# And now, Chris Matthews of MSNBC **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754 "2020-03-01T19:18:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/1 "2020-03-01T19:18:14Z")
He’s always been an annoying Foghorn Leghorn, loudmouth schnook, who kept talking over his guests. But he seems to have [crossed some lines](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/485361-msnbcs-chris-matthews-absent-from-air-amid-sexual-harassment-allegations) he ought not have crossed: > [@](#): > > “In 2016, right before I had to go on his show and talk about sexual-assault allegations against Donald Trump, Matthews looked over at me in the makeup chair next to him and said, ‘Why haven’t I fallen in love with you yet,’” Bassett wrote. “When I laughed nervously and said nothing, he followed up to the makeup artist. ‘Keep putting makeup on her, I’ll fall in love with her.’” > > “Another time, he stood between me and the mirror and complimented the red dress I was wearing for the segment. ‘You going out tonight?’ he asked. I said I didn’t know, and he said — again to the makeup artist — ‘Make sure you wipe this off her face after the show. We don’t make her up so some guy at a bar can look at her like this,’” Bassett also wrote. That’s Hardball for you, Chris. Looks like game over. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/2 "2020-03-01T20:43:28Z")
Given that he is 74 I think they may try to say he’s retiring. and maybe he stays on until the end of the election on Nov. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/3 "2020-03-01T21:12:15Z")
Wonder if he’ll be on the air apologizing like he did about comparing Bernie’s campaign wins to Nazi victories in WWII. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/4 "2020-03-01T21:15:22Z")
> [@](#): > > “Another time, he stood between me and the mirror and complimented the red dress I was wearing for the segment. ‘You going out tonight?’ he asked. I said I didn’t know, and he said — again to the makeup artist — ‘Make sure you wipe this off her face after the show. We don’t make her up so some guy at a bar can look at her like this,’” Bassett also wrote. I am not even sure what he is saying here. Is he implying that he is saving Bassett for himself? I am perfectly prepared to be outraged, but first I have to understand what I am being outraged about. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/5 "2020-03-01T21:19:02Z")
I wonder what the timeline is here for these comments. I mean what is sexual harassment I thought it was unwanted flirtation, so does that make any comments such as these sexual harassment full-stop period or only if the person says something or reports it to HR? These comments are obviously unprofessional in the workplace but they don’t sound that salacious. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/6 "2020-03-01T21:20:33Z")
I wonder what the timeline is here for these comments. I mean what is sexual harassment I thought it was unwanted flirtation, so does that make any comments such as these sexual harassment full-stop period or only if the person says something or reports it to HR? These comments are obviously unprofessional in the workplace but they don’t sound that salacious. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/7 "2020-03-01T21:23:21Z")
It doesn’t rise to the level of outrage, so don’t skip cardio today. It’s just something that is well in the ‘pathetic creepy old man’ territory. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/8 "2020-03-01T22:04:43Z")
He’s such an asshole in general. Even if you hate Bernie, likening his victory–a Jewish candidate who lost family in the holocaust–to a Nazi invasion is beyond the pale. His interviews with Warren were terrible. He shouts and overtalks. He seems profoundly dumb. He’s 74? He should have retired a decade ago. If this is what gets him pushed out, fine. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/9 "2020-03-01T22:16:43Z")
I was pleased when MSNBC was added to my Sling subscription. But nothing gets me flipping the station faster than when that man comes on. Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/10 "2020-03-01T22:34:34Z")
“‘_Dames!_’… Tonight on Hardball.” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/11 "2020-03-01T22:51:14Z")
> [@pool](#): > > I wonder what the timeline is here for these comments. I mean what is sexual harassment I thought it was unwanted flirtation, so does that make any comments such as these sexual harassment full-stop period or only if the person says something or reports it to HR? > > These comments are obviously unprofessional in the workplace but they don’t sound that salacious. According to the cite it was 2016. IDK if that makes any difference. Ms. Bassett says it did not rise to the level of sexual harassment, but made it harder for her to do her job (she is apparently a columnist for GQ). At least with his invasion of France comment, I knew what he was talking about. This, not so much. Maybe it was clumsy flirting, maybe it was inappropriate. It was also stupid. Creepy and stupid is not a good look. “What the hell are you talking about” isn’t much better. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/12 "2020-03-01T23:24:05Z")
Creepy and gross, and good for Bassett for speaking up. Probably time for Chris to retire. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/13 "2020-03-02T01:09:17Z")
Despite his moral failings, he sucks as a host too. He asks a question, the guest starts to answer, he butts in with a personal, tangentially related anecdote, then disagrees with the guest who got in two words. Every now and then his personal experience does add a lot of value to his analysis, but most of the time it feels like you’re being held hostage by Cliff Clavin, waiting for the “good Chris” to come on. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/14 "2020-03-02T02:48:33Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > He’s 74? He should have retired a decade ago. If this is what gets him pushed out, fine. So, where are the howls of protest against Ageism? Not a protected class, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/15 "2020-03-02T03:43:59Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > So, where are the howls of protest against Ageism? Not a protected class, apparently. Wait till you hear my opinion about Joe Biden. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/16 "2020-03-02T08:15:56Z")
Long ago CM was a regular guest on Pacifica KPFA’s Sunday morning lefty Bill Sokol show. (Local! Vocal! Sokol!) He seemed a bit less jerkish then so I guess he’s had time to grow into his jerkish role. I’ve disregarded him for a couple decades now and apparently haven’t missed a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/17 "2020-03-02T15:36:08Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > So, where are the howls of protest against Ageism? Not a protected class, apparently. Forget about it. I’ve raised this question here in the past, and it’s been ignored. If you’re older, you apparently just have to put up with cretinous insults. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/18 "2020-03-02T16:26:41Z")
> [@pool](#): > > I wonder what the timeline is here for these comments. I mean what is sexual harassment I thought it was unwanted flirtation, so does that make any comments such as these sexual harassment full-stop period or only if the person says something or reports it to HR? > > These comments are obviously unprofessional in the workplace but they don’t sound that salacious. Apologies if I’m misunderstanding what you’re asking, but sexual harassment isn’t just any unwanted flirtation. It doesn’t have to be extremely salacious, but it has to either constitute a quid pro quo or rise to the level of a hostile work environment to be sexual harassment legally. So, basically, “I’ll give you a raise / not fire you / etc. if you XYZ for me” is sexual harassment, and “unwanted flirtation” can be sexual harassment, but only if it’s severe, persistent and/or pervasive enough to actually interfere with somebody’s work environment. If the two reported comments were the only interactions they ever had that were sexual, that’s probably not sexual harassment. Super shitty and fireable, though, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/19 "2020-03-02T18:15:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Forget about it. I’ve raised this question here in the past, and it’s been ignored. If you’re older, you apparently just have to put up with cretinous insults. Not for much longer. :p;) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754/20 "2020-03-02T18:32:55Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Not for much longer. :p;) _Bangs cane against porch railing_ THAT’S IT! GET OFF MAH LAWN!!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-matthews-of-msnbc/848754.md?page=2)