Speaking on Thursday’s Hardball to Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), kooky MSNBC host Chris Matthews quipped without any reservations that President Donald Trump is so scared of gun control that he compared it to Trump being fearful of...losing his virginity?
Okay, then. Way to instantaneously make the segment NSFW, Chris.
The interview began with Matthews simply wondering if Trump would do anything on gun control and then, for his second question, invoking the tiresome suggestion that the President’s a mobster: “Who’s the boss, just in street terminology? Who’s the boss? The President of the United States, or Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association? Who’s the boss in that deal?”
So everything seemed fine, but Matthews then made a sex joke (click “expand”):
I guess — I have a sense — you’re the politician, Congressman, and a good one. I just got to ask you. This President seems scared to death, that it’d be like something like the first George Bush when he came out for tax increases, and he got beaten because he broke his promise. He seems to be scared to death to lose his virginity on this question of: I’m not for any gun control. I mean, I think he’s afraid of any gun control, because then those people applauding him in these pictures at these rallies won’t like him anymore. What is your thinking?
Jeffries didn’t react or push back, so he decided to press on by knocking Trump and the tens of millions of Americans who support him: “Yes, he’s clearly a very insecure man and it’s strange, because he can engage in all manner of outrageous behavior, abnormal behavior, criminality, and these folks don’t leave him.”
While Matthews has said plenty of repugnant things, here’s a quick trip down memory lane of utterly bizarre statements he’s uttered (with their NewsBusters headlines):
- May 30, 2013 — Bizarre Chris Matthews: It's Like Germany Won World War II Because They Have High Speed Rail?
- July 13, 2013 — Chris Matthews: Weird Gun People Are Not 'Normal,' 'Obsessed,' Racist
- June 28, 2016 — This Happened: Matthews Asks Why Does Terrorism ‘Always Seem to Involve Bombing?’
- July 30, 2016 (as part of a larger piece) — Matthews: President Obama has a smile like Julia Roberts
- February 28, 2017 — Bizarre Matthews Baffled as Trump Preps Speech in Car: ‘You Dirty Dog!’
To see the relevant transcript from MSNBC’s Hardball on September 19, click “expand.”
MSNBC’s Hardball
September 19, 2019
7:31 p.m. EasternCHRIS MATTHEWS: Who’s the boss, just in street terminology? Who’s the boss? The President of the United States, or Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association? Who’s the boss in that deal?
CONGRESSMAN HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): That’s a — you know, it’s very interesting, because every time you have a tragedy that has occurred, and the President seems to suggest that he’s willing to do something on gun violence prevention, particularly as it relates to moving on legislation that is already ready-made to go on behalf of the American people, in the form of HR-8, our universal criminal background check bill, a few days later, he’s either visited or receives a call from Wayne LaPierre, and he backs up and so there’s a question that the American people have to ask. Is Donald Trump working for us or is he working for the NRA? And only he can provide a definitive answer to that by deciding it’s time to move forward and get something done.
MATTHEWS: Well, the President seems to even be pushing back now against his own attorney general, who’s been circulating a gun reform proposal to members of the Congress. The proposal, obtained by NBC News, is similar to the failed Manchin-Toomey bill, which extends background checks to all commercial sales, including gun shows, but would not go as far as the House bill, which include private sales. No coincidence. The NRA also opposes that proposal. I guess — I have a sense — you’re the politician, Congressman, and a good one. I just got to ask you. This President seems scared to death, that it’d be like something like the first George Bush when he came out for tax increases, and he got beaten because he broke his promise. He seems to be scared to death to lose his virginity on this question of: I’m not for any gun control. I mean, I think he’s afraid of any gun control, because then those people applauding him in these pictures at these rallies won’t like him anymore. What is your thinking?
JEFFRIES: Yes, he’s clearly a very insecure man and it’s strange, because he can engage in all manner of outrageous behavior, abnormal behavior, criminality, and these folks don’t leave him. So, why would this President be concerned that, if he did something reasonable supported by more than 90 percent of the American people on background check legislation, they would all of a sudden, on this particular issue, decide to abandon him? So that is going to fall squarely on him, if he decides to proceed with this inaction. More than 8,000 Americans have lost their lives as a result of gun violence since we passed HR-8 in February and so that is going to fall on Moscow Mitch and the Senate —
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
JEFFRIES: — the do-nothing Republican senators, and President Trump.
