Chris Matthews Wants To Get Closer To Street Sweetie

Posted by John Carney, Aug 13, 2007, 8:42am

Erin Burnett had a rough day on Friday. In addition to her regular duties hosting Squawk on the Street and Street Signs, the CNBC anchor took to the streets of Times Square in the midst of an on and off rain storm to do those always awkward man-on-the-street interviews with tourists and office workers. But her toughest interview wasn't with one of these innocent bystanders. It was with Hardball host Chris Matthews.

You can watch the video above to see the awkward moment that develops when Matthews decides he needs to get a bit closer to Burnett. (Thanks to NewsBusters for capturing the video.)

After the jump you can read the transcript (again via Newsbusters). You can get an idea of what happens from the NewsBusters commentary. "Chris, I know it was Friday night and Erin Burnett is indeed a knockout. However, perhaps you could be a little more subtle about your attraction for Erin. After all, among the few dozen of your Hardball viewers, Mrs. Matthews could have been watching your leering performance," they write.

Leering Chris Matthews Asks Female CNBC Anchor to Move in Closer to Camera [NewsBusters]

NewsBusters Transcript of Matthews versus Burnett.

MATTHEWS: Could you get a little closer to the camera?

BURNETT: What is it? Is it (garbled) in strangely?

MATTHEWS: Come in closer...no...come in...come in further...come in closer...really close.

(Burnett leans towards camera.)

BURNETT: What are you, what are you doing?

MATTHEWS: Haw! Haw! Just kidding! You look great! Anyway, thank... Erin it's great to have...look at that look... You're great...

BURNETT: I don't even know. I'm going to have to go look at the tape here. I'm in a strange location.

MATTHEWS (laughing): No, you're beautiful! I'm just kidding! I'm just kidding! You're a knockout! Anyways thank you, Erin Burnett. It's alright getting bad news from you even. Okay. Thanks for coming on Hardball.

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Posted in: CNBC, Video

Comments

Posted by freudian slip, Aug 13, 2007 9:04AM

christ mathews?

Posted by Daniel, Aug 13, 2007 9:07AM


Erin Burnett. Not only is she beautiful, she's unafraid to take some gutsy political stances:

"We tend to think of owning a home as a right in this country. It might not be..."

Posted by AJ, Aug 13, 2007 9:13AM

Erin Burnett... the only thing that will get Carney posting before 9am

Posted by anon anon anon, Aug 13, 2007 10:19AM

Daniel, tell her to tell the truth: Home ownership is the political solution to keep the masses enslaved through debt.

Posted by Daniel, Aug 13, 2007 10:51AM


I would, but then what is the political problem: that consumers haven't been quote unquote enslaved through debt?

Posted by Nick, Aug 13, 2007 10:56AM

What is wrong with Chris Matthews lately? Is he on crack?

Posted by Daniel, Aug 13, 2007 10:56AM


I would, but then what is the political problem: that consumers haven't been quote unquote enslaved through debt?

Posted by fuck em all, Aug 13, 2007 11:30AM

He's a fucking nut job, and the notion that owning one's own home is a "right" is preposterous. And quite frankly the people getting fucked by the subprime mortgage unwind deserve it because the lending practices were sneaky and they were taking advantage of a bunch of state school drop outs, or grads at best, who can hardly read, let alone understand what the fuck an ARM is.

Posted by , Aug 13, 2007 11:39AM

Four errors in three paragraphs. Aces.

Posted by Matthew, Aug 13, 2007 2:11PM

The average homeowner has a far greater net worth than non-homeowners. Yes they can be expensive, yes the bank makes money on the mortgage, yes you have to sell the house to realize the gain. What do you want? Free money? Investing (even in your own house) takes patients and time. And, yes debt can enslave you. Avoid debt like the plague. Save your money and pay cash for a house, if you like.

Posted by , Aug 13, 2007 2:34PM

patients?

Posted by James, Aug 13, 2007 3:07PM

Brain tumor?
His behavior borders on clinical.
Someone needs to give him a brain scan.

Posted by TN, Aug 13, 2007 3:19PM

This is dirty old man territory, but blathering out loud about a woman's looks to her face degrades both of them. Men of all ages think these thoughts all the time, but Matthews was so taken with his little crush, he foget that he was on camera and speaking into a live mike.

TV blowhards generally have the loudest voice and the maturity of a 13 year old.

Posted by wombatNYC, Aug 13, 2007 3:24PM

Erin B is way over-rated- Why is she getting some much love from the masses these days?

Posted by , Aug 13, 2007 3:30PM

amen. Trish Regan, discovered today, on CNBC is 100% better than all but Liz Claman's aging rack.

Posted by real deal, Aug 13, 2007 3:40PM

mathews is a dirty old catholic guy,

say 5 hail erins and squirt some out chris

Posted by Yizmo Gizmo, Aug 13, 2007 3:47PM

Ease up, all you
politically correct turds.
The guy told a woman she was
beautiful. Get off of your high
horses.

