Chris Matthews Thinks Carter, Mondale and Dukakis Are 'Center-left' Democrats

If you needed to know just how liberal Chris Matthews is, consider that he thinks Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, and Michael Dukakis are on the center-left of the political spectrum.

So said Matthews on this weekend's syndicated talk show bearing his name.

To be sure, the host of "Hardball" has in the past expressed his pride in being a liberal.

But claiming on national television that Carter, Mondale, and Dukakis are all center-left should open a lot of eyes (video follows with transcript and commentary): 

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CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Let's go to this whole question: when the voters based upon the polling, and Howard's been talking about it, everybody's been thinking about it, when they think about Barack Obama, in their mind's eye, is he a typical Democrat, center-left. A Mondale, Clinton, a Dukakis, Jimmy Carter? Or is he a man of the Left? How's he seen by the public?

Readers should notice that Matthews also lumped former President Bill Clinton into the mix who likely was center-left on the political spectrum.

Maybe just as important, Matthews doesn't seem to understand how the public is viewing Obama.

After exploding the size of government like no President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is there any surprise most Americans see the current White House resident as anything but extremely liberal?

Apparently so if your name is Chris Matthews.