In a “Let Me Finish” commentary that came from way out in left field, MSNBC’s Hardball host Chris Matthews ended Wednesday’s show with a plea for failed Texas Democratic senatorial candidate Beto O’Rouke to join the 2020 Democratic presidential field, citing his “magic” and comparing him to the late former President, George H. W. Bush.
After two teases with the first mentioning Beto, Matthews began the 39-second bit by stating that he had “a strong suggestion,” which was “that Beto O’Rourke should run for president” because, in part, he was able to “[get] a good look at Beto’s race for Senate when we hosted the Hardball College Tour at the University of Houston.”
Matthews then gushed that “[t]here was magic in that room like when we hosted a Hardball College Tour at West Chester University up in Pennsylvania in 2008 for Senator Obama.”
As this space wrote back on October 30 following the town hall, the event was a shameless infomercial that was largely devoid of tough questions and both ignored O’Rourke’s drunk driving incident and stories about his father’s financial dealings.
From the moment the town hall started, it was clear that Matthews was smitten with the El Paso-area Congressman (though of course not to Barack Obama-like levels).
Matthews then concluded with more fluff and even an asinine comparison between O’Rourke and Bush 41:
Democrats respond to magic. I have a reason for urging a Beto run. I believe elections should be about the future and to those who say Beto can't win a Senate race in Texas, let me remind you of George Herbert Walker Bush who lost two races for the Senate in Texas.
Bush was also Ambassador to the United Nations, a Congressman, CIA Director, RNC Chairman, and Vice President in addition to his failed Senate bids before becoming President. But sure, Chris, go ahead and make that comparison.
To see the relevant transcript from MSNBC’s Hardball on December 5, click “expand.”
MSNBC’s Hardball
December 5, 2018
7:14 p.m. Eastern [TEASE][ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Let Me Finish]
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Plus, let me finish tonight with a strong suggestion for Beto O’Rourke. You'll know what it is.
(....)
7:55 p.m. Eastern [TEASE]
MATTHEWS: When we return, let me finish tonight with a strong recommendation from me for a potential 2020 contender. I'm talking about the presidency and taking on Trump.
(....)
7:59 p.m. Eastern
MATTHEWS: Let me finish tonight with a strong suggestion. It's that Beto O’Rourke should run for president. I got a good look at Beto’s race for Senate when we hosted the Hardball College Tour at the University of Houston. There was magic in that room like when we hosted a Hardball College Tour at West Chester University up in Pennsylvania in 2008 for Senator Obama. Democrats respond to magic. I have a reason for urging a Beto run. I believe elections should be about the future and to those who say Beto can't win a Senate race in Texas, let me remind you of George Herbert Walker Bush who lost two races for the Senate in Texas.
