Leering Chris Matthews Asks Female CNBC Anchor to Move in Closer to Camera

Apparently Hardball host Chris Matthews has a bit of a problem keeping his lust in check on the air. On Friday evening's Hardball, Matthews was interviewing CNBC's Street Signs anchor, Erin Burnett, about the latest Wall Street news when suddenly he switched gears as you can see in this video. The official transcript isn't up yet on the MSNBC website but here is a transcription of the conversation as best I could understand it:

MATTHEWS: Could you get a little closer to the camera?

BURNETT: What is it? Is it (garbled) in strangely?

MATTHEWS: Come in closer...no...come in...come in further...come in closer...really close.

(Burnett leans towards camera.)

BURNETT: What are you, what are you doing?

MATTHEWS: Haw! Haw! Just kidding! You look great! Anyway, thank... Erin it's great to have...look at that look... You're great...

BURNETT: I don't even know. I'm going to have to go look at the tape here. I'm in a strange location.

MATTHEWS (laughing): No, you're beautiful! I'm just kidding! I'm just kidding! You're a knockout! Anyways thank you, Erin Burnett. It's alright getting bad news from you even. Okay. Thanks for coming on Hardball.

Chris, I know it was Friday night and Erin Burnett is indeed a knockout. However, perhaps you could be a little more subtle about your attraction for Erin. After all, among the few dozen of your Hardball viewers, Mrs. Matthews could have been watching your leering performance.