Chris Matthews is scandalized that Donald Trump would call Hillary Clinton (or Barack Obama) the "founder of ISIS." On Friday night, after all the controversy, Matthews said "You know, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this."
That's not true. Two years ago, on September 10, 2014, after a presidential address announcing the United States would commence bombing raids on ISIS, as we documented at the time, Matthews insisted his hate object Dick Cheney (pronounce it "Chee-ney") "created al-Qaeda" and "created ISIS."
"Please do not listen to Dick Cheney," Matthews advised Obama. "He's the one that created al-Qaeda by taking over the holy land in Saudi Arabia. He's the one that de-Baathicized [sic] the Iraqi government. He created ISIS, and he's coming back again with more advice."
But on Thursday night, all memories were erased as Matthews began Hardball solemnly noting the AP called out Trump as patently false (as it surely never did for Matthews):
MATTHEWS: In a statement, Clinton's senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan wrote, "This is another example of Donald Trump trash-talking the United States. What`s remarkable about Trump`s comments is that, once again, he`s echoing the talking points of Putin and our adversaries to attack American leaders and American interests while failing to offer any serious plans to confront terrorism or make this country more secure."
Well, the Associated Press, which is known for its objectivity, called Trump's claims patently false. ISIS was formed as the local al Qaeda franchise in Iraq after the invasion. Its founding preceded this president's tenure, as well as Hillary Clinton's time as secretary of state.
Matthews stayed outraged as he asked NBC reporter Hallie Jackson: "Hallie, you`re a reader of this guy. Help me read him. Why is he pushing this founder of ISIS, not even the explanation Hugh Hewitt tried to help him with. No, founded, literally founded ISIS. Why does he insist on that?"
As opposed to Chris, who said Cheney "created" ISIS, which is so much different than "founded." [?] Both Trump and Matthews are rhetorically reckless, but the liberal media are only outraged by one half.
Matthews later turned to James Carville -- the one who embarrassed himself by insisting Bill Clinton never had sex with Gennifer Flowers -- to insist Trump places no value on truth by asserting that Mrs. Clinton and President Obama founded ISIS:
MATTHEWS: James, founder of ISIS, and then referring to the president Barack Hussein Obama, once again implying the old Islamic thing.
JAMES CARVILLE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Right.
MATTHEWS: Is that of any value to history, to truth, to anything?
CARVILLE: Well, first of all, he killed bin Laden so he could found ISIS. (Laughter) Look, the guy, in his mind -- he's impotent. His supporters stay frustrated. He`s getting outflanked, outmaneuvered by Hillary Clinton. I mean, in other words, he`s like -- in his mind, he's losing to a girl. He can't believe it.
[Hat tip for the memory: Red Eye]
