Chris Matthews Thinks Black Americans and College Grads Aren't "Regular People"

Posted by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report at 5:14 AM on April 3, 2008.

It was, of course, an incredibly odd thing to say. First, it’s not at all clear why we should “wonder” about someone who’s a bad bowler. And second, it certainly sounded as if Matthews — while getting “ethnic” — believes black people are necessarily good at basketball.

With this one under his belt, Matthews decided to dabble in some more bizarre racial talk again yesterday.

For those who can’t watch clips online, Matthews asked Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): “Let me ask you about how he — how’s he connect with regular people? Does he? Or does he only appeal to people who come from the African-American community and from the people who have college or advanced degrees?”

It’s hard to know where to start with something like this.

Let’s see, what’s the most offensive angle here:

a) that Matthews makes a distinction between the African-American community and those with college degrees; or

b) that Matthews believes only whites with high school diplomas qualify as “regular people”?

And as long as we’re asking Matthews-related questions, here’s another: how does this guy stay on the air?

I know a lot of people want to watch clips but can’t from their work computers, so here’s the transcript of the relevant exchange, as per the fine folks at Media Matters. I’d just add that Matthews seemed rather nonchalant about what he was saying, as if it were perfectly reasonable.

MATTHEWS: Obama — that’s Senator Obama — has taken a different tone in Pennsylvania, where I’m at right now. He faces an aging blue-collar electorate, one of the oldest states. I think it’s the second oldest state, in terms of demographics. People want details about how he plans to improve their lives, keep their kids from moving out of the state, and creating jobs down the road for their grandkids. Can he win over working-class voters here in Pennsylvania? Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri is an Obama supporter. Senator McCaskill, did you advise Obama to go out and try to bowl the other day?

McCASKILL: Well, listen, I grew up in a small town where you learned to do two things: You learned to bowl and you learned to roller-skate. I can’t wait to challenge him to a game of bowling.

MATTHEWS: OK. Let me ask you about how he — how’s he connect with regular people? Does he? Or does he only appeal to people who come from the African-American community and from the people who have college or advanced degrees?

McCASKILL: You know, I think people forget about how well Barack Obama is thought of in southern Illinois. I know southern Illinois. They’re our neighboring state. They’re very much like the people in many parts of rural Missouri. These are working people, salt-of-the-earth people. And if these people of Pennsylvania will give him a chance and listen to him, I think they will be surprised how much they’ll relate to him, both as a leader and as a person.

Tagged as: matthews, racsim, mccaskill, obama, college graduates, african americans

Steve Benen is a freelance writer/researcher and creator of The Carpetbagger Report. In addition, he is the lead editor of Salon.com's Blog Report, and has been a contributor to Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, Crooks & Liars, The American Prospect, and the Guardian.