Elections are about the providers

Chris Connolly, Hawthorne, NJ — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:32:41 GMT

People are under estimating McCain. I really could picture McCain winning California, New York and other states. I think the Republican party is strategically placed across the country and has big supporters who have won liberal states like Mitt Romney, George Pataki, Rudy Guiliani, Arnold S, Charlie Crist, Tom Ridge, Christie Whitman supporting McCain. Plus he has the LOG Cabin Republicans behind him and McCain is drawing some Democrats. I predict him the winner.
I'm 22. Whenever I'm asked who I'm voting for I always say Obama because I don't feel like hearing from the liberals how bad it is to vote for McCain even though I will vote for McCain in the election.

Elections are about the providers

Felicia Jones, Savannah, GA — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:37:04 GMT

I agree that we are all aware of our position in making government work, and uplifting our country in all areas especially the economy, health care, and education. In regard to education, I must comment that the State of Alaska has one of the highest if not the highest dropout rate in the country. When do Sarah Palin’s children attend school? They are marching and waving on the campaign trail with her. There are a certain number of contact hours that even home school students must have. Given Sarah Palin's recent understanding of the Constitution, I do not see her as a surrogate teacher. Are her children being added to the dropout statistics for Alaska?

Elections are about the providers

Domonique Francois, San Antonio, TX — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:45:55 GMT

I absolutely agree with your statement, Mr. Matthews. This campaign is all about working families and people trying to keep their jobs. Although in my opinion, I think that Obama has reached middle class voters on that front more than McCain because he knows what it's like to struggle and to worry about where the next dollar is going to come from.
My main concern is the economy too, and all these distractions do nothing for me as far as how I'm going to vote, although I especially take offense to the rhetoric about anti-americanism, terrorism, communism and socialism. It's so ridiculous, and quite frankly, and I don't think anyone's saying this, but the McCain campaign is no better than the terrorists that we fight against. Like the Taliban and other regimes, they've been using fear mongering, divisive propoganda, and incindiary words to incite unwarranted fear and hatred in people and to keep people under and to discourage them to think for themselves. They're bringing out the worst in Americans, and causing them to take for granted the freedom of choosing whomever they want for president without someone else's voice in their heads. I think that it's pathetic that they've sunk this low.

Elections are about the providers

Rhonda Hughes, Calico Rock, Arkansas — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:47:35 GMT

Wouldn't it be nice if we could have an election that was based on the issues at hand, not based on fear and emotions. By contributing to the name calling, we are no better than the ones we are condemning. We as a nation need to work together to find solutions. Demorcrat or Republican makes no difference, neither will be helping the average US Citizen. Regardles who gets in the White House, the other team will be playing defense and block anything that the president tries to enact. We need to abolish party lines and work together for a common cause. Republicans are not any worse than Democrats and vice versa. United We Stand.

Elections are about the providers

David B. Ebert — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:59:41 GMT

The tax issue is basically bogus as far as Republicans are concerned. Republicans pretended to be the party of smaller government and lower taxes these last eight years, and instead of raising taxes, they put the largest governmental expenditures in history on credit cards. It would have been better to have raised taxes and stayed on budget. Communist? Ha. This government buyout and "investment" in the private sector is perilously close to nationizing the banking system- which is totalitarianism of the socialist ilk. The Republican Party is a pack of two-faced, lying, backstabbing thieves. They pretend to be the friend of working people, but waste no chance to slip in the blade. They want to cut welfare to mothers and the elderly and deny health care to the poor, but give 700 billion at a whack to bankers? That is plumb insane. What are we thinking to let this happen? This buy out is the most brazen con job of all time.

Elections are about the providers

Dale Probasco, Minneapolis, Minnesota — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:04:38 GMT

I am a midille American worker and I do not expect the government to make my life easy. I want them out of my life and the lives of others. The government has only done one thing reasonably well and that is provide forthe ocmmon defense. Everything else they have screwed up.

