One of the first places that Bishop Tobin went to be interviewed was MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.  After watching this video, it proved to me why MSNBC is consistently at the bottom of the ratings and why Chris Matthews is a poor interview.

Here are my reasons:

1. Demanding an answering while the guest is TRYING to answer. This is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to these political talk-show hosts.  Guys like Matthews will rant and rave, ask a question, and within 3-5 seconds, demand that the interviewee answer the question AS THEY ARE TRYING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.  It’s just a bully, I’ll talk louder than you, debate tactic.
2. Wasting Everyone’s time with answers we already know.  Matthews spent the whole 10 minutes discussing the issue of abortion with Tobin, and OF COURSE the Bishop is pro-life. Any person with common knowledge of the Catholic religion would already know this.  Why bother debating an issue when you already know what the answers will be.
3. Missing the good stuff.  Chris used this great opportunity to try and prop himself up instead of getting to the issues that are really interesting (you know, the stuff that would attract viewers)

If I had the chance to interview the Bishop I would want the story of the relationship between Tobin and Kennedy.  I would ask the Bishop, if he had any idea why Kennedy would publicize this story now, since the request was made over two years ago? Has their been any recent interactions between you and Mr. Kennedy? Why did you make this request, after so many years of the Kennedy family being pro-choice?

The real story is between Kennedy and Tobin not the issue of abortion…come’on Chris get off of your soapbox and get the story!

One last thing – Television needs to find a better way to setup interviews.  I get so annoyed with the current sound delays.  Both guys try to start talking at the same time and then they both stop at the same time and then both start up again at the same time…There has to be better technology out there.