Armstrong tells Matthews to ‘be a little nicer.’
Armstrong tells Matthews to ‘be a little nicer.’
During the second day of his Livestrong Presidential Cancer Forum, cycling champion Lance Armstrong had to implore his co-host, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, to “just be a little nicer“:
It took the likes of international cycling star Lance Armstrong to tame the aggressiveness of MSNBC’s “Hardball” host Chris Matthews during the second day of Armstrong’s presidential forum on cancer.
“Just be a little nicer,” Armstrong advised Matthews during a break between the questioning of the two Republican presidential candidates who participated, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas.
And Matthews was, at least in the questioning of Huckabee. But in the earlier questioning of Brownback, Matthews had been especially aggressive in response to the senator’s suggestions about how to find money in the federal government to wage a war on cancer.
(HT: FishbowlDC)
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64 Responses to “Armstrong tells Matthews to ‘be a little nicer.’”
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the questioning of the two Republican presidential candidates who participated, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas.
So now the MSM thinks that Republicans have a lock on the cancer fight. Has it been called the War on Cancer yet?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:10 pmThis from a guy who decides he needs a new and better girlfriend every few years.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:12 pmoops; that'd be righTy whitey
August 29th, 2007 at 12:13 pmThis from a guy who decides he needs a new and better girlfriend every few years.
Whatever dude. It's his life. Lance rules.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:13 pmIt was about the summer of 2002, when Bush started saber rattling on Iraq. March 2003 shock and awe began.
SO now it's summer 2007 and he's saber rattling on Iran. Should we assume that March 2008 will be Iran shock and awe time.
Perhaps Bob Dylan's prophetic words are about to be tested
"and if God is on our side, he'll stop the next war"
Cause bombing Iran will bring us close to if not over the edge
August 29th, 2007 at 12:16 pmI'd like to take this opportunity to ask all of you nutters here at ThinkProgress to be a little bit nicer as well.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:16 pmThis is a bucket of snakes the Repubs are going to be stupid enough to tip over.
Cancer, and its connections with pollution, environmental degradation, food additives, and
the stress inducing consumptive consumer lifestyle
will be the backbite of all backbites...
Oh, yes, and the pharmaceutical industry backed administration will claim there is no human caused effect on global cancer.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:17 pmlol where did you get that photo of matthews. makes him look like a homeless man.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:18 pmHas it been called the War on Cancer yet?
Comment by dlet
------------------------------------------------
Yes....Both Obama and Ms. Clinton have called for a "war on cancer"....probably others too.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:19 pm...
August 29th, 2007 at 12:19 pmelizabeth EDWARDS tried the tact first...
...
What's his name wasn't tough enough IMHo. He let Brownback off easy. Brownback kept hurrumphing and repeating his insubstantial mutterings while Matthews pinned him down on substance.
"All I want is the truth, just give me some truth" John Lennon
Maybe Matthews is growing a conscience. Naw couldn't be.
He was on Leno the other night and sounded like a freakin progressive. Maybe the CIA is training him to be a lefty so they can control the progressive agenda, which is now ascending in the public opinion.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:20 pmWhatever dude. It’s his life. Lance rules.
Nobody said he wasn't an incredible athlete, just not sure that he's an authority on "nice". And why should we be "nice" to Brownback, anyhow? On behalf of science teachers and unwanted children everywhere, by all means Matthews, interrogate (or whatever you want to call your brand of "reporting").
August 29th, 2007 at 12:21 pmI'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the trools here at Think Progress for their kind, considerate and well thought out contributions, as well as hiding out in treetops, and shouting out rude names.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:22 pmEven though I am a fellow cancer survivor and (mountain) biker, I lost a lot of respect for Lance when he pandered to Dubya by riding with him and giving all those photo ops. BushCo has set back healthcare and health research 50 years! I don't know how Armstrong could do that and still look in the mirror.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:24 pmPic of Matthews looks like he did Sen. Craig in a restroom somewhere > lol.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:24 pmNobody said he wasn’t an incredible athlete, just not sure that he’s an authority on “niceâ€. And why should we be “nice†to Brownback, anyhow? On behalf of science teachers and unwanted children everywhere, by all means Matthews, interrogate (or whatever you want to call your brand of “reportingâ€).
Comment by Down With Righty Whitey — August 29, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
The point I was reacting to was that you thought Lance shouldn't speak because he changes girlfriends. If you've got some substance to your thinking lay it out & skip the b.s.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:24 pmOT
August 29th, 2007 at 12:25 pmbut, dermot, if you would please, tell that jerk lionul
that he and his AAR show really suck... big time... thanks...
