"This got a little revolting tonight," MSNBC's Chris Matthews lamented to colleague Chris Jansing in a post-debate special edition of Hardball Wednesday night. Matthews was chagrined with Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) scoring points with the debate audience by attacking the liberal media.
"I thought that the candidates were trying to get votes, and they were using that initiative to take it out on the moderators," Matthews added, complaining that they were "taking it out" on them, as though the moderators were asking completely above-board, unbiased questions.
Video: @hardball_chris says it was "revolting" how GOPers slammed #liberalmedia at #CNBCGOPdebate pic.twitter.com/3R9Mv8HAHG
— Ken Shepherd (@KenShepherd) October 29, 2015
But, in fact, the performance of CNBC moderators Carl Quintanilla, Becky Quick, and John Harwood was also criticized by liberal pundits like Charles Lane and Ron Fournier:
Tonight's debate has been a real education in the distinction between hard, tough question and a loaded one.
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) October 29, 2015
Biggest loser of this debate isn't JEB. It's MSM. We've earned this bashing
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) October 29, 2015