Following Condoleezza Rice’s inspirational convention speech, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews decided to hurl a ridiculous question about birtherism to the former Secretary of State.
Continuing with the racist narrative on MSNBC, Mr. Matthews decided to ignore the crux of Ms. Rice’s speech and instead drag up an issue that numerous Republicans have disavowed since the beginning.
Matthews felt that his question was so important that he had to interrupt colleague Andrea Mitchell with his rude question. While Matthews did compliment Rice for her speech, he then immediately began his smear of Republicans by asking, “was it kind of a rejoinder to all the birtherism and the narrowness that she’s heard in her party?”
Ms. Rice, being the statesman that she is, did not fall into Matthews’ obviously bigoted question by emphasizing all the good America has done in the world. She followed that up by saying:
I did want to send a message that we have broad responsibilities to the world but broad responsibilities here at home too. To educate our people, to continue to welcome immigrants. And so that was the theme of the speech and I had a great audience, it was well received.
Matthews’ obsession with a fringe group of individuals that have been disavowed by the Republican Party shows the bigoted and small mindset he represents. Unfortunately for Matthews and fortunately for the network's viewers, Rice chose not to dignify Matthews's all-encompassing obsession with tarring the GOP as a party of birthers.
See relevant transcript below.
MSNBC
RNC Convention Coverage
August 29, 2012
11:20 p.m. EDT
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Andrea, Andrea, can I ask a question? It’s Chris Matthews.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Yes Chris.
MATTHEWS: Andrea. Could you ask the Secretary…her speech was so overpowering, and positive, but was it kind of a rejoinder to all the birtherism and the narrowness that she’s heard in her party?
MITCHELL: Your speech, Chris Matthews is saying, was so powerful and so positive, was that a rejoinder to the narrowness and the birtherism that is certainly being heard in the Republican Party?
CONDOLEEZZA RICE: Well, I think on both sides of the aisle, frankly we’re hearing some voices for America to pull back and it would be a shame if America pulls back because we’ve done so much good in the world. I did want to send a message that we have broad responsibilities to the world but broad responsibilities here at home too. To educate our people, to continue to welcome immigrants. And so that was the theme of the speech and I had a great audience, it was well received.
