MSNBC’s Chris Matthews was at it again, slamming the GOP while hosting the network’s primary coverage on Tuesday May 20. Appearing during a special edition of Hardball during the 10:00 p.m. Eastern hour, Matthews did his best to shill for Alison Lundergan Grimes (D-KY) in her battle with Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
During the segment, Matthews asked Republican strategist Steve Schmidt “Why is Mitch being such an S.O.B. so fast? Going after her as a toddler, calling her basically sort of a puppet tune of the president.” [See video below.]
Prior to Matthews’ obnoxious question of Schmidt, the MSNBC host declared that McConnell “reminds me of Crocker Jarmon from the old movies, the guy that’s going to lose versus Alison Lundergan Grimes” before defending how the Kentucky Democrat “Doesn't look like a puppet. She looks like a very strong person running for office.”
The Hardball host’s defense of Ms Grimes was no surprise given that Matthews repeatedly complained that McConnell was getting “personal” in his attack of his Democratic opponent. At the top of the 10:00 hour, Matthews brought on NBC News political reporter Kasie Hunt to ask “Weren’t you struck as a reporter watching the personal nature of Mitch McConnell’s assault on his challenger?”
Hunt took Matthews’ bait and played up the “personal” nature of McConnell’s critique of Grimes arguing that “the assault itself was very personal.” At 10:15, Matthews whined that the race “is getting personal already tonight. Wait until you hear some of this stuff Mitch throws out.” After playing a clip of Senator McConnell’s primary victory speech, the Hardball host hyped how “We’re going to talk about what we saw tonight there. Pretty personal stuff going after her when she was a toddler even.”
Later on, Matthews groaned that “Mitch McConnell also went after his opponent’s father. Catch this. This is very personal for Mitch here.” It seems fairly obvious that in the race for Senate in Kentucky Chris Matthews will do anything in his power to help Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes defeat Mitch McConnell, even calling the Kentucky Republican an S.O.B.
See relevant transcript below.
MSNBC
Hardball with Chris Matthews
May 20, 2014
10:32 p.m. Eastern
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well this is going to be a doozy. It’s Mitch McConnell, who reminds me of Crocker Jarmon from the old movies, the guy that’s going to lose versus Alison Lundergan Grimes in what promises to be the hottest Senate race of the year. And it’s already gotten personal out there in Kentucky. We saw that tonight. Joining me right now is David Corn, the Washington bureau chief for Mother Jones and an MSNBC political analyst. Nia-Malika Henderson, national political reporter for "The Washington Post," and Steve Schmidt, so great to see you, Steve. We couldn't get woody Harrelson tonight so we got you. He’s a Republican strategist and MSNBC political analyst. That’s the guy who played you. I want to start with, let's start with you, Steve. I don't get much thought from you. So let’s go with your thinking. Why is Mitch being such an S.O.B. so fast? Going after her as a toddler, calling her basically sort of a puppet tune of the president. And then I see her strong performance, and I say wait a minute she doesn't look like a puppet. She looks like a very strong person running for office.
