More proof that Chris Matthews is biased

There are two stories out today dealing with Chris Matthews. Media Matters has done a study which concluded that there is a bias in favor of conservatives on Matthews show Hardball. Here's an excerpt:

Summary: A Media Matters study of guests on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews shows that Republican and conservative guests have dominated Hardball during the first two months of 2006.

Notwithstanding Matthews's Democratic roots (former speechwriter to President Jimmy Carter, aide to several Democratic members of Congress), during a 2003 episode of Hardball, Matthews told Republican pollster Frank Luntz, "I'm more conservative than people think I am. ... By the way, I voted for [President George W.] Bush. ... I like to surprise people." Matthews's praise for Bush has at times been effusive; in 2005, he said that Bush "glimmers" with a "kind of sunny nobility"; that "[e]verybody sort of likes the president, except for the real whack-jobs"; and that, if he succeeds in creating a democracy in Iraq, Bush "belongs on Mount Rushmore."

Even further evidence can be found of Matthews bias at Rawstory.com in which they have an article listing speeches Chris Matthews has given to major conservative trade associations since 2001. Here's an excerpt from that article:

Matthews is listed at a speaking bureau known to command hefty fees. While it can't be proven whether Matthews has taken money from the groups, speaking fees are a regular practice for large trade organizations who invite big-name media stars to speak to their memberships. Such fees typically run in the five-figure range, and occasionally exceed $50,000 per engagement.

Among the groups included: the International Franchise Association; the National Association of Chain Drug Stores; the National Association of Convenience Stores; the American Hospital Association; the Consumer Healthcare Products Association; the National Venture Capitalists Association; the Mortgage Bankers Association; the Credit Union National Association; the American Society of Association Executives; and the International Health and Racquet & Sportsclub Association.

The report, available here, notes that these associations have given heavily to conservative candidates for public office.

Peter Daou over at The Huffington Post has an excellent article titled "The case against Chris Matthews". He does an very good job of explaining why "journalists" like Chris Matthews and Tim Russert are bad for our democracy. Check it out.