.
Lance is in lala land. He's one of these stars who wants to remain neutral politically, which in and of itself is taking a political position that supports the ruling elite.
ANd if he's so concerned about cancer when is he going to challenge the cancer research industry to take on stand on cancer causing entities like ..... big oil, corporate destruction of the environment, corporate food that kills you before it nourishes you,
The cancer industry is the biggest hoax since snake oil.
If you want to prevent cancer you have to recognize that it's people's immune systems that collapse under the stress and destructiveness of the environment that allows cancer to grow.
Taking more drugs is not the cure.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:25 pmChris Matthews is the kind of guy who would have responded positively to Sen. Craig's advances, don't you think?
Why did they pick two guys who don't believe in evolution to comment on cancer?
And where's Tony Snow?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:26 pmAs a fellow cancer survivor, I applaud Armstrong's efforts, but telling Miss Crathews to be nicer is like trying to pet a "tame" alligator.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:27 pmAnd you're right, he does look disheveled in that photo. A nice change from his ultra clean cut tweety bird disguise he uses on TV.
is that a picture of alan hale jr.?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:27 pm[...]
I don’t know how Armstrong could do that and still look in the mirror.
Comment by upside00 — August 29, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
agreed... major disappointment with that move...
August 29th, 2007 at 12:27 pmhe could've found someone more worthy to ties his wagon to...
...
Matthews was the only one of the three saying anything worth saying. THe rest is just palaver.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:29 pmA day late on that advice aren't you Lancey boy?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:30 pm:"Why did they pick two guys who don’t believe in evolution to comment on cancer?"
Comment by Zimzone
Good question, given the focus on finding the "gene to blame" craze which seems to be all the rage in medicine these days.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:31 pmBeing creationists, they can always blame it on "God's will, to punish the victims."
Better to blame God than the corporations,
after all,
God never has to show up in court...
It's all about the new drug. Gotta have a new drug - sang Huey Lewis. Pharmaceuticals will save us. Yeah right. I'm coming off of Zoloft after a death in my family and Zoloft toxicity and withdrawal almost killed me.
Stay away from legal drugs people, they will kill you to cure you.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:40 pmIf you want to prevent cancer you have to recognize that it’s people’s immune systems that collapse under the stress and destructiveness of the environment that allows cancer to grow.
Now all we need to do is figure out how ancient societies caused cancer before the advent of industrialization...and big oil...dont forget big oil.
But dont worry, the dems are busy trying to ban everything so maybe there is hope. Well not everything, after all even though secondhand smoke is going to kill us all, we cant actually ban the cigs and lose the tax money.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:40 pmI saw the interview with Matthews and Brownback.
I thought Chris did a good job.
Armstrong just want's money from both sides of the aisle.
There is a reason Sheryl left him in the dust.

August 29th, 2007 at 12:40 pm#27 How do you know whether ancient societies had cancer? Is it in some Cancer INdustry research study.
And if so, they didn't use pharmaceuticals, they used the real thing, nature, herbs, which can be very toxic too you know. In fact if you use herbs and you don't know what you're doing, you can do yourself alot of harm.
Where do you think Big pharma gets its drugs from - from nature - and big pharma has no more clue about nature than you do. So beware. Buyer beware
August 29th, 2007 at 12:43 pmStay away from legal drugs people, they will kill you to cure you.
Comment by Dermot — August 29, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
Then you be sure to tell the surgeon that you wish to eschew any anesthetics (aka legal drugs) next time you need surgery.
Good luck, bring earplugs for the medical staff and a mouthpiece for yourself.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:43 pm#30 I'll take natural drugs any day from someone who actually knows how nature's drugs work. Big pharma doesn't have a clue. Take Zoloft. There is absolutely zero understanding amongst medical profession about the toxic seretonin syndrome that can develop quite quickly. In fact most doctors when faced with seretonin syndrome attribute the symptoms to the person being crazy, and they then prescribe yet another drug to replace the first one. Ignorance is a dangerous thing, and the medical profession is rife with ignorance.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:45 pmHow do you know whether ancient societies had cancer? Is it in some Cancer INdustry research study.
You must be the most naive person on earth to think cancer didnt exist until the industrial revolution.
You must also be unaware that synthetic drugs arent derived from nature, hence the term "synthetic".
August 29th, 2007 at 12:45 pmHe was on Leno the other night and sounded like a freakin progressive. Maybe the CIA is training him to be a lefty so they can control the progressive agenda, which is now ascending in the public opinion.