And by the way when you criticize people for saying Democrats are socialists then you need to define what you think socialism is. The saying "from tose according to their abilities and to those according to their need is a pretty classical definition. That sounds very much like "spreading the wealth around".

Elections are about the providers

Daniel R Florek — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:22:14 GMT

This is about your comments concerning Palin and the vice presidency. Since the constitution only specifies the replacement of the president in dire circumstance and acting as the president of the senate, the vice president may define his job the any way the president allows. Reference Cheney and the way Bush allowed him to do whatever he pleased. The book about Cheney titled "The Angler" gives a good description of what the any person in the vice president position is capable of doing. Until the constitution is amended to restrict the duties of the vice president, Palin or Biden can define their job.

Elections are about the providers

Myron J. Hall, Tampa, Fl. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:32:59 GMT

What is wrong with paying taxes? There are other countries with higher taxes than ours. We can't have it both ways. Whenever something catastrophic happens to us, we're always looking for the government to bail us out (Wall Street). Look at all the forest fires that destroyed homes. Who help bail them out? Or the hurricanes and tornadoes. Who comes to the rescue? Without the government providing medical treatment for the poor they'll die then who does the manual labor? Americans boast about loving the military. Tax money provides us with that security and care for our military and keeps it advanced. This is the same military America says it loves so much. Taxes provides higher education for our citizens and children. I thought the constitutions says: "is for and by the people". That means us! So through taxes we invest and re-invest in America. Not to pay taxes is not to invest in America. So who's un American now. If you don't want to be a part of any of this don't pay taxes. You can't have it both ways!

Elections are about the providers

john somerset, mass. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:37:12 GMT

i'm still astonished by john mccains comments pertaining to the pie. we need to give companies tax breaks so they can do more to help their employees? the ceo at my company gives himself a $500,000 bonus every year regardless of the economy, he gives 4 or 5 financial officers a smaller bonus. he gives the employees, the people who actually make him a profit, no bonus at all. if we leave it up to management to share the wealth we will be waiting a long time.

Elections are about the providers

Dakota, Lake Stevens, WA — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:52:15 GMT

I've been a Republican since the first time I could vote, for Barry Goldwater. However, I never voted the party ticket, preferring instead to vote for the person I believed could do the best job. I did not vote for G.W. Bush.

Several years ago, the conservative Christians hijacked the Republican Party. They know that they are dead in the water with Family Values issues in 2008 - what with McCain being an admitted adulterer, and Palin's family situations. At this point, I am very surprised, and a tad disappointed, that Palin has not spoken in tongues at a rally.

Therefore, lacking ethics, the RNC must use personal attacks. The so called ROBO phone calls are very unethical, to say the least.

It is very disappointing for me to see the GOP resort to smarmy ads, lies and half truths, to try to win this election.

There is no way around it, other than to say that considering his age, health, mental health, hot temper, draconian beliefs about women's rights, etc., McCain is dented goods.

Therefore, I am a Republican who is tired of the way that conservative Christians are trying to have things their way. The only way to protest effectively, the less than desirable changes in the GOP, is to join forces with Colin Powell, and vote for Obama.

Elections are about the providers

Melanie McCoard — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:38:02 GMT

I have a question that I wish you would discuss:
Did the Republicans KNOW that they could not win this election, and so picked Sarah Palin as a "throw-away" candidate? Did they look for someone who had no real political future to jeopardize? Did they realize that any of the viable VP candidates would be tainted/discredited/colored by an association with the losing 2008 McCain candidacy? Did they concede 2008 (by choosing Palin) in preparation for a legitimate run in 2012? (IE Romney/Guiliani)

Elections are about the providers

Elizabeth Windle — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:40:55 GMT

I am very upset at the viciousness of the attacks by Chris Matthews against Gov. Palin. It is one thing to point out the errors made by the candidates but he has carried his attacks to a higher, meaner, very personal level. I won't watch Hardball any longer, this is too much after the attacks of Sen. Hillary Clinton, no more msn nbc for me.

