Chris Matthews has voiced over a new MSNBC Hardball promo which, among other things, hails the late Ted Kennedy as a paragon of statesmanship, a "great" "leader" a "lion" who "keep[s] me going non-stop."
Matthews also indirectly referenced Barack Obama, naturally, as well as his former bosses Jimmy Carter and Tip O'Neill. Their names were not explicitly mentioned, but their photos were shown on-screen accompanying the narration.
By contrast, Matthews hit the "purists and the posturers, the critics and complainers," among them shown on screen Sarah Palin and Joe Wilson.
Naturally Matthews himself also makes it into the montage a few times, including in photos from his days as an aide to President Carter and Speaker O'Neill.
Here's the full transcript and video:
Let's try this again. Full video of Lame-o @hardball_Chris #leanforward spot. pic.twitter.com/841Tkbrlkj
— Ken Shepherd (@KenShepherd) November 10, 2015
MSNBC
Hardball promo spot
commercial break during Nov. 5 edition of Morning Joe
CHRIS MATTHEWS, voiceover: Why? Because I love it when America works. We become great.
[photo of President John F. Kennedy shown onscreen]
Like the American president, who forged peace between enemies.
[photos of President Carter with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat]
The President and the Speaker who saved Social Security.
[photos of Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan]
The president who brought us health care.
[photos of President Obama]
Because it's not the purists and the posturers, the critics and complainers who get things done,
[photos of former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), former Gov. Jesse Ventura (I-Minn.)]
it's the leaders
[photos of former President Bill Clinton, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)]
that's our pride. And they don't speak for us,
[photos of Secretary of State John Kerry, Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), and Sens. Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)]
they roar, like lions
[photo of late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), photo of lion statue]
those are the ones for me
[photo of Matthews interviewing President Obama]
they keep me going non-stop.
[photo of a smiling Chris Matthews]
