It would be "absurd" for Florida Rep. Alan Grayson (D) to apologize for insisting recently that Republicans stand behind a health care "holocaust," MSNBC's Chris Matthews argued on today's "Hardball" program.
While Matthews felt Grayson's Nazi comparison was over-the-top, Matthews cheered Grayson's display of "cojones," even chuckling at video of Grayson calling Republicans "knuckle-dragging Neanderthals."
Matthews made clear to guests James Warren of the Huffington Post and Politico's Roger Simon that he thought Grayson was just the shot in the arm liberals needed for their health care push (audio available here, video embedded at right):
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well, he [Rep. Joe Wilson (R)] was wrong [for yelling "you lie" to President Obama], this guy's right. I'm serious. I don't always take sides, I'll take sides here. I think this guy's right, for this reason. I think the trouble with this debate over health care is the Republicans have won a simple argument: stand-pat looks good.
MATTHEWS: They have made the case effectively because of the joke the Democrats have put together here, because the president won't say what he wants. They've been able to say, "What we have is pretty good, leave it alone. Do no harm."
MATTHEWS: And that "do no harm" argument is probably, if this thing goes down, what wins. And that's why the Democrats have got to say, "What we have now isn't working, we're not healthy, we've got millions of people without health care, millions of people having their health care denied when they think they have it, and we've got to fix it."
ROGER SIMON, Politico: Right.
MATTHEWS: And they're not winning that argument.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I'm sorry, Chris, I thought we were dealing with adults, my bad
October 1, 2009 - 17:58 ET by lsudolemiteAren't these the same people lecturing the rest of us about the lack of civility in public discourse? Just another in a long line of lib hacks.
Oh and FYI Dems are already using the tired old talking points about the 500 billion trillion uninsured and evil insurance companies having the gall to not write policies for those with preexisting conditions. Last I checked, less people are buying those talking points now than ever.
Matthews is a half baked twit
October 1, 2009 - 18:48 ET by ObnoxiousNoxWhere ever he got his education from, he needs to get his money back.
The urge to save humanity is often a false front for the urge to rule.
H.L. Mencken
Welcome to NB Steve
October 1, 2009 - 19:51 ET by RukusThis place is a blast! Have fun! Oh, and thank you for your service sir. : )
Gary
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. -- Tom Paine
Who is
October 2, 2009 - 07:54 ET by ApodicticChris Matthews?
He's some fringe
October 2, 2009 - 09:22 ET by mattmHe's some fringe metrosexual with a scarcely viewed TV show called "Hairball" or something like that....
Grayson has that all-important "D" behind his name...
October 1, 2009 - 18:00 ET by R D Helm...which means he is allowed to say anything he wants.
-Dave
The election of 2010 will be our last chance to save our republic. -Neal Boortz
Liberals: We make up the
October 1, 2009 - 18:46 ET by motherbeltLiberals: We make up the rules for you, but we're not bound by them. Because we're right, and you're evil.
RD -- and in his case it D
October 1, 2009 - 19:33 ET by Jack BauerRD -- and in his case it D for Dickhead.
Look at the creep's squishy Rene Zellweger eyes. Very untrustworthy.
You only have to say two words to squash a bug like him: EZEKIEL EMANUEL
For those who don't know this crazy Doctor Death, with the ear of the President on all things medical: he believes older people have less utility to society than younger people.
Therefore they should receive lesser medical care than younger, fitter, more productive people. Even though they've been paying into a health insurance all their lives.
And that at age 65.
In other words: DIE ALREADY.
Ouch!
October 1, 2009 - 19:54 ET by Rukus"Look at the creep's squishy Rene Zellweger eyes."
Rene is a cutie! Crap! I can't look.... : )
Gary
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. -- Tom Paine
Actually the eyes do work
October 1, 2009 - 20:11 ET by Jack BauerActually the eyes do work for Rene. She's cuter than a smurf beating a clown to death with a balloon animal.
But on a porky, ugly as the side of a bus, middle-aged guy, with an upside down shaped head? Nah.
JACK BAUER...
October 2, 2009 - 06:07 ET by danybhoyAre you Greg Gutfeld from "Red Eye". Sounds like something he say about SE Cupp.
