It may be a bad night if even MSNBC hosts can't spin the results. Chris Matthews on Tuesday afternoon talked to Joy Reid and noted that they were both "progressives." Wondering for liberals everywhere, he asked, "What do you think is the good news that might come tonight for people that want to have good news tonight?" [MP3 audio here.]
This stumped Reid. She haltingly responded, "Yeah, I know, right? Good news? Well, you know what? I don't know what the good news would be." Seeming to concede a GOP Senate, she managed, "Maybe the overreach would make it easier [for Democrats] to rebound two years later." (Hat tip to National Review for first noticing the exchange.)
On Monday, MSNBC hosts pre-spun the midterms, asserting that Democrats didn't tout Obama's successes enough.
A transcript of the November 4 exchange:
2:53
CHRIS MATTHEWS: We talked a lot about which party will win the Senate. Of course tonight, that's the big question and which politician will win their seats. Let's go right now to Joy, Joy Reid, for her final thoughts on some of the issues at play, not just the people, that could give the American people a win tonight. What do you think of the things that, you know, as a progressive, and I think it's fair to say you're a progressive, and I am perhaps to that extent sometimes on many issues, what do you think is the good news that might come tonight for people that want to have good news tonight? How's that for a question?
JOY REID: That's a good question, Chris. Yeah, I know, right? Good news? Well, you know what? I don't know what the good news would be. I think that if for Democrats, the best news that could come out of it if Democrats were to lose the Senate, I guess if you're a Democrat and looking toward the future, would be if the Senate is more like the House, maybe the overreach would make it easier to rebound two years later. Because I see nothing but gridlock ahead either way because it's going to be such a closely held Senate either way. It's going to be very close.
