amyk's Blog

MSNBC's Chris Matthews remains in the bull's eye for new women's group

From Peter Nicholas at the Los Angeles Times:

Forget the battle for the White House -- here's a campaign that's really heating up: the bid by a new women's group to hold Chris Matthews accountable for what it asserts is "misogynistic journalism" practiced by the voluble MSNBC political pundit.

The New Agenda, a nonpartisan organization promoting women's rights, today sent a letter to NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker asking for a meeting to discuss Matthews' attitude toward women.

Amy Siskind, one of the group's founders, said in an interview it wants Matthews (at right, with Ron Reagan behind him) to issue a public apology and change his on-air behavior. Absent that, he needs to be fired, she said.

The New Agenda also sent its letter to various Democratic officials in Pennsylvania -- Matthews' native state, where there has been chatter he might seek the party's nomination for the Senate in 2010.

The group's letter applauded the recent decision by MSNBC to remove Matthews and Keith Olbermann from prominent roles anchoring political events, but said more action is needed.

"MSNBC can regain its reputation as a respectable news organization by taking more appropriate action against Chris Matthews," the letter said. "If Matthews were an employee in a Fortune 500 company, he would have been fired for sexual harassment long ago. Instead, MSNBC peddled misogynistic journalism to the American public."

-----------------------

What were your thoughts on the Matthews/Olbermann shake-up when it happened? 

Are you surprised/not surprised to see a women's group now going after Matthews?