Speaking to Ben Carson Press Secretary Deanna Bass on Thursday’s 7:00 p.m. Eastern edition of MSNBC’s Hardball, host Chris Matthews wondered if her candidate “will talk faster” in the upcoming Fox Business debate after being largely known for having a soft-spoken temperament.
Matthews led into the absurd request by asking moments beforehand exactly how will Carson be “more assertive” as he’s “failed to light up the charts” in the polls despite people being “impressed with his credentials in the medical field, of course, and his behavior has been exemplary.”
When Bass reminded viewers that “[w]e know that Dr. Carson is a soft spoken man,” Matthews interjected that he knows that, but Bass continued: “But that soft spokenness does not mean that he is not strong, so what you’ll see on the stage tonight is a – you know, he has said he has more pep in his step, so you will see a more assertive Dr. Carson.”
Matthews then fired off this doozy: “Will we really see — in all respect, do you think he will talk faster?”
While she appeared to be somewhat baffled, Bass fired back: “I don't know if he will talk faster, but when he has the opportunity to talk, we know that he will say things that resonate with the American people because that’s what he’s done so far.”
The relevant portion of the transcript from the 7:00 p.m. Eastern hour of MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews on January 14 can be found below.
MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews
January 14, 2016
7:21 p.m. EasternCHRIS MATTHEWS: What do you mean by more assertive? I mean, tell me, give me an example. I mean, you’ve obviously worked with him. He is very likable. Everybody likes him. They are very impressed with his credentials in the medical field, of course, and his behavior has been exemplary. He has done nothing wrong but failed to light up the charts. What’s he going to do to make that happen?
CARSON CAMPAIGN PRESS SECRETARY DEANNA BASS: One thing that you see when Dr. Carson is out on the trail, the crowds are enthusiastic. They really enjoy him. They believe what he has to say. We believe that what we want to see and what Dr. Carson will do is if there is an opportunity for him to interject or to share his vision he'll do it. We know that Dr. Carson is a soft spoken man.
MATTHEWS: I know.
BASS: But that soft spokeness does not mean that he is not strong, so what you’ll see on the stage tonight is a – you know, he has said he has more pep in his step, so you will see a more assertive Dr. Carson.
MATTHEWS: Will we really see — in all respect, do you think he will talk faster?
BASS: I don't know if he will talk faster, but when he has the opportunity to talk, we know that he will say things that resonate with the American people because that’s what he’s done so far.