Comment by Dermot — August 29, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
I thought the CIA only assassinated lefties. They train them, too?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:45 pmTake marijuana for example. It's illegal, yet it has been proven effective in alleviating nausea which allows cancer patients to eat. To eat. The most important thing a cancer patient, or any patient can do is to eat good food. Jesus, could you just get a clue big pharma supporters.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:47 pm"Now all we need to do is figure out how ancient societies caused cancer before the advent of industrialization…and big oil…dont forget big oil."
Comment by Japaner
Ancient societies, and more recent ones as well, used many toxic substances regularly.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:47 pmLead, arsenic, mercury, petroleum, fumes from metallurgy and ceramic production, smoke inhalation, it's a long list...
The CIA assassinates and trains anyone they think useful. The CIA plays both sides against the middle and eventually loses track of who's who cause they aren't very bright after all.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:48 pmI thought the CIA only assassinated lefties. They train them, too?
Why yes, Cheney keeps a mind-control device right next to his weather machine, both of which are hidden in his super-duper top secret underground anti-liberal-blog headquarters.
Right, Jay?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:48 pmRaven
August 29th, 2007 at 12:49 pmExactly. Ignorance is not just a trait of big pharma. But there were also healers in ancient society, as there are today. Most people don't know about them because they didn't go to medical.
Thanks, Raven
You're right, God never has to show up in court.
I was just reading an article connecting lung cancer with people who routinely handle birds; particularly pigeons.
But again, why interview Brownback & Huckabee? How about Edwards, who has it going on with his wife?
Is it because Armstrong's a Rightie?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:51 pmI cut Lance a little slack. He's originally from Plano TX, a VERY Republican suburb of Dallas. I can't blame him for that. I think he feels he owes a lot to the pharmaceutical companies, because he wouldn't be here today without them. I can't blame him for that. I don't know the details of his personal life with his ex-wife and girlfriends, but I'm sure his dedication to his sport and his training schedule and public appearances have taken a toll on his personal relationships. That's how it is when you're the best at something. Yeah, he's biking buddies with George. OK. So be it.
The truth is, Lance has overcome overwhelming odds and survived and worked extremely hard to become the best and did it. And while he did it, he helped a lot of other people either directly, or just by giving them hope that maybe they could overcome their cancer challenges too. And most of the time, he has done it while being a gentleman and a pretty decent spokesman for other people who need help.
So yeah, I'll cut Lance some slack and even agree with him that Chris Matthews could stand to be a little nicer.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:54 pm"But there were also healers in ancient society, as there are today. Most people don’t know about them because they didn’t go to medical.
Comment by Dermot
And (healers) have been routinely harrassed, persecuted and exterminated by the agents of "western medicine" for the past several centuries.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:56 pmThis from a guy who decides he needs a new and better girlfriend every few years.
Comment by Down With Righy Whitey
Who are you to judge? He is a single, divorced man.
Since my divorce 5 years ago, I have had a new girlfriend every few months.
I was married 25 years, kids are grown and I am enjoying the hell out of being single again.
So what?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:58 pmAnd (healers) have been routinely harrassed, persecuted and exterminated by the agents of “western medicine†for the past several centuries
Especially effective healers who won't play the corporate medicine game.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:58 pmAny post i wrote about Z-l-ft has been deleted. Guess the blog doesn't want to be sued for telling the truth. So much for TP being progressive
August 29th, 2007 at 1:00 pmZ-l-ft and P-x-il can produce seretonin syndrome. Coming off the drug can be life threatening if you don't know what you are doing. But ask a doctor about it and they will shrug and hand you L-x-pro as an alternative.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:01 pmWho knows that Lance Armstrong would have recovered without drugs. Who knows that his excessive athleticism seriously compromised his immune system and that he recovered not becfause of the drugs but because he did the right things for his body.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:02 pmComment by lw — August 29, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Caution: Lance Armstrong's public relation person on board!!

August 29th, 2007 at 1:06 pmBut again, why interview Brownback & Huckabee? How about Edwards, who has it going on with his wife?
Is it because Armstrong’s a Rightie?
Comment by Zimzone — August 29, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Many of the Democrats, I don't know if all of them, were on the panel before the Republicans showed up. And Lance didn't have to tell Mathews to be nicer until the Republicans showed up. Bill Richardson, idiot, suggested that nobody in his family has had cancer because of proper lifestyle choices. But Brownback deserved to be bitchslapped and Lance should have let Mathews do his job and call him on his obfuscation. When Brownback suggested you have to cut other programs to fund cancer research Mathews said that's what you guys always say and then do nothing, what would you cut ...