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
Jack,
October 1, 2009 - 20:52 ET by R D HelmRight you are.
Neal Boortz has been doing his show from Orlando all week, which is in Grayson's district.
He has been taking a lot of calls from people there about Grayson.
He might be about to get sent to where Cynthia McKinney went-Oblivion.
:-)
-Dave
The election of 2010 will be our last chance to save our republic. -Neal Boortz
Twisted and then baked to a crispy hardness
October 1, 2009 - 18:01 ET by Vivaldi5In view of Chris "Leg Thrill" and his contorting himself into pretzel knots to bash Joe Wilson and applaud that pig Alan Grayson, maybe we can start calling him "Mr. Salty" from now on?
Hmmm.
October 1, 2009 - 18:02 ET by TexndocWe know the ratings difference and book sales difference between a Bill O'Reilly or a Glenn Beck and a Chrissie Matthews. Wonder what the salary difference? Yeah, bigboy, you just keep "chuckling".
And they wonder why MSNBC
October 1, 2009 - 18:12 ET by thomaspAnd they wonder why MSNBC has such low ratings. What a puke.
Liberalism is a Mental Disorder
name change
October 1, 2009 - 18:13 ET by cajun2Chrisie has gone from "tingles" to "tickles". Since he is such an adolescent, we unfortunately have a wide range of emotions left to experience. (shudders)
oh that chrissie
October 1, 2009 - 18:20 ET by michiganruthI just switched the channel over to Chrissie for my nightly laugh, and here's what I caught him saying:
"Some people would accuse the media--not this show because I always ask'em hard questions--but some people would accuse many in the the media of being on the liberals' side of the issues" (sorry, I'm paraphrasing).
oh, NO, Chris. not YOU. nobody'd think that of you.
Rudeness is all about the Nazi
October 1, 2009 - 18:33 ET by WatchesCalling somebody a Nazi is the ultimate rude, even if you do it when it's your turn to speak. It's way ruder than yelling "you lie!" at the President when he's giving a speech, even if that does break some silly old-fashioned House rule. What we need is less following of obsolete rules of debate and more limits about what opinions people express in public! We on the right would simply never call somebody a Nazi, and it's disgusting to see those on the left getting away with that kind of rudeness! They totally need to apologize.
The problem is
October 1, 2009 - 20:07 ET by RukusWhen the Dems do it, it's okey dokie. But a Repub, oh, hell no, that's not allowed! You are correct, that POS needs to appologize. It'll never hapen thought. BTW, welcome to NB. : )
Gary
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. -- Tom Paine
Why waste time with Chris Matthews
October 1, 2009 - 18:34 ET by woburn828I realize posting the stupid rants and comments of Chris Matthews on NewsBusters makes for great comments, but I am so tired of this loon. No one watches his show. Reruns of Seinfield get better numbers.
Newsbusters, keep up the good work, but let's lose Matthews.
Chrissie is sort of
October 1, 2009 - 18:57 ET by motherbeltChrissie is sort of a "running gag" here at NB.
Just when you think he can't get any worse, he exceeds your expectations.
He's the ultimate overachiever; constantly redefining inanity.
And it's fascinating to watch.
Hah!
October 1, 2009 - 20:24 ET by jdlybrandHah!
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
Let's hear a few more stories....
October 1, 2009 - 19:14 ET by SlyrrLet's hear a few more reports, articles and statements from liberal news persons, actors, pundits and politicians. Let's hear them talk about, moaning and groaning about the 'mean-ness in public debate these days'.
Let's hear them talk again about how they water their pillows every night with their tears, weeping with heartfelt misery, crying and moaning over the 'loss of civility'.
Let's see them raise their arms to the heavens, pleading to a God they don't believe in and begging him to help them understand 'what has become of America's soul'?
All while they're calling the people nazis, neadrathals and evil-mongers, biting off their fingers, beating up blacks at protests, saying they want to see them 'playing with their feces', saying they want to deny them health care, saying they should 'shut up and go away', saying they're racists and fantasizing about their female political enemies being raped and murdered and their children aborted.
