Flashback: MSNBC’s Matthews Once Dared to Doubt Obama’s Experience

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It’s hard to imagine that Barack Obama has ever had to deal with a moment’s bad press from his pals at MSNBC, but you may remember how back on February 19, while anchoring coverage of the Wisconsin primary, Chris Matthews dared to ask a Texas state senator -- who was appearing on MSNBC to plead Obama's case -- to list “any” of his legislative accomplishments. He could not.

As Obama accepts the Democratic nomination tonight and the networks move to Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention, it seems a fair bet that TV’s talking heads will scold the GOP for daring to suggest Obama lacks the necessary experience to be president, so it's worth recalling how Matthews himself raised that point to devastating effect just six months ago.

Here’s the key part of that exchange, which originally aired shortly before 10pm EST on February 19:

ANCHOR CHRIS MATTHEWS: You are a big Barack supporter, right Senator?
TEXAS STATE SENATOR KIRK WATSON: I am. Yes, I am.
MATTHEWS: Well, name some of his legislative accomplishments.
WATSON: We, uh -
MATTHEWS: No, Senator, I want you to name some of Barack Obama’s legislative accomplishments tonight, if you can.
WATSON: Well I, you know, what I will talk about is more about what he is offering the American people.
MATTHEWS: No, no. What has he accomplished, sir? You say you’re supporting him. Sir, you have to give me his accomplishments. You’ve supported him for President, you’re on national television. Name his legislative accomplishments, Barack Obama’s, sir.
WATSON: Well, I’m not going to be able to name you specific items-
MATTHEWS: Can you name any?
WATSON: -of legislative accomplishment.
MATTHEWS: Can you name any? Can you name anything he’s accomplished as a congressman, as a-
WATSON: No, I’m not going to be able to do that tonight.
MATTHEWS: Well, that’s a problem isn’t it?