Posted by Seriously, Aug 13, 2007 3:52PM

As a longtime Hardball aficionado, and a woman, I was deeply offended when I watched it. It's degrading the way he treated her and he should apologize. I have a great sense of humor just like anyone else, but I was watching it live, and I was HORRIFIED. It's harrassment and he should watch out.

Posted by Troubled Texan, Aug 13, 2007 3:55PM

OT,

My understanding of this video is Matthews is infatuated with Ms. Burnett. Who could blame him?

On the other hand his actions were purely unprofessional.

If Ms Burnett felt embarassed or felt threatened by what Matthews did to her lawsuits will ensue.

What's up with the MSM repeaters?

I think TN hit the nail on the head.

"This is dirty old man territory, but blathering out loud about a woman's looks to her face degrades both of them. Men of all ages think these thoughts all the time, but Matthews was so taken with his little crush, he foget that he was on camera and speaking into a live mike."

"TV blowhards generally have the loudest voice and the maturity of a 13 year old."

Posted by anon, Aug 13, 2007 4:12PM

Who can blame him. She's so hot ...

Posted by Steve, Aug 13, 2007 4:12PM

Good. God. That leg-humping was about as subtle as a sledgehammer. It would be bad enough if this weren't on-air, but to do it while on-air just makes it even more sleazy.

Posted by , Aug 13, 2007 4:20PM

Who is coming on Hardball?

Posted by Sandy Shahwan, Aug 13, 2007 4:38PM

I did not find anything offensive about Chris. So he told her she was a knockout. Hey, all of you out there, "lighten up"!

Posted by Ted Roosevelt, Aug 13, 2007 4:53PM

You want hot newscaster.
I'll give you hot newscaster.
http://dailyniner.com/melissat1.shtml

Posted by Ted Roosevelt, Aug 13, 2007 4:55PM

You want hot newscaster.
I'll give you hot newscaster.
http://dailyniner.com/melissat1.shtml

Posted by Jared Wolfhope, Aug 13, 2007 5:00PM

Betty Quick on CNBC is better based on her being born in Indiana.

Posted by munchkinpup, Aug 13, 2007 5:21PM

Yizmo Gizmo:
"Ease up, all you
politically correct turds.
The guy told a woman she was
beautiful. Get off of your high
horses."

The only "turd" around here is you.

Posted by katy, Aug 13, 2007 5:35PM

I think he WANTED to embarass her in public. That is one big factor in sexual harassment, to embarass and intimidate the woman. I wouldn't be surprised to learn she rejected some lame advance of his prior to the broadcast. You could say he was *showing* her who had the power at the network.

Posted by Your Mom, Aug 13, 2007 5:40PM

The amazing thing about Chris Matthews was how he was able to go from making inappropriate comments about a co-worker ON THE AIR (which could get most guys nailed for sexual harassment in the workplace), to immediately following that with a drawn-out discussion of whether or not it was okay for Hillary Clinton to use the word "girl" when she said "i'm your girl." I don't know why I'm not surprised the talking heads get away with this blatant sexism. Male candidates don't have their cleavage and use of the word "guy" dissected to death!

Posted by Mike Brown, Aug 13, 2007 5:53PM

This is not the first time Matthews has gone gushy on his show over someone. He's made goo goo remarks about Guiliani, Bush, and others from time to time. He constantly interrupts his guests in mid-sentence to inject his own little opinionated snippets which often lack much forethought. They're just off-the-wall momentary blather that often sound more like something a 13-year-old would say. One think is certain...it' not appropriate if wants to be taken seriously as a political talk show host. Shades of O'Reilley!

Posted by Ben, Aug 13, 2007 5:57PM

"Brain tumor?
His behavior borders on clinical.
Someone needs to give him a brain scan."

James - Matthews did have a brain scan, but they didn't find anything.

Posted by Richterscale, Aug 13, 2007 5:58PM

No, Your Mom, they don't.

They just have supposed 'serious' politico's obsessing for months over hair cut prices, and deal with being called 'Fag' and 'Breck Girl' by the likes of Mann Coulter.
As for Chris Mathews, he's got a major man-crush on Fred Thompson, so it's not a totally gynocentric thing.

Posted by Sandy, Aug 13, 2007 6:55PM

Give me Keith Olbermann any day. "Hard Ball" should be called "Blow Hard". I thought Chris Matthews was gay after listening to him talk about Bush in that flight suit. It was enough to make me gag. Maybe he swings both ways.
Keith is the man with class!

Posted by Mosaic, Aug 13, 2007 7:11PM

That wasn't harrassment, but it was dumb like Matthews.

