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Sources: Top Hillary Advisers Have Repeatedly Complained To MSNBC About Chris Matthews February 14, 2008 -- 3:06 PM EST // // Yesterday I speculated that the Hillary campaign's allegation of a pattern of sexist remarks at MSNBC -- a charge that was made in response to reporter David Shuster's "pimped out" remark about Chelsea -- was primarily driven by anger at Chris Matthews.
In making these charges, the Hillary campaign has always been careful to avoid mentioning Matthews by name, but political insiders believe he is who Hillary advisers were talking about, even if it hasn't been confirmed by them.
I've now confirmed that this is the case. And that's not all: Hillary's advisers, it turns out, have repeatedly taken their grievance with Matthews directly to the network.
Several sources familiar with the discussions tell me that top Hillary advisers have repeatedly lodged private complaints directly to MSNBC about Matthews' on-air conduct. They have complained to MSNBC about Matthews' less-than-chivalrous remarks about Hillary, such as this one, as well as coverage of Hillary that they view as unfair.
Among those Hillary advisers who have made private complaints like these to the network are Mandy Grunwald and Howard Wolfson, sources tell me. Meanwhile, Ann Lewis, a longtime Hillary adviser who is her director of women's outreach, declined to comment on the discussions, calling them "private conversations."
Anyway, this should settle it: As dumb and clueless as Shuster's "pimp" remark, this was never really about him. The Clinton campaign, while genuinely upset about what Shuster said, lashed out at the network because they were primarily irked by Matthews' conduct, and were sending a message to MSNBC that it's time that Matthews muzzle himself.
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