Chris Matthews resorted to school yard name calling on Monday night, lashing out at Ted Cruz as a "balloon head" "demagogue" for his actions opposing Barack Obama's executive order on amnesty. The MSNBC anchor also resorted to his tired cliche of referring to the Texas senator as the modern "Joe McCarthy."
Matthews gleefully explained, "Well, Ted Cruz's failed legislative stunt over the weekend left his Republican Senate colleagues disparaging him on the record by name." He added, "What a balloon head." Wondering aloud at what the Republican's strategy is, Matthews sneered, "Is his goal the presidency or is it something -- all right, it's loaded term -- demagoguery, because McCarthy, Joe McCarthy never ran for president." [MP3 audio here.]
Amanda Terkel of the Huffington Post referred to Cruz as a "secret Democrat." Matthews, Terkel and Steve Clemons of The Atlantic were discussing the pending confirmation of liberal Obama appointees as a possible result of Cruz keeping the Senate in session. The Associated Press referred to it as the equivalent of a Christmas gift to Democrats.
Matthews seems to recycle his insults against conservatives. On January 25, 2011, he assailed Congresswoman Michele Bachmann as a "balloon head." On December 4, 2014, he compared Cruz to Joe McCarthy four times in one show.
A partial transcript of the December 15 segment is below:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well, Ted Cruz's failed legislative stunt over the weekend left his Republican Senate colleagues disparaging him on the record by name. And, for attributions, something that members of the clubby upper chamber generally avoid. But Cruz has pushed his fellow Republicans to the limit. Republican Senator Bob Corker put out a statement calling Cruz's actions irresponsible. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah told reporters, "You should have an end goal in sight if you're going to do these types of things and I don't see an end goal other than irritating a lot of people", close quote. And conservative Jennifer Rubin who writes "The Washington Post's" "Right Turn" column was unsparing, writing, quote, "Cruz can annoy and grandstand, but he no longer will affect outcomes of legislative rights -- fights and his reputation of a show boating dilettante is cemented."
...
AMANDA TERKEL (Huff Po): It's like he's a secret Democrat or something. This was a huge Christmas gift to President Obama. Harry Reid thought he could get about, maybe, 12 nominees through. Now, because of Ted Cruz, he's going to get double that.
MATTHEWS: What a balloon head.
...
STEVE CLEMONS (The Atlantic) : -- Look, Ron Paul did a lot better in getting 25 percent at one point, and people didn't think that was possible. I don't think he can win. That's my view. But the point is, he's not playing to the audience that wants to see cooperation.
MATTHEWS: Is his goal the presidency or is it something -- all right, it's a loaded term -- demagoguery, because McCarthy, Joe McCarthy never ran for president. He probably was more infamous, more powerful in our thinking in this country for four years than anybody around. He had a lot of power.
CAPEHART: Well, look, as long as people talk about Ted Cruz as someone who might -- could run for president, might run for president, that's good for him and good for his brand. And I agree with Steve -- Ted Cruz is not playing to the 99 other people in that upper chamber. He couldn't care less about them, which is why we saw what we saw this past weekend, which is why we saw what happened with immigration.
