Tuesday may be the Democratic debate night, but that didn’t stop an angry Chris Matthews from trashing Marco Rubio as a “pathetic” “sock puppet.” The Hardball anchor derided conservative donor Sheldon Adelson as a “sugar daddy” who will likely endorse the Republican.
Matthews sneered, “Adelson wants somebody to do his bidding in foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. He wants somebody to be his sock puppet and he's got him in this guy, this perfect little high school debater, Rubio.” Sock Puppet? High school debater?
Matthews continued with the insults, raging, “Isn't this pathetic? I'm sorry that Rubio has this open relationship with his sugar daddy who basically loves the love songs that Adelson sings to him.”
The MSNBC host has a fixation with Rubio and Adelson. On September 17, 2015, he derided Rubio as sucking up to his “daddy warbucks.”
A partial transcript of the October 13 Hardball segment is below:
7:28 PM EDT
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well, the GOP has strong ties to Vegas and one of the GOP sugar daddies, if you will, he's in town right now, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, he runs the Venetian and all the other places out here. He's reportedly getting closer to endorsing Senator Marco Rubio for president. That’s no surprise. According to Politico, the nod and cash from Adelson, quote, “could come as soon as the end of the month and with it, the potential for a multi-million dollar contribution from him. With a net worth of $25.7 billion.” That's what the guy's got. “According to Forbes, Adelson can afford to spend freely.” Anyway, Rubio also has some big money backers in the east coast. Politico also noted, quote, “Last week, Rubio also held a lengthy private meeting with New York City with Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager who is among the most prolific Republican donors in the country, who has yet to pick a candidate.” Trump, by the way, noticed Adelson's support for Rubio.
He tweeted, and here's where I agree with him, “Sheldon Adelson is looking to give big dollars to Rubio because he feels he can mold him into his perfect little puppet.” I agree. And so do I agree with Trump on this. Joining me right now are two MSNBC political analysts Steve Schmidt, a Republican strategist and Pulitzer prize-winning columnist for the Washington Post Eugene Robinson. Steve and Gene, I agree with, with Trump here. Adelson wants somebody to do his bidding in foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. He wants somebody to be his sock puppet and he's got him in this guy, this perfect little high school debater, Rubio, who will recite and symphonize anything that this guy with the big bucks from the casino-running is willing to listen to. Let me go to Gene on this. Gene, isn't this pathetic? I'm sorry that Rubio has this open relationship with his sugar daddy who basically loves the love songs that Adelson sings to him.
