Spring Break
MSNBC news personality speaks to students
Janhavi Purohit
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Debate Day
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Matthews said our current world has changed drastically from what it was years ago.
According to Matthews, the standard of living has increased, but salaries haven't. Where Americans were once able to live off one salary, it is now becoming more and more difficult to do the same. The world is shifting and America is no longer necessarily on top.
"We don't dominate the world anymore," Matthews said. Matthews pointed out the fact that a large amount of money is overseas, meaning that countries like Russia and China are becoming richer, while America is stuck at the status quo.
"The American economy is not growing," Matthews said. "It's a different world."
In terms of the candidates, Matthews commented that some were clearly advancing over the others.
"Obama needs to step it up because Hillary is coming out strongest," Matthews commented. "Obama has not put together a national campaign."
Matthews also pointed out that many of the candidates play to the voters and tend to shy away from making statements that may affect their polls.
"Not everything that sells is right. Does Hillary know this?" Matthews commented. "Are the candidates giving us what we want to hear, or the smart or clever answer?"
Matthews cited this election as being one of the most critical since 1932, when the country was going through the Depression, to the 1980 fight between Carter and Reagan.
"This is one of those change elections. People want to go to a different place," Matthews said.
Matthews also commented on the way our country functions in terms of protections and rights.
"We'd rather have more freedom and less protection. We're much more self-reliant. It's just a culture thing. It's a strange culture, but we have it," Matthews said. "This country is still cowboy, for better or worse."
Matthews took selected student questions after his talk, and the reactions to his attitude varied. Rachel Semigran, a senior majoring in English, raised a question about the media's role in swinging the elections for voters, and had her point rebutted almost immediately.
"He does it for effect. I didn't even get my question out before he interrupted me. If he's the one asking 'hard questions,' then he should allow students to ask some of their own," Semigran said.
Matthews ended the discussion with a quick poll of students in the audience. He asked which candidate students would vote for, given a choice between Clinton and Republican nominee Rudy Giuliani. The count in the room was 39 for Clinton and 22 for Giuliani.
According to Matthews, the standard of living has increased, but salaries haven't. Where Americans were once able to live off one salary, it is now becoming more and more difficult to do the same. The world is shifting and America is no longer necessarily on top.
"We don't dominate the world anymore," Matthews said. Matthews pointed out the fact that a large amount of money is overseas, meaning that countries like Russia and China are becoming richer, while America is stuck at the status quo.
"The American economy is not growing," Matthews said. "It's a different world."
In terms of the candidates, Matthews commented that some were clearly advancing over the others.
"Obama needs to step it up because Hillary is coming out strongest," Matthews commented. "Obama has not put together a national campaign."
Matthews also pointed out that many of the candidates play to the voters and tend to shy away from making statements that may affect their polls.
"Not everything that sells is right. Does Hillary know this?" Matthews commented. "Are the candidates giving us what we want to hear, or the smart or clever answer?"
Matthews cited this election as being one of the most critical since 1932, when the country was going through the Depression, to the 1980 fight between Carter and Reagan.
"This is one of those change elections. People want to go to a different place," Matthews said.
Matthews also commented on the way our country functions in terms of protections and rights.
"We'd rather have more freedom and less protection. We're much more self-reliant. It's just a culture thing. It's a strange culture, but we have it," Matthews said. "This country is still cowboy, for better or worse."
Matthews took selected student questions after his talk, and the reactions to his attitude varied. Rachel Semigran, a senior majoring in English, raised a question about the media's role in swinging the elections for voters, and had her point rebutted almost immediately.
"He does it for effect. I didn't even get my question out before he interrupted me. If he's the one asking 'hard questions,' then he should allow students to ask some of their own," Semigran said.
Matthews ended the discussion with a quick poll of students in the audience. He asked which candidate students would vote for, given a choice between Clinton and Republican nominee Rudy Giuliani. The count in the room was 39 for Clinton and 22 for Giuliani.
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Barbara L.
posted 11/01/07 @ 11:02 AM EST
I hope those select students realize how LUCKY they were to get to listen to Chris Matthews up close and personal. Whether you like him or don't, he is one of the few on television OR in print who actually makes you think. (Continued…)
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