And also while they fight to get their own rapists off the hook by saying it wasn't 'rape rape', just 'rape'.
Yes. People are mad. But when you look at the way the left comports itself, is it any wonder? Jesus himself drove the money-changers from the temple, declaring 'my father's house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of theives!'
You lefties: The baptism of John - whence was it? Of God - or of men....?
Sometimes I wonder..
October 1, 2009 - 19:33 ET by smgx... if Matthews is drinking again.
Drinking?
October 1, 2009 - 20:13 ET by RukusI think he keeps the kool-aid in his pockets! : )
Gary
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. -- Tom Paine
Well Chrissie is justified
October 1, 2009 - 19:35 ET by Dan The Man 2Well Chrissie is justified especially when Bugeye Pelosi says this.
Well
October 1, 2009 - 20:32 ET by jdlybrandAbout ten seconds of that was all I could take. What a pathetic human being. But she would have made a great Warner Brothers cartoon..."Blinky Bugeye the Botox Beeyotch".
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
I just realized why SNL doesn't do their Hardball sketches
October 1, 2009 - 19:51 ET by SnarkestraDarrell Hammond's Chris Matthews is actually coherent and logical by comparison tothe real thing.
That being said, maybe the name of the show should change from Hardball to Nutball. It would save the hapless viewers a lot of time by being upfront about it. Yeesh.
Define Double Standard
October 1, 2009 - 19:56 ET by MindsBiggerAn ethical or moral code that applies more strictly to one group than to another.
Double standards are when certain applications may be acceptable to one group, but seen as taboo to another. Such double standards are seen as unjust because they violate a basic maxim of modern legal jurisprudence: that all parties should stand equal before the law.
The situation of two or more groups, one of whom is tacitly excused from following a standard generally regarded as applying to all groups
The idea or standard, which relates that one group has more options or privileges then another group within society.
The application of a principle that is unequally based on arbitrary considerations.
Matthews........"I don't
October 1, 2009 - 20:49 ET by GregEMatthews"........"I don't always take sides, I'll take sides here.."
Good thing he used "always." It's the only thing that would give a dustmite of credibility to the statement. Had he said "I don't normally take sides" it'd be one of the biggest jokes and statements of stupidity he's ever said. And that would be saying alot to be high on a list that's longer than his leg tingle is thrilling.
Finally!
October 1, 2009 - 20:53 ET by TeamcheeserI'm glad Matthews is finally getting a shot in the arm for that tingle up his leg...
Knuckle Draggers
October 1, 2009 - 21:00 ET by MCLANTIERESomething tells me that if a conservative suggested that the president was a knuckle-dragger ... we'd all be rounded-up on a charge of RACISM.Boy o Boy ... talk about cojones!
mclantiere
You got it.
October 1, 2009 - 21:27 ET by GregEYou got it.
Racism
October 1, 2009 - 21:29 ET by saw the lightBoy o Boy ... talk about cojones!
Now that's a racist two-fer if I ever heard one! Using the word "boy" along with a Spanish word to target the undocumented population - No wonder conservatives are out of power forever.
>sarc off
"I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." Barack Obama to "Joe the Plumber"
Someone ought give him a
October 1, 2009 - 21:26 ET by RowaneSomeone ought give him a smack up side the head instead
******************************************************************************
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
Chris Tingle Is Where He Belongs
October 1, 2009 - 23:20 ET by AbraxosPeople don't watch PMS-NBC to get the news, it's an opium den for liberals to get their daily, or hourly, anesthesia from the real world. News coverage is just a come-on to get people in the circus tent. Chris Matthews is right where he belongs. A few thousand viewers think he's great, and that's all he needs to keep from having a life of sleeping under an overpass. Someday soon, his big bubble is going to pop, and that's when the real show starts. Excuse me, I have to go put band-aids on my knuckles.
~ Thieves have taken over. We're gonna have to fight for our freedom if we want to keep it. ~
I don't always take sides,
October 2, 2009 - 01:03 ET by rockyracoonChrissy Tinkle, come now, we know you take sides, who are you kidding, Mr Tinkle? All you need to do is check your ratings.