Liberal MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews on Wednesday fumed over what he saw as Ted Cruz questioning the patriotism of Democrats. This is despite the fact that the cable host has questioned the patriotism of people he doesn't like. On Hardball, Matthews read a quote of the Republican Senator: "Understanding Harvard law school is very important to understanding our president," Matthews quoted Cruz, citing how Cruz claimed that "there were more self-declared communists on the Harvard faculty that there were Republicans."
Matthews snarled, "This is McCarthy stuff that I didn't grow up with, but I remember reading about...Why is he going back to impugning people's patriotism as a tactic?" Of course, On July 13, 2013, Matthews wondered if Rupert Murdoch was a "true American." On January 21, 2009, he questioned, "Does Rush Limbaugh hate this country?"
Clearly, this "patriotism tactic" is one that Matthews employs when it fits his goals, as does his network.
Matthews has a long history of comparing Cruz to Joe McCarthy. On Wednesday, he helpfully showed viewers a side-by-side comparison of the two senators.
Matthews opened the show by mockingly saying of Cruz:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Isn't this what the Republicans were afraid of? Isn't this why they wanted to limit the number of debates and keep them from being ideological street theater. No more talk about evolution and legitimate rape and that stuff that scares people? Well, what will happen by having that sword swallowing Ted Cruz in the mix next time?? Does anyone think he'll be there debating the nuance of trade policy or corporate tax rates? This is a hard right roller derby with Cruz working the rail position. This is going to make Hillary look like a one-person Department of Homeland Security.
A partial transcript of the March 25 segment is below:
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MATTHEWS: Good evening. I'm Chris Matthews in Washington. Isn't this what the Republicans were afraid of? Isn't this why they wanted to limit the number of debates and keep them from being ideological street theater. No more talk about evolution and legitimate rape and that stuff that scares people? Well, what will happen by having that sword swallowing Ted Cruz in the mix next time?? Does anyone think he'll be there debating the nuance of trade policy or corporate tax rates? This is a hard right roller derby with Cruz working the rail position. This is going to make Hillary look like a one-person Department of Homeland Security.
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MATTHEWS: The whole idea from Reince Priebus, that's all we've been hearing for at least a year or two, this Republican fight for the nomination is going to be tightly controlled, not a lot of crazy theater, no more talk about evolution. No more liberal journalists involved and along comes Ted Cruz blowing the trumpet saying, "It's going to be my kind of show. Who is the toughest fighter on the right to take down the Democratic establishment and the Republican establishment. This isn't what Reince Priebus and the boys in the back room wanted. Not at all. Is it?
...MATTHEWS: I want to bring up a little thing that has concerned me about Ted Cruz. I don't know much about the guy. I met him once. He seemed all right to talk to. But, let me ask you this. You know, he has gone after the President with this thing – if you really want – Where's this quote? "Understanding Harvard law school is very important to understanding our president," he said in an article. "Barack Obama, he's very much a creature of Harvard Law, to understand what that means, you have to understand that there were more self-declared communists on the Harvard faculty that there were Republicans." Now, what is that supposed to mean, Kellyanne, Chuck Hagel, a guy who has two purple hearts and accused of getting money from the North Koreans. This is McCarthy stuff that I didn't grow up with, but I remember reading about. I know about it when I was very young. Why is he going back to impugning people's patriotism as a tactic? That's what I don't like about Cruz. Your thoughts?
