While anchoring MSNBC's pre-impeachment trial coverage on Monday, Chris Matthews continued his ignoble history with analogies as he resurrected his comparison of Republicans to North Korean soldiers. This time, it came in the aftermath of revelations about former National Security Advisor John Bolton's memoir.
After former American Constitution Center head Caroline Fredrickson declared that the only way for Republicans to contest Bolton's claims would be at the current trial, Matthews jumped in with his tortured analogy. He scoffed: "Yeah, but they're like the North Korean Army in the Korean War-- charge without rifles. They don't even have weapons. They just come out, 'Take me, take me. I'm willing to say anything for this president' with Stephanie Grisham."
Piggy-backing on the North Korean soldier analogy, Frederickson added, "Well, that is clear, that they don't have any weapons" -- by which she meant facts -- "certainly if they're going to challenge what John Bolton is saying, then they should challenge him in front of the American people."
Speaking of facts, they are stubborn things. Despite embellishing their article with adjectives such as "explosive, the much talked about New York Times article that detailed Bolton's book did not add anything that the previous bunch of witnesses didn't already tell the House." Nor does The Times article provide evidence for the central accusation against Trump that he abused his power by viewing the Ukrainian government as part of his opposition research arm.
As alluded to above, this GOP-North Korea analogy has been something Matthews has resorted to before. After tax reform passed in December 2017, Matthews compared the White House celebration to a "a North Korean parade." A month later in January 2018, he insisted Republicans were North Korean soldiers under the command of "racist" President Trump and "sniveling" Ben Carson. Matthews would follow up with at least two more examples in June 2018 and May 2019.
Here is the relevant transcript:
MSNBC Special Coverage
01/27/20
11:14 AM ETCAROLINE FREDRICKSON: Absolutely. You have the president's spokespeople on Fox & Friends -- well, only on Fox & Friends-- saying that Bolton is lying and disputing his -- what he said and saying this all came out because the book is going on sale. Well, if they want to contest his facts, the only way to do that is in the trial. That's what a trial is for.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Yeah, but they're like the North Korean Army in the Korean War-- charge without rifles. They don't even have weapons. They just come out, “Take me, take me. I'm willing to say anything for this president” with Stephanie Grisham.
FREDRICKSON: Well, that is clear, that they don't have any weapons. Certainly if they're going to challenge what John Bolton is saying, then they should challenge him in front of the American people.
