Listening to MSNBC’s Chris Matthews reverential description of impeachment on Wednesday, evidently Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s “prayerful” demeanor is rubbing off on her fellow Democrats. Swept up in the excitement of the House preparing to vote to impeach President Trump, the Hardball host labeled the partisan process “sacramental.”
According to Dictionary.com, “sacramental” is “of, relating to, or of the nature of a sacrament, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist.” Matthews’ reflection on the Democrats’ behavior was complemented by one of his fellow leftist anchors. Andrea Mitchell, in an effort to show the audience the Democrats’ “doleful” state of mind about impeachment, took on the role of fashion expert: "The seriousness of this as it is being taken by the Democrats as well, reflected symbolically perhaps in the colors being worn or the lack of colors being worn."
She went on to single out Pelosi for being particularly crestfallen, as evidenced by her choice in attire:
The women members choosing to wear dark colors. Nancy Pelosi is a woman, a person of primary colors. You see it. If she's not wearing white, she's wearing bright colors, she's certainly always well appointed, beautifully arrayed, if you will. She's wearing black today. That is a symbolic expression of how somberly they're taking this.
Matthews’ opined: "It's sacramental. It's sacramental."
Mitchell wholeheartedly accorded with Matthew’s sentiment as she continued to heap praise upon Pelosi for her leadership; "Purely. You can talk about the politics of it. It's no question that Nancy Pelosi came to this reluctantly, all during the spring she was telling members don't use the I-word, don't mention impeachment..."
MSNBC anchors would like to have the public believe the Democrats are treating the impeachment with reverence equal to that of a religious ceremony. Typically though, a sacramental event is not one of sorrow but joy. Perhaps that was Matthews’ point.
Transcript below:
MSNBC House Impeachment Vote
12/18/19
11:39:10 AM
ANDREA MITCHELL: The seriousness of this as it is being taken by the Democrats as well, reflected symbolically perhaps in the colors being worn or the lack of colors being worn.
MATTHEWS: Oh really?
MICHELL: The women members choosing to wear dark colors. Nancy Pelosi is a woman, a person of primary colors. You see it. If she's not wearing white, she's wearing bright colors, she's certainly always well appointed, beautifully arrayed, if you will. She's wearing black today. That is a symbolic expression of how somberly they're taking this.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: It's sacramental. It's sacramental.
MITCHELL: Purely. You can talk about the politics of it. It's no question that Nancy Pelosi came to this reluctantly, all during the spring she was telling members don't use the I word, don't mention impeachment.
