In an embarrassing take down for Hardball host Chris Matthews Monday, Bernie Sanders’ campaign manager Jeff Weaver invoked the failed congressional campaign of Kathleen Matthews. When asked when Sanders plans to release his tax returns Weaver parried, “I think we should follow the example, perhaps, of yourself when your wife was running for the Congress in Maryland recently. You guys didn't release any tax returns.”
Matthews was obviously peeved by Weaver’s chutzpa. “Oh, here we go,” Matthews muttered under his breath. “So, I don't really think you're one in a position to talk about tax returns,” continued Weaver, digging deeper into Matthews.
“I don't even know if we did release tax returns. Did we,” Matthews asked to Weaver, seemingly confused by his accusation. “I don’t believe you did,” Weaver replied snarkily. Matthews was adamant that he didn’t play a role in wife’s campaign and insisted, multiple times, that he would look into Weaver’s claims about their tax returns.
Weaver’s rebuke if of his hypocrisy seemed to weigh heavily on Matthews, “You know, that was certainly strange, because I wasn't involved in that campaign. And you know it! At all, Jeffrey! At all!”
“This IS Hardball Chris,” Weaver shot back with a Cheshire cat grin.
It may be expected of Matthews that he can’t keep his facts straight, as he openly admitted to Weaver moments earlier in the program:
CHRIS MATHEWS: Tad Devine the other sort of the regular Democrat. You're the independent. But you both seem to be promising me—
JEFF WEAVER: Oh no, no I’m a Democrat, thank you.
MATTHWES: Okay, well fine. I can never get it straight.
“That’s not surprising,” Weaver whispered under his breath, Matthews seemingly deaf to it.
Transcript below:
MSNBC
Hardball
June 6, 2016
7:12:13 PM EasternCHRIS MATTHEWS: Let me go back to Jeff with our little sidebar discussion here. We had Tad on here last night. Tad Devine the other sort of the regular Democrat. You're the independent. But you both seem to be promising me—
JEFF WEAVER: Oh no, no I’m a Democrat, thank you.
MATTHWES: Okay, well fine. I can never get it straight. Independent Democrat—
WEAVER: That’s not surprising.
MATTHEWS: -- slash Democratic Socialist, whatever it is. Let me ask you about the tax returns, because you said, on the show the last time you were on, that you thought Donald Trump should certainly show his returns. It is suspicious that he hasn't done. You also said you would give me a date when Senator Sanders would release his tax returns over the last several decades. Do you have a date yet?
WEAVER: I don't, Chris. But I think we should follow the example, perhaps, of yourself when your wife was running for the—
MATTHEWS: Oh, here we go.
WEAVER:— Congress in Maryland recently. You guys didn't release any tax returns. So, I don't really think you're one in a position to talk about tax returns.
MATTHEWS: I don't even know if we did release tax returns. Did we?
WEAVER: I don’t believe you did.
MATTHEWS: I had nothing to do with the campaign. But I will check. I will check. I'll be glad to check.
WEAVER: Please do.
MATTHEWS: Michael— You know, that was certainly strange, because I wasn't involved in that campaign. And you know it! At all, Jeffrey! At all!
WEAVER: This IS Hardball Chris.
MATTHEWS: Yes, but I wasn't involved. You know, I'm not even Jane Sanders here. Anyway. Thank you Michael Shear for that. I will give it some thought. I don't have any answer it to now because I wasn't involved. Anyway, thank you Michael Shear. Thank you, Andrea Mitchell and Susan Page. And thank you, Jeff— Well, no thank you, Jeff Weaver.
