Chris Matthews attempted to calm Maria Bartiromo’s fears this morning. Somehow we just don’t think his defense of his controversial words about the GOP will do the trick. But it might increase his book sales — especially if one of the Republican presidential candidates confronts him about the controversy during the live debate he’s co-hosting with Bartiromo on CNBC and MSNBC tonight.

Related: Some Pretty Hardball-ish Whispers

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CNBC announced a new segment on Fast Money last week called “Happy Hour.” Sort of interesting timing considering FOX Business Network has been planning a show called - you guessed it - “Happy Hour,” since July. On Friday, FNC previewed the new show at the end of Your World with Neil Cavuto.

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Big Head DC hears that Maria Bartiromo, CNBC’s perennial “money honey,” is quite dismayed by some remarks Chris Matthews made regarding Republicans at last week’s 10th anniversary Hardball bash. The financial reporter is scheduled to co-host a GOP presidential debate along with Matthews on Tuesday night, to be aired on both CNBC and MSNBC.

TV news insiders tell us that Bartiromo is concerned that Matthews’ statements could hurt ratings for the debate, and she’s already apparently received some blow back from conservatives regarding the situation.

“God help us if we had Cheney during the Cuban missile crisis,” Matthews was quoted as saying last week regarding the vice president. “We’d all be under a parking lot.” He added that the VP’s office has called MSNBC honchos many times to complain about the content of his program.

“They’ve finally been caught in their criminality,” Matthews continued.

Bartiromo had hoped that the debate would shine a positive spotlight on her network with the launch date of a new competitor, FOX Business Network, fast approaching. Read more…

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Spotted this morning at the New York Stock Exchange: CNBC financial reporter Erin Burnett slurping on her McDonald’s super-sized coffee and chatting on her cell phone, while interviewing at least one astonished source. She also sported a sleeveless white shirt that would look more appropriate on a “Wall Street hooker,” rather than a supposedly esteemed journalist, one Big Head DC source says. We caught Burnett later fiddling with her earpiece on Joe Scarborough’s morning program, while cackling up a storm. The gal looked like she was enjoying herself, but is she pulling respect to her network? Time will tell…but, insiders say, despite her flashy faux pas, the FOX Business Channel is still eager to hire her away. Stay tuned.

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Brian Steel, a lawyer, has been appointed new Vice President of Public Relations at CNBC. You’ll recall that Big Head DC first told you last month that CNBC was considering replacing Kevin Goldman, who had performed PR for the net to this point. Insiders said at the time that NBC honchos didn’t think Goldman was up to the task of taking on the upcoming FOX Business Channel. Goldman will now be forced to report to Steel.

Good luck, Mr. Steel — and watch out for knives that may one day fly toward your back….

And thanks to TVNewser’s Chris Ariens for noting our scoop. So much classier than Patrick Gavin!

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CNBC spokesman Kevin Goldman proclaims via Howie Kurtz today that he’s “not worried” about the new Fox Business Network poaching talent from CNBC. OK! He may not be worried about poaching, but he should be worried about being burned — by his own bosses.

Big Head DC has learned that recruiter Spencer Stuart is conducting a search for a Vice President of CNBC’s Public Relations department — also known as Kevin Goldman’s job.

Apparently, the folks at NBC don’t think Goldman’s up to the task of taking on FOX, but the search is taking somewhat longer than expected. As one PR veteran told us, the position is not attractive because of it’s out of the loop location (Englewood Cliffs, NJ is a hike from Manhattan) and also because NBC has relegated its PR people to “order takers” who simply do whatever producers, talent and executives tell them to. Not to mention, who wants to go up against a Fox News PR machine that has claimed the scalps of several CNN and MSNBC PR people over the years?

Another TV insider who was approached for the position said, “They couldn’t pay me enough to take that job — I’d have no desire to battle FOX everyday in a war like this. I don’t need an ulcer. Let them get someone from politics who doesn’t know what they’re stepping into.”

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CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo interviewed President Bush today, who kept talking about how strong the economy is right now. That’s called redirecting the convo, kids. But she just shared his most interesting news on Hardball: Bush doesn’t do e-mail, but he does like to Google people, and he especially likes Google Maps, which he uses to look at his ranch in Texas. So much like our mama, it’s not funny.

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