Ignoring polling, Matthews claimed "{t}wo-thirds" of Americans say leave {Gonzales} alone

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704230007

Discussing Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales' April 19 appearance at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into the firing of eight U.S. attorneys on that day's edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews baselessly asserted that "{t}wo-thirds of the American people say -- I mean, they don't like it, but they don't think he's {Gonzales} telling the truth -- but they say leave him alone." In fact, several polls have indicated that a plurality of respondents believe Gonzales should resign, while other polls show the public divided on the subject. During the program, Matthews also did not challenge the false assertion by guest David Rivkin, a Justice department official under President George H.W. Bush, that senators "did not talk about specific U.S. attorneys" with Gonzales during the hearing.

While Matthews asserted that "{t}wo-thirds of the American people say -- I mean, they don't like it, but they don't think he's telling the truth, but they say leave him alone," numerous polls have found that at least a plurality of respondents want Gonzales to resign, while other polls show the public divided on that question.

An April 13-15 USA Today/Gallup poll asked, "Do you think Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should or should not resign over his handling of these dismissals?" Forty-one percent of respondents said Gonzales should resign, compared to 37 percent who said he should not, while 22 percent had no opinion.

An April 12-15 ABC News/Washington Post poll asked, "Given this issue do you think Gonzales should (lose his job) as attorney general, or (remain in his position)?" Forty-five percent of respondents said Gonzales should "lose his job as attorney general," while 39 percent said he should "remain in his position"; 16 percent said they had no opinion.

An April 10-12 CNN/Opinion Research Group poll asked, "Do you think Alberto Gonzales should or should not resign as Attorney General?" Thirty-eight percent of respondents said Gonzales should resign and 37 percent said he should not; 24 percent said they were unsure.

[Raven]

1. I don't know why this man has an interview show.

He never lets anyone finish a sentence. He asks and answers his own questions. He is shrill and often rude.

[KharmaTrain]

2. I've Renamed The Show "Tweety's World"

It's his own Private Washington...where:

- Rudy Guiliani is the greatest leader on the planet and we should just make him President now...why bother with an election

- Hillary, Hillary, Hillary...I'm obsessed, I'm obsessed...Hillary, Hillary, Hillary...she's coming...she's gonna eat me alive...Hillary, Hilalry Hillary

- McCain is still the "straight-talker", never mind his boooosh-licking, he's his own man and never compromises.

- Democrats are inflexible and dominated by the dirty fuckin' hippies

- Democrats are weak and dominated by the dirty fuckin' hippies

- Loves/Hates boooshie...loves the flight suit, hates the war...loves the swagger, hates that he isn't played up to like Russert

- The Clenis still exerts unusual influences on his frontal lobes...rendering him to total goofiness anytime Bill pops his head up.

- Hillary, Hillary, Hillary...she's almost here...she's gonna win...she's gonna eat Rudy Guiliani and then come for me...Hillary, Hillary, Hillary...

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Kinda blows the notion that Tweety is on 'our side' to smithereens

but some will point to an occasional comment critical of WhistleAss and insist that Matthews is a relative voice of reason amongst talking heads.

[blogslut]

4. I am constantly astonished by the disconnect.

They really have no clue. Either that or they honestly believe they can shape the issues.

Silly rabbits. Playtime is over.

[Ganja Ninja]

5. He is unwatchable.

His "Tell me something I don't know" shtick is laughable. He constantly blurts out off the wall BS as if he's a fountain of facts. He's suffers from some kind of multiple political personality disorder. One day he's railing at Bush and the Republicans and the next he's carrying their water like Gunga Din.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Matthews was just paraphrasing

what two thirds of Americans actually said was "Leave Gonzales in solitary confinement".