Elections are about the providers

D Vail, California — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:53:47 GMT

Chris today I watched your show with Bill Mahr...you are onto something regarding these anti-american comments made by the other party. Why would they divide the country in this manner?? Keep up the good work and continue to probe those defending their damaging words as they try to further divide the country. We need to come together, black, white, yellow, Muslim, Christian, whatever faith or race. Now is the time for McCain to bring it home in class. I loved John McCain in 2000 and wanted to vote for him this year. I am very disappointed in the divisive road McCain has taken. Can someone talk some sense into him before his legacy is completetly obliterated by the righteous right.

Elections are about the providers

C S Duncan; Austin, Texas — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:54:32 GMT

Chris! Can you transplant a "mute" button in Pat Bucanan? Gee whiz....recently you had him on along with a lady who never got a word in edge wise and tonight he took over the conversation...over talking you, the other guest and almost overtalking himself! He thinks he knows it all and he twists everything you put out showing he is wrong and he jabbers on and on. MUTE HIM!

Elections are about the providers

Mary Pat, Cape Coral, Fl. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:58:18 GMT

I'm not afraid to say that I voted for Obama. I used to like McCain several years ago but lost all respect for him. I don't like McCain's scare tactics like Guiliani used with his constant and exhausting 911 references. McCain and company are using terrorist, socialism,and communist. McCain has been acting like a pouting 2 year old with the eye rolls during the last debate.
Obama is going to be our next President.

Elections are about the providers

Barack Obama — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:15:22 GMT

MSNBC; More Socialistic Naivete By Communists

Elections are about the providers

Linnae, Lafayette, CO — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:48:23 GMT

Socialism is not raising money for your government, no matter which way the government decides is best to collect its funds. So raising taxes on the wealthy and lowering it for the lower and middle class, is in no way socialism. On the other hand, if a governor - let's use Alaska as an example - taxes major corporations, say oil companies, and then gives that tax money directly to the citizens of Alaska (let's call that spreading wealth) -- that, fellow Americans is socialism.

Elections are about the providers

Tangito, Sacramento, CA — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:57:17 GMT

The Republican Party has been trying to dismantle the middle class for a number of years. Now that the threat of communism has passed, the rich don't think they need to throw a bone to the middle class anymore;
thus, the virtual elimination of pensions, severe employer based healthcare cutbacks, and declining wages as the rich get richer right in front of our faces. But remember, we put the bums in office who allowed the near collapse of our economy with political policies that favored the rich. I don't think the rich will have a difficult time providing for their families. The middle class will soon have nothing, Social Security and MediCare will implode, ppension funds for those who still have a pension will fail, our homes have no protective equity and 1 home in 6 is "upsidedown", owe more than the home is worth, and guess what folks, the U.S. credit rating is about to be declared "junk". Interest rates will go through the roof and inflation will eat us up. So that's what the conservative revolution was all about! Thanks but no Thanks!

Elections are about the providers

Geoffrey, Lake Elsinore, CA — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:28:01 GMT

Mr. Connelly, I would like to know where you get your information. I can see very few registered Democrats changing sides and voting for McCain in this election; in fact, I see the exact opposite. Just as we have seen with Gen. Colin Powell's groundbreaking endorsement of Obama, many registered Republicans are actually casting a vote for Obama because he has proven and will continue to prove until election day that he is more qualified to take control of this country. In this trying time where the economy has collapsed onto itself and after five years we continue to fight in two simultaneous wars, we need a leader who will unite this country, not someone who will do nothing but channel our current president and continue the politics of division. It's not about black or white, conservative or liberal, Christian, Muslim, Atheist, whatever! It's about who has the better plan to save this country from the past eight years of decline; we don't need someone who's going to drive a wedge through the country so that we are concerned with bull$%@# like who is "pro-American" or "Anti-American"!

