Israel Matzav

Guess whom Biden is bringing to dinner or One loudmouth deserves another

Media Bistro reports that Gaffetastic Joe Biden is being accompanied on his trip to Israel by none other than Chris Matthews, the solipsistic host of MSNBC Hardball.

MSNBC "Hardball" Host Chris Matthews travels to the Middle East this week with V.P. Joe Biden. On Tuesday he'll interview Biden in Jerusalem. The interviews air Tuesday and Wednesday at 5 p.m. EST.

Media Bistro's Betsy Rothstein notes that Matthews has expressed some fear of traveling in our region, lest he be kidnapped. Maybe we should hang him over the Gaza fence and see if there are any takers.

Despite the previously expressed worries, Matthews will anchor "Hardball" from Jerusalem on Monday and Tuesday and report from the region throughout the week. NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd will anchor Wednesday through Friday.

As Matthews travels with Biden, he's likely to receive a level of security he wouldn't get alone. This should minimize worries. More importantly: who will be more verbose - Matthews or Biden?

Good question.

Laura Rozen suggests that Matthews may not be the right man for the job (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

Vice President Joe Biden and wife Jill arrived in Israel today, the highest level Obama administration official to visit the Jewish state to date, with a mission to reassure Israel of the U.S.'s commitment to Israel's security (read: please don't bomb Iran, we've got you covered) and reaffirm the U.S.-Israeli special relationship (read: smooth over Israeli pique that Obama passed them over on previous trips to Cairo, Riyadh and Turkey and with his extensive outreach to the Muslim world).

So who does Biden bring with him to convey that cautious "reassure and reaffirm" message?

MSNBC's Hardball host Chris Matthews.

No, it's not too reassuring. But it's just the kind of clumsy move we here in Israel have come to expect from the Obama White House.

P.S. For those of you who don't know what solipsistic means, if you click through that first link, you'll find out.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:20 PM