August 29th, 2007 at 1:16 pmWhy yes, Cheney keeps a mind-control device right next to his weather machine, both of which are hidden in his super-duper top secret underground anti-liberal-blog headquarters.
Right, Jay?
Comment by LibTeenie — August 29, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
So W isn't is dumb as he sounds, Cheney is just controlling his mind? Thanks for the inside info neotard.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:17 pmAny post i wrote about Z-l-ft has been deleted. Guess the blog doesn’t want to be sued for telling the truth. So much for TP being progressive
Comment by Dermot — August 29, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
TP deletes brand names even if yo compliment the product or make a joke. You would have to say something loke seratonin reuptake inhibitor that starts with Z.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:20 pmThe reason big Pharma lobbies hard against the legalization of marajuana has little or nothing to do with its effectiveness helping people on chemotherapy. It has everything to do with the fact that psycoactive, mood altering, addictive drugs are a $20 billion a year segment of their business. Legal pot has the potential to significantly affect that $20 billion a year business.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:20 pmI would just like to see someone ask Matthews to be a little nicer to Dems. He's already a lot nicer to Repubs than he is to Dems. Let's not forget the 2000 election when he kept saying he'd like to share a beer with Bush and that Gore "didn't even look like an American" to him.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:24 pmLegal pot has the potential to significantly affect that $20 billion a year business.
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper
'Cause it grows from the ground!
August 29th, 2007 at 1:26 pmNo laboratory required!
I would just like to see someone ask Matthews to be a little nicer to Dems. He’s already a lot nicer to Repubs than he is to Dems. Let’s not forget the 2000 election when he kept saying he’d like to share a beer with Bush and that Gore “didn’t even look like an American†to him.
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — August 29, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
As I said Mathews was nicer to the Dem candidates and Richardson definitely was in need of an "excuse me"! I have to think that MSNBC, is looking to be more fair and balanced than most of the news stations.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:28 pmLegal pot has the potential to significantly affect that $20 billion a year business.
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper
‘Cause it grows from the ground!
No laboratory required!
Comment by Raven — August 29, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
And as Chris Rock said, it grows mostly in countries with brown people, and only white people are allowed to make products that are dangerous to use and cause illnesses, like drinking and cigarettes. White man makes money, it's good. Brown men make money, all bad.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:31 pmI would also like to go on record and say that Lionel's show on AAR is horrible. It is hard to listen to. I've tried. I miss Sam in the morning. At least I knew there was a host who clearly stood against a position, not Lionel's crazy rantings and "drunk dialing" segments.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:33 pmMatthews is on a short leash now that his ratings are so low. He's a compulsive shreiker, so one admonition now and then is lost on him. I noticed that he kept the bile down when Hillary was the speaker. It just shows that Matthews is really interested in throwing garbage only when she's not around.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:49 pmCaption:
"Don't spread it around, but I've got this boil I need Lanced...."
August 29th, 2007 at 2:03 pmMatthews has what you young folks call "issues" or what I call problems. He should have spent more time on Nantucket this summer.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:33 pmI don't know how Matthews could be any nicer to the wingnuts unless he offers them a twenty in the restroom.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:36 pmHey Chrissy,
August 29th, 2007 at 7:45 pmBe a little nicer, and for god's sakes quit spitting on me.
Even though I am a fellow cancer survivor and (mountain) biker, I lost a lot of respect for Lance when he pandered to Dubya by riding with him and giving all those photo ops. BushCo has set back healthcare and health research 50 years! I don’t know how Armstrong could do that and still look in the mirror.
Comment by upside00 — August 29,
give me a break, we are finding ways to cure cancer every day. How do I know this? I work for a world famous medical center and we as american have the highest rate of cnacer survival in the world- mostly because we can treat it faster.
August 30th, 2007 at 12:08 am“But there were also healers in ancient society, as there are today. Most people don’t know about them because they didn’t go to medical.
Comment by Dermot
And (healers) have been routinely harrassed, persecuted and exterminated by the agents of “western medicine†for the past several centuries.
Comment by Raven
August 30th, 2007 at 12:13 amwhen hillary takes us backward to socialized health care - we wont have any choice . what ever happened to the 'free' country we live in and the freedom to choose our own healthcare
freedom to choose our own healthcare
Comment by cindy
Oh, you must mean the 47 million without healthcare.
August 30th, 2007 at 3:33 amGreat choice they have.