On Wednesday's edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews, a shouting match about how the black community views Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan was brought to a screeching halt when Matthews insisted: “You’re right about Reince. I agree with your one point or a lot of what she says. But when Reince Priebus’ — his number one goal is to keep blacks from voting.”
Both of Matthews's guests, Republican strategist Matt Schlapp and April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks, who is liberal and African-American, were caught off guard and shocked by his comment. “No, no, no, no, no. He’s talking about getting the black vote. I don’t know how he’s going to do it,” Ryan said coming to Priebus's defense before Matthews cut her off.
“Ah! All we hear is voter suppression. That’s all we hear.” Matthews interjected.
Ryan continued her defense of the chairman of the GOP by trying to explain to Matthews what Priebus is trying to do for the party: “Let me tell you what Reince Priebus feels. He feels that this is a primary that all the candidates can be selective in what they do. But when it comes to the general election you’ve got to be inclusive. That’s what he’s trying to say.”
Matthews got in the last word on the issue by squeezing in one last quip. “OK maybe not number one goal, but primary goal," he qupped while winking at the camera and going out to a commercial break.
Transcript below:
MSNBC
Hardball with Chris Matthews
February 24, 2016
7:49:31 – 7:50:27 PM EasternMATT SCHLAPP: I'm not defending everything the candidates say. I’m saying that when he says “make Americans great again,” is there just a chance that there are Americans of all stripes, who worried about America's role in the world, worried about our economy, worried about wages, worried about jobs?
APRIL RYAN: Black people are worried. Black, Hispanic people are worried. African-Americans
SCHLAPP: Come on.
RYAN: What do you mean “come on?” African-Americans are very conservative people, but because of the issues of race, they will not go to the conservatives, they will not go to the Republican Party. Your head leaders –
SCHLAPP: And how’s it working for them?!
RYAN: Reince Priebus knows it!
SCHLAPP: How’s it working for them?
RYAN: How’s it working for them? Okay, Democrats say—
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Okay, by the way, you’re right about Reince. I agree with your one point or a lot of what she says. But when Reince Priebus’—his number one goal is to keep blacks from voting. Anyway— [Tries to go to break]
RYAN: No, no, no—
SCHLAPP: No, no, no, no, no, no.
RYAN: He thinks black-- No, no, no, no, no. He’s talking about getting the black vote. I don’t know how he’s going to do it. He understands—
MATTHEWS: AH! All we hear is voter suppression. That’s all we hear.
RYAN: I know but he said—Let me tell you what Reince Priebus feels. He feels that this is a primary that all the candidates can be selective in what they do. But when it comes to the general election you’ve got to be inclusive. That’s what he’s trying to say.
MATTHEWS: Okay maybe not number one goal, [Winks at camera], but primary goal. Anyway the round table is staying with us.
