But after graduation, he urged the graduates to get some life experience. He said his experiences, from serving in the Peace Corps to witnessing historic events as a journalist to being part of politics, gave him confidence. "I liked the idea that I was in the game before I covered the game," Mr. Matthews said. "I knew what I was talking about." Talking about politicians, he said they always cry when they lose, because so much is on the line. "They get a really good look at you, and they say no," Mr. Matthews said. He said history matters and facts matter. For example, he said America's involvement in Afghanistan doesn't bode well when one looks at the history of the area. He said the Brits were driven out, as well as the Soviet Union. Plus, as a nation with little colonial motivations, America is at a disadvantage. "All they have to do is wait us out," he said. Mr. Matthews took several questions from the audience after his speech, and seemed to enjoy engaging with members who stepped to the microphone. One man asked why "Hardball" and "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" continue to lag behind Fox News giants Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Mr. Matthews started his answer with references to ratings and reaching important demographics, but then threw a few barbs at his competitors. Now that the White House and Congress are controlled by Democrats, Mr. Matthews said, Fox seems to have formed a "sort of Polish government in exile." He said conservatives have enjoyed much wider success in radio, and said Rush Limbaugh has succeeded by appealing to middle-aged white men by continually telling them they are right to feel victimized. "For three hours they're told they're great," Mr. Matthews said. Television Journalist Chris Matthews served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland in the 1960's.
Chris Matthews tackles hot topics at Holy Cross
Matthews tackles hot topics at HC
By Steven H. Foskett Jr. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
sfoskett@telegram.com
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WORCESTER - During a brief but wide-ranging talk at the Hogan Campus Center ballroom last night, cable news star Chris Matthews waxed nostalgic about his days at the College of the Holy Cross in the 1960s, but also dove into hot-button issues like the health care debate and the Tea Party movement.
Mr. Matthews, host of "Hardball" on MSNBC and a 1967 graduate of Holy Cross, wistfully recalled his days on campus during a turbulent time in American history. There was a strong intellectual strain on campus, and he said he enjoyed watching foreign films on campus on Wednesdays.
"It was always ideas that mattered," Mr. Matthews told the packed ballroom, full of mostly students but also residents and some alumni, including Celtics legend, city resident, and Holy Cross alum Bob Cousy.
He said Holy Cross did a good job of mixing ideas with religion, and said the compact nature of the campus - along with long, isolating winters on Mount St. James - helped foster a sense of forcing people to get together to "figure things out as a group."
But after graduation, he urged the graduates to get some life experience. He said his experiences, from serving in the Peace Corps to witnessing historic events as a journalist to being part of politics, gave him confidence.
"I liked the idea that I was in the game before I covered the game," Mr. Matthews said. "I knew what I was talking about."
Talking about politicians, he said they always cry when they lose, because so much is on the line.
"They get a really good look at you, and they say no," Mr. Matthews said.
He said history matters and facts matter. For example, he said America's involvement in Afghanistan doesn't bode well when one looks at the history of the area. He said the Brits were driven out, as well as the Soviet Union. Plus, as a nation with little colonial motivations, America is at a disadvantage.
"All they have to do is wait us out," he said.
Mr. Matthews took several questions from the audience after his speech, and seemed to enjoy engaging with members who stepped to the microphone. One man asked why "Hardball" and "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" continue to lag behind Fox News giants Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly.
Mr. Matthews started his answer with references to ratings and reaching important demographics, but then threw a few barbs at his competitors. Now that the White House and Congress are controlled by Democrats, Mr. Matthews said, Fox seems to have formed a "sort of Polish government in exile."
He said conservatives have enjoyed much wider success in radio, and said Rush Limbaugh has succeeded by appealing to middle-aged white men by continually telling them they are right to feel victimized.
"For three hours they're told they're great," Mr. Matthews said.
One woman asked what Mr. Matthews thought of the Tea Party movement that protests big government.
Mr. Matthews said the people who have been attending the protests have been hard to categorize, but said other movements, such as the so-called "birther" movement that questions whether President Barack Obama is actually an American citizen, are on the fringe and have clear racial undertones.
He pointed to a recent Daily Kos poll that showed that in Northern states, 97 percent of respondents said they completely accept that Barack Obama is a citizen. But in the South, the majority believed he was born elsewhere or weren't sure.
"I think a lot of the birther people are racist," Mr. Matthews said.
