Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich told MSNBC's Chris Matthews Thursday, "You have a more ruthless approach to politics than I do."
This occurred at the end of a lengthy discussion between the two on Hardball when the host strangely began asking his guest what animals he likes at the zoo (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Do you like the reptile house?
NEWT GINGRICH: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: Why do you like the reptile house? Because most people are afraid to go in there.
(CROSSTALK)
GINGRICH: They're astonishingly successful. They do it in a totally different way than we do, and they have been successful for a very long time.
MATTHEWS: Favorite snake?
GINGRICH: Probably a python.
MATTHEWS: Why? A constrictor, right?
GINGRICH: Big and passive.
MATTHEWS: Constrictor?
GINGRICH: Yes. It's...
MATTHEWS: You like the constrictor aspect of it?
GINGRICH: No, I just think they're very...
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: You like that it eats cows whole?
(LAUGHTER)
GINGRICH: They don't eat cows whole.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: What about a mamba? I would have thought you would like a black mamba. They go 30 miles an hour. They attack your nervous system. You have got 15 minutes to live. They attack like this and they keep attacking.
GINGRICH: You have a more ruthless approach to politics than I do.
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: Anyway, thank you. The black mamba has been here. Anyway, thank you, Newt Gingrich. Please come back.
At this point in both of their careers, I would agree with Gingrich for Matthews clearly is willing to do anything to get Barack Obama reelected.
