In perhaps his most vile attack on Texas Senator Ted Cruz to date, MSNBC host Chris Matthews appeared on Wednesday’s Morning Joe and declared the Republican presidential candidate to not be human: “...there’s a troll-like quality to Cruz. He operates below the level of human life.”
The vicious smear came early in the 9 a.m. ET hour of the special extended edition of the show, prompting co-host Joe Scarborough to try to shut down his colleague: “Okay, Chris, that's a little tough. You have not gotten sleep. We're going to try that again.” Matthews protested: “Am I allowed to have a opinion?” Scarborough replied: “Well, but not that opinion. No, you’re not allowed to have that – You cannot have that opinion.”
Matthews proceeded to double down on his nasty attack:
I think he appeals to people's negativity rather than their joy. I don't think people feel good about voting for Cruz, I think they feel – I don't know what it is he appeals to.... He’s appealed to the Baptists up here, I don't understand that. What is he, a theocrat? Maybe he is....There's something about that guy – who’s always reminded me of Joe McCarthy – and there’s something about him that is negative and menacing. And menacing. So when I say below the level of human life, I mean the good nature of human life, not just being a person, although –
Matthews has long had an obsession with comparing Cruz to Joe McCarthy.
In December, the left-wing Hardball host was terrified by the “horror” of a Cruz presidency, labeling the GOP contender an “enemy of the state.”
Here is a transcript of the February 10 exchange:
9:12 AM ET
(...)
JOE SCARBOROUGH: The question is, does Ted Cruz try to take on Donald Trump? Let me ask you this question, who has taken on Donald Trump and come out well?
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Nobody. The thing about – there’s a troll-like quality to Cruz. He operates below the level of human life.
SCARBOROUGH: Okay, Chris, that's a little tough. You have not gotten sleep. We're going to try that again.
MATTHEWS: Am I allowed to have a opinion?
SCARBOROUGH: Well, but not that opinion. No, you’re not allowed to have that –
MATTHEW: Okay, so let me clarify it.
SCARBOROUGH: You cannot have that opinion.
MATTHEWS: I think he appeals – I think he appeals to people's negativity rather than their joy. I don't think people feel good about voting for Cruz, I think they feel – I don't know what it is he appeals to. Now, people keep telling me he’s inherited the libertarian crowd. I don't see how. He doesn't seem libertarian to me. He’s appealed to the Baptists up here, I don't understand that. What is he, a theocrat? Maybe he is. I’m serious about the guy, there's something that is enlivening about these other candidates that makes you feel good. There's something about that guy – who’s always reminded me of Joe McCarthy – and there’s something about him that is negative and menacing.
SCARBOROUGH: So let me –
MATTHEWS: And menacing. So when I say below the level of human life, I mean the good nature of human life, not just being a person, although –
(...)
