Chris Matthews: What's Wrong With the Word Liberal...I'm a Liberal'

In case you still had any questions about the political leaning of Chris Matthews, he proudly admitted on the air Thursday, "I'm a liberal."

In fact, right from the start of Thursday's "Hardball," the MSNBC host defended liberals claiming, "Most of the elected, the vast majority of the elected liberals, want to go for the gold, grab what victory`s attainable and build on it in the future.You know where I stand."

By the end of the program, it was indeed indisputably obvious where Matthews stands when he actually said with cameras rolling:

You know how you know you are going to win if you pass anything [regarding healthcare reform]? The Republicans will know they have lost...Let them keep score and it`s easy. It`s complicated when liberals get to keep score. We`re always arguing. Well, I`m a liberal, too.

Imagine that (videos embedded below the fold with partial transcripts, h/t Tweep insidepitch):

Good evening. I`m Chris Matthews in Washington. Leading off tonight: To be or not to be? That was Hamlet`s question. And tonight, Hamlet is a Democrat -- to fight for the healthcare bill, or let it die. Some who haven`t been elected to govern would rather go home and pray for next year. Most of the elected, the vast majority of the elected liberals, want to go for the gold, grab what victory`s attainable and build on it in the future.

You know where I stand. If you accept the role of governing this country, you accept the role of doing your best. You don`t quit like Sarah Palin or sit in the back seat and complain, like some are doing today on the left. You drive the damn car.

A few minutes later, Matthews said the following to White House senior advisor David Axelrod:

Why do you think people on the progressive side of things - - that`s the current label used by liberals -- I don`t know what`s wrong with the word "liberal," but if you`re not running for office, I don`t know why you`re afraid of the word. I guess you might be afraid of somebody not voting for you if you`re -- some people won`t even use the word "liberal" when they`re writing columns anymore. I don`t understand it.

Towards the end of the program, Matthews said this to Politics Daily's Melinda Henneberger and Salon's Joan Walsh:

You know how you know you are going to win if you pass anything? The Republicans will know they have lost. We will be back with Melinda Henneberger and Joan Walsh. Let them keep score and it`s easy. It`s complicated when liberals get to keep score. We`re always arguing. Well, I`m a liberal, too. You are watching HARDBALL, only on MSNBC.

Interesting.

So he wants a Republican defeat, and admits that he's a liberal.

Any questions?