Tommy Christopher rightfully called out MSNBC for their decision to produce this piece of garbage before it even aired, and after watching it, there's no doubt that his criticisms were spot on: Shameless MSNBC to Air Donald Trump ‘Documentary’ Hosted by Chris Matthews:
Once known for its forward-leaning and diverse political journalism, MSNBC has increasingly become a network ruled entirely by a desperation to keep what viewers it has from changing the channel. In a perfect intersection of the network’s breakneck sprint away from its non-white audience and willingness to do anything for eyeballs, the network has announced that it will air an “original documentary” on Republican presidential frontrunner and Human White Power Energy Drink Donald Trump (via email):
On Tuesday, December 22nd at 7pm ET, MSNBC will premiere an original documentary, “Citizen Trump with Chris Matthews.”
The 2016 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most significant events in American history. Will the voters elect the first woman into the Oval Office? Will the GOP withstand the polarizing effects of its current frontrunner?
This election season, Donald Trump has tapped into something that’s grabbed people’s attention. But what has led to this unprecedented moment?
Hosted by Chris Matthews, the documentary takes a look back at Donald Trump’s career and path to politics, chronicling the events that have led to his Presidential run. This is the first in a series of candidate profiles that will air on MSNBC.
Oh, yeah, I can’t wait to see their big documentary on George Pataki.
Make all the excuses you want about Trump being news, this is a transparent and disgusting ratings grab that will no doubt include footage of our possible future president ejaculating champagne all over the Playboy bus:
The audience wasn't treated to any footage of Trump pouring champagne all over the Playboy bus, but what they got wasn't much better. Here's Matthews hyping the "documentary" on Morning Joe this Tuesday.
Matthews discussed the fact that Trump has been exploiting the fears of working class white men who have felt left behind during the economic recovery after George W. Bush almost put our country back into another Great Depression during that Morning Joe segment, (Bush's name wasn't actually mentioned, of course).
You'd think that might have come up at some point during their so-called "documentary," but sadly, it did not. Matthews did briefly touch on the fact that some of his construction projects have had "illegal immigrants" working on them, but failed to mention the hypocrisy with his clothing lines.
All in all, Matthews and his producers glossed over the negatives about Donald Trump, and instead brought on one Trump supporter or family member after another who did their best to humanize him and downplay the fact that the guy was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and some of the worst of that was in the clip above at the very top of the post.
There's nothing like being treated to hate monger Ann Coulter raving about "alpha male" Trump and how manly he was during his time at a military academy his father sent him to -- directly followed by Matthews glossing over his five draft deferments during the Vietnam War.
Our friend Digby gave a much more honest assessment of why Trump is appealing to these working class white voters that Matthews was discussing during the Morning Joe clip above in her post she wrote for Salon this week: Donald Trump will make America white again: “White working-class anxiety” is a dog-whistle for racism.
I won't hold my breath while I wait for Matthews or his producers to read it. They're much more concerned about exploiting Trump for ratings than they are any taking an honest look at the reasons for his popularity and their own complicity in promoting him.
