What kind of interviewer asks his subject, essentially, if his dead parents are in Heaven?
While Hardball host Chris Matthews didn't exactly use those words, he did ask Gov. John Kasich, a conservative Anglican, "Where do you think your parents are?" after the Ohio Republican talked about how he eventually came through the shattering grief of losing both his parents at the same time to a drunk driver.
The relevant video is below, as is a transcript to give you the fuller context.
MSNBC
Hardball
February 17, 2016; 7:37 p.m. EasternCHRIS MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about the horror in your life. Your parents. How old were you when you lost them?
Gov. JOHN KASICH (R-Ohio): Thirty-five. You know, Chris, the funny thing, the funny thing, the ironic thing –
MATTHEWS: It was some drunk driver?
KASICH: Yeah, drunk driver. You know, they were at Burger King. You know why they went there? Second cup of coffee for free, ‘cause that’s the way my parents were.
MATTHEWS: My parents were like that too. Saving coupons.
KASICH: Were hard-working. Everything to give everything to their kids.
MATTHEWS: I know, never had a steak, never went to a night club. I know, my parents –
KASICH: One time I went to lunch or dinner, yeah, lunch with my mother and I ordered escargot, and she looked at me and said, “What are you doing?!” And then, one time, I was with my dad in the mall, and I went in and bought a paperback in the bookstore, I come out, he says, “What’s in the package?” I said, “It’s a book.” He said, “Johnny, do you know what libraries are for?”
MATTHEWS: I know.
KASICH: “Take the book back.” So here’s the thing–
MATTHEWS: Same background.
KASICH: – when I was a boy, my dad used to drive at night to pick my mother up. She worked downtown. My father carried mail in McKees Rocks. My mother actually worked in the post office in Pittsburgh.
So he would drive there and pick her up late at night. And that road scared the crap out of me, you know. It was, I thought it was dangerous and maybe they wouldn't come home one night. So isn't it ironic that they lost their lives in an accident.
Chris, the only thing I can tell you is I entered a black hole with a tiny little pin prick of light, and, um, you know, I think back on it, people have suffered a lot worse, you know, from the standpoint of children or whatever. But this was, I was just completely devastated.
And fortunately, people showed up, and I found my faith. I found a real relationship with the Lord. And you know, and I've worked on it for 29 years, still trying to get it right. And it gave me credibility with people.
So now, when people have horrible things happen, I feel like I can go and either sit with them or talk with them. You know, I can only say to people who might watch this, who have tragedies, you just, you have got to realize that at some point, the sun will come up and learn from it and grow from it.
And, I mean, it took me a long time. But now I'm whole. And I am healed and I am a better man for it. Is that unbelievable?
MATTHEWS: Where do you think your parents are?
KASICH: They're in God's space. And they either know what's going on down here or they don't, because they don’t need to. I mean, that’s what I think.
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As you can see, Kasich did get a little choked up towards the end of his answer, right before Matthews shot off with an incredibly daft "Where do you think your parents are?" line. Whatever you think of Kasich's politics, there's no doubt Matthews could use a little lot of work in the self-awareness department.
