

"Inappropriate and unpresidential," tweeted Tony Fratto, a Republican who worked at the Treasury Department and in the White House under President George W. Bush.
That was his quick verdict after Perry said at a campaign appearance Monday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would be committing a "treasonous" act if he decided to "print more money to boost the economy." Perry said such action by the Fed would amount to a political maneuver aimed at helping President Barack Obama win re-election.
(What Perry Said:)
"If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I don't know what y'all would do to him in Iowa, but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas," Perry said, responding to a question from the audience.AP Source

This refers to the print of money by the Feds, a bad plan in some economists as well as a growing percentage of the American Public, who votes, and has a say in all of this (witness the 2010 election where historic gains were made in the Congress by “Republicans” of Tea Party Philosophy – many an incumbent Republican and Democrat were replaced by those rabble rousers. To which many in the nation were quite pleased. The other note to those who are clueless (Press, RNC, DNC) "Treat Pretty Ugly"in Texas is not a threat, it's a fact, it's like being shunned, or laughed at, or basically voted out of office, or confronted with strong verbal scoldings) Where's the disconnect? Look to the East!!

Therefore, Rick Perry stands up, and doesn’t back down, he’s not from Massachusetts, or New York or Washington, he’s from Texas. He speaks like a Texan, he dresses like a Texan, and he loves this nation like a Texan.

How long will it take the Photoshop maniacs over at Newsweek to slam Perry on a cover in looking like a Texan? (But with their usual creative twist) See other’s who have scared the left and the mainstream media and the Republican hierarchy: Palin and Bachmann come immediately to mind.

What’s wrong with Rick Perry – He’s authentic – that’s cause for concern in a political landscape where authentic is not the norm – illusion is all that counts, and business as usual, should stay that way – Not this time: Perry, Palin, Bachmann are not the usual suspects, (Although Palin has yet to announce her “intentions” – she has the time of Ronald Reagan on her side). The national debate should be a focus on who is most qualified to lead the nation. It is about leadership and frankly, if a tough talking, gun tooting Texan, a former Governor of the State of Alaska, that upended the Republican Party, the Democrats and Big Oil, in favor of her States Constitution, or a Tax Attorney, Congresswoman from Minnesota, who had stood firm in her conviction not to raise the debt ceiling, are on the ticket for the GOP, one might be surprised at how much the resonate with the individual – not Washington, or Debbie Wasserman Shultz harping on about whatever, on the local Sunday Talk Shows.

Fact of the matter is, one of those aforementioned will be the next President; none of them are out of the question, it is that the American voting public has had it with “the usual” and are looking for leadership in the form of someone who embodies the American Spirit of can do, must do, and must do it on your own, especially when that candidate has done exactly that.

Of course, this is one opinion, but when the President is holding steady at 39%, taking a bus tour in a glorified and armored greyhound bus into Iowa to tell the folks that he’ll have plan in September to fix the economy, it comes off more than a little disingenuous and somewhat insulting to the public who has heard the same line time and again. I addition, he’s lost his swagger, his sense of humor and appears to know he’s in over his head, with no way out, but for the gift of a general election – and that Tea Party that is much maligned and feared by the media, the elite and those sitting at the RNC headquarters in Washington, will be the ones to help make it happen. Those darn terrorist mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers, teens, working men and women who pay too much in taxes (combined federal and state) and support those yahoos in office (along with the fifty percent of the nation that does not pay taxes), those who prefer to follow the constitution, democrats, republicans and independents all, and they prefer that their politicians are straight talking, shoot from the hip, men and women. The hue and cry about evangelicals, tea party support, and well, just about anything the left thinks will scare the average Joe and Jane from the morning news to the eleven o’clock even news (running snippets on national news), with the catchphrases: Tea Party Candidate, Evangelical Right Wing Christian (emphasis on Christian), are only doing those candidates a favor. Those just happen to be the qualities that the American Public is seeking now, after having tried Carter II (or as some pundits who had worked in the Carter administration have noted – their worst nightmare since Carter (Pat Caddell) (paraphrased).