ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on Hardball: 'Giuliani is a Dictator!'

Appearing on Monday night's edition of "Hardball," ESPN host and Philadelphia Inquirer sports reporter Stephen A. Smith declared himself not to be a fan of Rudy Giuliani. When asked by Chris Matthews about what he thought of the former New York mayor's chances to become President, Smith blurted: "It'd be a disaster!....Giuliani is a dictator as far as I'm concerned."

Video (1:26): Windows Media (2.66 MB) and MP3 audio (650 kB).

The following exchange occurred on the January 21, edition of "Hardball":

CHRIS MATTHEWS: I have a man here who's a real fan of Rudy Giuliani's, Stephen Smith.

STEPHEN A. SMITH, ESPN: Oh please, don't get me started.

MATTHEWS: What do you make of him in a general election?

SMITH: No, absolutely not! It'd be a disaster! If he became the next President of the United States that would be an absolute disaster. And I'm a say it why. It's because of who's in office now. Considering Bush, you're following him up with Giuliani? There would be no foreign relations whatsoever. I mean it would be an absolute, we'll be hated by the rest of the entire world! You cannot have Giuliani in office....Giuliani is a dictator as far as I'm concerned. That's his mentality.