After all these years, Chris Matthews still hasn't lost that lovin' feeling. The MSNBC host spent a total of 2 minutes and 12 seconds hitting Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) for a line comparing Donald Trump to Barack Obama saying that neither of them exhibit "class."
It's simply "an objective fact" that President Obama "has class," Matthews declared. Hell, he might even be sinless, to hear Matthews talk.
"Look how he's lived his life. He's done everything right," Matthews began, reminiscent of similar remarks he made in 2012. Matthews went on to explain how Obama is "perfect" and "immaculate." (emphasis mine):
He worked hard in school. He got into the good schools. He got to be head of Harvard Business Review [sic]. In a blind test to get in. It had nothing to do with minority or affirmative action, none of that.
He got all the way through, and instead of going and grubbing the money on Wall Street, he went out to people and helped his community. He's ran statewide, faced the electorate the way we say you should do. Risked citywide and then statewide. He's done everything right.
He's been immaculate in the presidency. Nobody has accused him of any corruption. His kids are perfect. His wife is perfect.
He's done everything that these right-wing white conservatives say we're supposed to be in this country. He's done everything right. And this sleazy comment, that he has no class. What does that mean?!
I would love to get him under sodium pentothal and say, "Buster, what do you mean by no class?! What do you mean by that?!" And find out what he does mean. It's a cheap slur that works with the cheap seats in the Republican Party. You know it does. It doesn't mean anything, he has plenty of class.
I watched the guy last night on the Daily Show. He can take any shot, he smiles with it, he has charm, he's debonair about it. You don't have to agree with what he does or say he's a fantastic president, but class, I think he's got.
"That was Marco Rubio crudely trying to play to his own crowd," panelist Howard Fineman of the Huffington Post offered. "Who is this crowd that likes that?! This peanut gallery!" Matthews huffed back, adding. "It's a rotten thing to say, and they get away with it because of the attitudes, let me just say that, of a lot of those people out there. Do you agree with me?"
For their parts, both Fineman and fellow panelist Susan Page of USA Today noted their agreement with Matthews.
"I think it's an objective fact. The president has class," Matthews noted in conclusion before rattling off a tease for the next segment.
