MSNBC has released another unintentionally hilarious, self-important ad. In a commercial airing Friday, a network announcer touted the network’s “love of country” and “tough love” for the current administration.
Interspersed with clips of hosts Lawrence O’Donnell, Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes and Chris Matthews, an unidentified voice hailed, “Tough on dishonesty.... Love for country.... Love for our ideals.... Tough love, administered nightly.”
Let’s break this down: “Love for country.” In 2012, Hayes, went on MSNBC to say he was “uncomfortable” calling fallen soldiers “heroes”:
It is very difficult to talk about the war dead and the fallen without invoking valor, without invoking the words "heroes.”.... I feel comfortable — uncomfortable, about the word because it seems to me that it is so rhetorically proximate to justifications for more war.
“Tough on our leaders.” The commercial would be more honest if it instead noted the network is “tough on Republicans.” After all, O’Donnell gushed over Obama, calling him “the most noble man” to ever be president.
Let’s not forget that Matthews famously admitted having a “thrill going up my leg” when Obama spoke.
“Tough on dishonesty.” In 2013, then-MSNBC host Alex Witt wondered if it "matters” that Obama lied with his famous “if you like your health care plan, you can keep your plan” claim.
In another unintentionally funny MSNBC ad this week, an announcer claimed that the network “is not an echo chamber.” Earlier in the summer, a different commercial insisted that “love for the Constitution” is the reason the network attacks Trump so much.
A transcript of the ad is below:
MSNBC ad
11/3/17
9:22ANNOUNCER: Tough on dishonesty.
RACHEL MADDOW: They keep denying things that then turn out to be true.
ANNOUNCE: Love for country.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Being an American is an honor and those who become Americans know it, feel it, revere it.
ANNOUNCER: Tough on our leaders.
CHRIS HAYES: He has no tangible legislative achievements. Ultimately, the buck does stop with the President.
ANNOUNCER: Love for our ideals.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: This is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
ANNOUNCER: Tough love, administered nightly. Week nights, 7 to 11 on MSNBC.
