According to Chris Matthews, Donald Trump brings out the “best” in Democrats and prompts them to show “gut patriotism” that has been hidden in the past. On Thursday, Matthews cheered, “[Trump] reminded them of what they believe in, the rights and hopes of immigrants, the freedom of religion in this country, the love of the country itself.”
The Hardball host declared, “I think Donald Trump's the best thing that ever happened to the Democratic Party.” Speaking of the American flags and patriotic displays at the Democratic National Convention, Matthews marveled, “He's made it a values election. And the Democrats have embraced American values in an exuberant, almost exhibitionist manner that they've never done before.”
He concluded, “And this guy Trump has brought the Democrats' heart out on display. Amazing.”
On Wednesday, Matthews insisted that, though they may not show it as much, Democrats really love America, but are just too “sophisticated” to show it: “They say they love it in a gut sense, that they often don't do because, of course, sometimes progressives get too sophisticated — too ideological, and they lose track of the fact that the best thing about the country is the country itself.
On Monday, he awkwardly noted that patriotism has been absent since...the ‘60s?
CHRIS MATTHEWS: This is what has been missing to me since Bobby Kennedy, where he had the working class whites and the blacks cause they knew he was patriotic at heart. He was us and there was no doubt of his love of country and I think Democrats can get too sophisticated — too sophisticated and too global.
A transcript is below:
MSNBC live coverage
7/28/16
9:21pm ETCHRIS MATTHEWS: You know, it's pretty emotional. I have to tell you, I think Donald Trump's the best thing that ever happened to the Democratic Party. Because he reminded them of what they believe in, the rights and hopes of immigrants, the freedom of religion in this country, the love of the country itself. The basic gut patriotism which has been on display this week has been, sort of, receded from the Democrats. They don't show it enough. They don't raise it up.
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I think Trump has brought this out in them. He’s made it a values election. And the Democrats have embraced American values in an exuberant, almost exhibitionist manner that they've never done before. It's an extraordinary experience. I remember years ago, you know what got African Americans to vote in Philadelphia? A police chief and a mayor named Frank Rizzo, in a weird way, because they saw him as an enemy. And this guy Trump has brought the Democrats' heart out on display. Amazing.
