Martin Bashir: If Ryan's Budget Ever Passed 'Many Americans Would End Up in Soup Kitchens'

Martin Bashir is clearly trying to become MSNBC's new Keith Olbermann.

During a discussion with Tamron Hall on News Nation Tuesday, Bashir actually said that if Paul Ryan's budget ever passed, "many Americans would end up in soup kitchens" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

MARTIN BASHIR: Well I think we ought to thank Congressman Ryan, because if his budget, which was passed through the House by Republicans, if his budget were ever to come to pass, then Meals on Wheels would be killed, transportation services to the disabled would be destroyed, food stamps would be eviscerated. I think many Americans would end up in soup kitchens like that. So I don't think we should be critical. I think we should be grateful that what Mr. Ryan has shown us is exactly what will happen to people if the kind of vicious and callous budget that he would wish to impose on American people ends up coming to pass. I'm glad we went there.

BASHIR: Listen, my wife volunteers at various places, so do I. But it’s interesting: Mr. Ryan talks about himself being a Catholic. I was reminded of the Sermon on the Mount where it says, “Do not do your good deeds in front of people to be seen by them. Do not sound a trumpet before you go as the hypocrites do.” So in that sense I think he wasn't being particularly consistent with his own Catholic faith.

TAMRON HALL, HOST: Are you a bit harsh on him though in that you have people from both sides, John Kerry, photo ops are nothing new in politics in the U.S. especially.

BASHIR: No,Tamron, no. No, Tamron, I'm not being hard on him. I'm saying that that kind of emergency final provision for people in need is what will happen if 23 million Americans end up losing the kind of support that they're provided in social terms by the government. That's where people will end up. I mean, I volunteer somewhere in Manhattan, and I can tell you, there are lines of people who are in desperate need even now. If the kind of budget that Paul Ryan wishes to impose on this country were ever to come to pass, that's where people will go for the needs that they have.

Sound like Keith Olbermann to you?

(HT Mediaite)