Friday, October 19, 2012

I have considered Matthews one of the dumber people on TV... and that's saying a lot. But he said something after last Tuesday's debate that is a real puzzle to me. Somehow some Obama supporters have the idea that because Obama is president he deserves in a debate format special deference. A debate where as a citizen he is once more presenting himself to the people to win their vote. Here's what happened. Romney was speaking during his allotted time. As Obama attempted to interrupt Romney, he told the president “you’ll get your chance” to talk.

“I don’t think he understands the Constitution of the United States…He’s the President of the United States. You don’t say, ‘you’ll get your chance,’” Matthews said.

What was Romney supposed to do, stop talking, allow Obama to run roughshod over the debate format, to reward his rudeness? Was he supposed to say "Sorry Mr President, I'll stop talking, you take all the time you need" It's bad enough that Matthews one believes the constitution contains just such a clause (it doesn't, he's ignorant) but I have heard that same false idea from several friends. I have tried to school them on this. I always use the goose gander analogy. IF you allow this President to do this, how about the day when another George W Bush is running for a second term. Do you want the Democrat to have to defer to HIM like Matthews thinks Romney should have?

Only in dictatorships are Presidents and Prime Ministers protected from criticism and correction. Look at Putin, Chavez and the Leaders in Iran. They routinely lock of and silence any debate. We are not YET a dictatorship. People like Matthews are dangerous to democracy. Continue to think goose and gander...and you will see how insidious this whole idea is. Matthews is one reason I NEVER watch MSNBC... I pity the couple dozen who actually do.

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