Elections are about the providers

Betsie / Florida — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:37:21 GMT

Dear Chris,

You must not have heard Obama when he DID address this issue.

It's called jobs....and keeping them in America.

Elections are about the providers

JERRY COLEMAN BYHALIA MS. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:50:32 GMT

FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT MR MCCAIN IS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB THIS NATION MUST HAVE GONE BACK TO SLEEP. BACK TO THE FIFTIES.

Elections are about the providers

Pat from Philly — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:03:27 GMT

Your definition of a provider has gradually changed over the last ten years. The importance of a good self esteem has changed the paradigm. "Take time for yourself" in order to be "the best you can be" has somehow changed the priorities of the family provider. If taken to an extreme, it allows the provider to "cop out" of normal responsibilities. "A night out with the boys or girls" should not be taken at the expense of family responsibility. We have become a drop off pick up family society when it comes to children's activities. The purchase of pleasure items has become a need not a want. A parent receiving employer health coverage refuses to purchase dependent coverage. Hand outs are the norm. Taxpayers expect the government to continue offering refundable credits - day care, child tax credit and earned income tax credit, etc. Adults revert to childlike behavior wanting more and more. Single adults feel a gym membership is a necessity while health insurance is an option. My work experience as an educator and tax preparer has provided me with 40 years of observing human nature. Sad to say, the days of putting others before oneself is over. The aftermath of Election 2008 scares me. The public is counting on the campaign promises to become law. What will be the fallout and will we be able to handle it!!!

Elections are about the providers

A.L.(Noek) vanBiljon,Yzerfontein, South Africa — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:06:48 GMT

Before 9/11 the second worst name an American Christian could call someone was to call him a Communist(read Atheist by inference).Since then the name Muslim has crept up on the scale of insults and is vying to replace the word Communist.The absolute ultimate term of abuse in the Christian arsenal is to call someone the anti-Christ. Senator Obama has been called a Muslim(as a term of abuse of course)and now he is being called a Communist but considering the level to which the language of the Presidential debate has sunk I would not be surprised to hear that he has also been called the anti-Christ Perhaps he has, but it has just not been recorded on TV yet. Somehow I feel all this has got something to do with the color of his face and this is in some convoluted way the legacy of MR George Bush.
One should distinguish between the prefix anti- and the prefix un-. It would be laughable to accuse Mr George Bush of being anti-American but he is in my experience the most un-American President ever. He has gone far to create the impression that the interests of the USA is incompatible with the interests of the rest of the world. No wonder Mr McCain is trying to create the impression that he has never heard of Mr George Bush.

Elections are about the providers

david morrow wilmington,nc — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:23:09 GMT

Why dont americans know that their presidential vote is a waste of time? How come this isnt big news that the state has someone that votes for the president for you? Everyone is thinking that they are going to make a difference and they are just being fooled. I bet most people are fooled into thinking they are really getting a say so and have no idea that what they have to say doesnt matter. All this crap on television about the nominees is wasting our time because it really doesnt matter what we say and think,its decided for us.Its a shame that the american people are getting the shaft and cant have a say so in fixing it. The government wants your money not your opinion

Elections are about the providers

Mary Bagley — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:53:39 GMT

I am a history teacher in the northeast, watching Hardball--and I was just so moved, once again, when David Shuster and Chris Matthews discussed a few minutes ago the overwhelming emotion we saw on tv last night when people realized Obama was going to win. I am sitting, looking through my 6th graders election assignments--I had them watch for a 1/2 hour and answer questions. And I am so moved that I am here in this moment, introducing politics and government to these young kids--hoping that they will become as excited as I am about the process. Several wrote that they had never watched an election before (they were only 8 years in 2004!) and I believe many of them were truly interested in what they saw and heard. Anyway-just had to stop for a moment and share, at this unbelievable point--a few days ago I (along with hundreds of thousands, I believe) was trying to repress my growing expectation that Obama might do it. And I share in the great pride that so many feel today--that I am an American and that our democracy really worked beautifully this time.