Posted by particle61, Aug 13, 2007 7:34PM

hey news fans-
redstateupdate.net previously reported on Matthew's leering interview style- see story-

Matthews Mulls Super Race of Super Models-
http://www.redstateupdate.net/full-page/fullpage-archive-67.html

www.redstateupdate.net
funny, frightening, free
and 'it's all true'

Posted by LiberalTarian, Aug 13, 2007 8:11PM

Gee, a woman reporter gets treated like meat.

You go Erin. This is your crew, have yourself a good, if lowly, time. This is how the right treats its talent if they are ovary challenged. You didn't think you were going to be taken seriously, did you???

Posted by Additive, Aug 13, 2007 8:23PM

The bigger story in this interview is that, moments prior to Matthews' dirty-old-man moment, Burnett said that if China were to stop making hazardous toys and poisonous food, prices at Wal-Mart would go up, and, thus, by not taking those steps, China is keeping prices low here in the States, and thus China is our greatest friend.

Yeah, she actually said that.

Posted by harbor, Aug 13, 2007 9:15PM

Thank God someone finally posted about the insanity of Erin Burnette's comments about China. She implied that China should NOT be held to appropriate health standards for the products they sell the world because that might negatively impact the stock market. How blind does money make people? We have people and their pets dying, suffering permanent brain damage and other ills, but the important thing is that the money keep on flowing??? Into their pockets?

The insanity and arrogance leave me breathless.

Posted by , Aug 13, 2007 11:00PM

Agreed... Erin leaves us breathless.

Posted by Mr. C. Cross, Aug 14, 2007 12:51AM

Sorry guys! That 50s style male-dom aggressive/ownership behavior is unacceptable for the 21st century workplace. It is WAY out of line for a live news broadcast. Comedy, maybe. Burlesque, maybe.

And until more men and women recognize this demeaning, humiliating tactic for what it is, America will never move forward as a socially advanced people.

Unfortunately Erin didn't snap back with, Yes, I know I'm beautiful, thank you, and you are an ugly old warthog! Try that line in private, Buster, and get slapped!"

It's kind of like the guy who proposes to his girlfriend with her name in lights on the scoreboard in front of a million people. It's a bit intimidating to ruin the moment and say, "Sorry, chump!"

We've all seen O'Reilley pull the same crap with women who come on the show to have an intelligent discourse and they are treated by these antique pigs like they're a steaming garbage trough.

"Gee, Sweetie, you're so pretty! Please don't show everyone how intelligent you are! We don't care about that! Just let me see your beautiful--umm--smile! Damn! You're so pretty I can't even keep my little mind on my meaningless job! You make me want to have a party in my pants!"

And that's the context, not the subtext! The subtext is, "Ha! I'm the Alpha Male. You are the underling female! I just distracted the entire world from your stated position that you came to national television to espouse and now--thanks to me!--everyone is talking about whether you're hot or not!"

Posted by Lindy, Aug 14, 2007 1:19AM

Erin Burnett. Not only is she beautiful, she's unafraid to take some gutsy political stances:

"We tend to think of owning a home as a right in this country. It might not be..."

Hmm. So maybe there shouldn't be a tax deduction for interest payments on home mortgages? Does her/your political courage go that far?

Posted by CMatthewshoe, Aug 14, 2007 1:22AM

I will slap that bitch silly!

Posted by Keith, Aug 14, 2007 1:23AM

Down boy - - - Stay classy San Diego - - Bob Dole needs another swig of Pepsi - - - HARDBALL indeed

Posted by , Aug 14, 2007 6:24AM

fucking misogynistic prick.

Posted by Mila, Aug 14, 2007 9:12AM

Chris Mathews is NOTHING compared to the frat boy, jerk off, failed politician horns of "Joe in the morning" Scarborough. He's as slimey as they get - why, how MSNBC keeps him is a mystery.

Posted by Mila, Aug 14, 2007 9:13AM

Chris Mathews is NOTHING compared to the frat boy, jerk off, failed politician horns of "Joe in the morning" Scarborough. He's as slimey as they get - why, how MSNBC keeps him is a mystery.

Posted by sandino, Aug 14, 2007 10:44AM

I too find the grating adenoidal "Joe in the morning" Scarborough,insufferably slimy, and a flyweight bully. As for Chris Matthews, he's on the way to pastures old and hoary.

Posted by jack, Oct 15, 2007 9:55PM

Leave Erin alone she went to an ivy league school sort of - She is very intelligent and honestly I see her running for President of the United States one day and she would win by a landslide.

Posted by Clusterbuster, Jan 11, 2008 2:17PM

I would like to waterboard her while using petroleum jelly.

Posted by Dorrie, Jan 29, 2008 4:23PM

EASE UP!, people--she worked out in the rain all day--look at her hair! He was giving her **** about not being glammed up. Get a sense of humour folks! I think it was very harmless.

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