MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews loves to slander Republicans as often speaking in code or blowing racial "dog-whistles." Of course, doing that should open him up to charges of the same when he speaks carelessly.
Before I continue, I must add that I don't in any way think Matthews was making a veiled reference here to Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's Indian ethnic heritage, but even so, given his network's political correctness, it seems pretty odd that Matthews feels comfortable comparing the GOP primary field to a Middle Eastern bazaar that's just missing its "snake charmer." Here's the relevant transcript:
MSNBC
Hardball
April 15, 20157:01 p.m. Eastern
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Meanwhile, the Republican field of candidates begins to resemble a Middle Eastern souk, you know, an open market where each candidate calls on customers to buy what he happens to be selling. There's a libertarian here, an establishment type there, an angry demagogue, an evangelist selling revival. The only thing missing in this bazaar is the snake charmer. I forgot to mention Chris Christie who's up in New Hampshire selling his New Jersey charm.
...
7:19 p.m. Eastern
MATTHEWS to guest MATT SCHLAPP, chairman of the American Conservative Union: So there's a lot of different -- I compare it to a souk in a Middle Eastern market where everybody is selling something completely different -- all that's missing is the snake charmer. Of course, I might include Chris Christie there. But your thoughts. What ties them [GOP primary candidates] all together? What is Republican thinking this year?
Snake charming is also practiced, of course, in India, the country from which Bobby Jindal's parents emigrated.
Again, I must stress that I am absolutely convinced that Matthews in no way intended any dog-whistle attack on Bobby Jindal, but I thought his use of the term should be noted for the record, particularly given his penchant for charging GOPers with subtle racist dog-whistles and given that his Middle Eastern souk reference seems like it may be an offensive microaggression for otherwise loyal leftist fans of MSNBC.
