United States Military Academy at West Point Dubbed 'Enemy Camp' by Chris Matthews

Cadets Are Suitable Fighters but Inappropriate Audience

Sylvia Cochran
Sylvia Cochran, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Dec 2, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
When West Point cadets failed to offer the sold-out applause and enthusiasm President Obama should have gotten, they academy became Chris Matthews' enemy camp. The Chris Matthews West Point comment was followed by the discovery that it is "obviously military."

Chris Matthews' Enemy Camp not in Afghanistan

NPR reports that Chris Matthews from MSNBC referred to the United States Military Academy at West Point as the enemy camp. As the commander-in-chief addressed the cadets, Chris Matthews was offended by the lack of excitement among the audience. This spawned the Chris Matthews enemy camp comment. Seeking to rationalize this amazing lapse in judgment, Chris Matthews referred to West Point as being "obviously military." As reported by Patrick Henry Press, that appears to be a bad thing.

Why West Point?

As commander-in-chief, President Obama chose West Point as backdrop to his announcement that 30,000 more troops would be sent to Afghanistan to curtail the Taliban's impetus. CNN reports that West Point was also chosen in part because troops may be pulled from there during the surge. President Obama expressed his belief that cadets deserved to be given a well defined mission. Nevertheless, to Chris Matthews, West Point is the enemy camp.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi Tells Journalists to "Go to the Devil"

Back in April, the Telegraph reported that a clearly exasperated Italian premier was fed up with having journalists point out and comment on his supposedly rude behavior. Silvio Berlusconi reportedly told the assembled journalists to "go to the devil." Subsequent statements were considered worrisome with respect to the freedom of Italy's press, but it is apparent that tempers settled as quickly as they rose.

Should Chris Matthews Be Told to "Go to the Devil?"

Although the term journalist may apply to Chris Matthews only in the loosest sense, it is worrisome that his West Point statement is not met with strong language. It is an open secret that a media bias exists and that it is pretty well defined along partisan political lines. That being said, it is stunning to hear a Chris Matthews enemy camp comment not receiving tough censure, and his overall disapproval of all things military not being greeted with the immediate contempt it deserves.

Sources
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/12/chris_matthews_enemy_camp_west.html
http://patrickhenrypress.info/?q=node/96801
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/01/obama.afghanistan/index.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5110631/Silvio-Berlusconi-threatens-news-blackout-after-reports-of-latest-gaffes.html

Published by Sylvia Cochran - Featured Contributor in Automotive, Politics, Travel and Lifestyle

Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing -- full-time -- since 2005. SEO-optimized Internet copy includes news analysis, political Op/Ed and parenting as well as a...   View profile

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When West Point cadets failed to offer the enthusiasm President Obama should have gotten, they academy became Chris Matthews' enemy camp. The Chris Matthews West Point comment was followed by the discovery that it is "obviously military."

8 Comments

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  • Jennifer Bove 12/5/2009

    very interesting write up

  • Tony Vega 12/4/2009

    Nolan just proved the point why the Matthews of the world would consider West Point an enemy camp..And it is also fitting that hawks eat owls ;-)

  • Charlotte Kuchinsky 12/3/2009

    I never listen to that man. He's as one-sided as they get. Maybe the military should just stop fighting for our freedom. It's not like we are going to have them for much longer anyway. I'm tired of our men and women trying to do what is right and being spit on for it. Yes, I said "spit on." That actually happened to a marine around here. It was disgusting. For Matthews to make such a comment is equally disgusting.

  • anonymous 12/2/2009

    It is shameful to label one of the nations premier institutions as the "enemy camp". Cadets at West Point have chosen to answer the call to duty and stand ready to enact the Presidents policy. Often the media acts as if their job is to stir up points of conflict and play to peoples emotions to gain viewers. I would submit that people like Chris Matthews should stick to reporting the news and not using it as a forum to take personal shots at people. Liberal or Conservative -- the people deserve the facts.

  • Mattmon1 12/2/2009

    Is it any better in context? These are the guys that are going to go and enact his "strategy" of exiting which he talked more about than what he wants them to do when they get there other than respect the Afghans. More Barry B.S.

  • Duh 12/2/2009

    That is why he called it 'enemy camp'. They didn't think he was right aka they should like someone who might be more of what you call a 'hawk'.

  • Nolan O'Brian 12/2/2009

    Oh lighten up. If you listen to Matthews comments in context, the "enemy camp" comment is obviously referring to the fact that a West Point audience would be much more likely to applaud a political "hawk".

  • Jan Corn 12/2/2009

    I hadn't heard of the Chris Matthew incident till now. THanks for updating me.

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