For all the
criticism he receives from conservatives, Chris Matthews remains an interesting,
unpredictable character in the lineup of cable TV talking heads.
criticism he receives from conservatives, Chris Matthews remains an interesting,
unpredictable character in the lineup of cable TV talking heads.
Sure, the host
of MSNBC’s “Hardball” can shamelessly gush about Obama with the best of them – he will probably
never live down his “thrill up my leg” remark. But he sometimes demonstrates
his old-school, blue-collar roots as a “kid from Philly.”
of MSNBC’s “Hardball” can shamelessly gush about Obama with the best of them – he will probably
never live down his “thrill up my leg” remark. But he sometimes demonstrates
his old-school, blue-collar roots as a “kid from Philly.”
That tendency
to occasionally thrash liberals came out in full force on Wednesday when the verdict
in the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Boston bombing trial – guilty on all 30 counts, 17 of which
carry a potential death penalty – reached the next phase.
to occasionally thrash liberals came out in full force on Wednesday when the verdict
in the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Boston bombing trial – guilty on all 30 counts, 17 of which
carry a potential death penalty – reached the next phase.
As Hardball
took a look at how the jury will consider capital punishment for the
21-year-old murderer, Matthews seemed to startle his guests by going on a rant
about the death penalty.
took a look at how the jury will consider capital punishment for the
21-year-old murderer, Matthews seemed to startle his guests by going on a rant
about the death penalty.
And it wasn’t
what you might expect.
what you might expect.
The host began
by warning that he was about to “play tough guy” and berate those liberals who
generally support the death penalty but fail to follow their convictions. He
mocked the “softness” of Bostonians displayed in remarks they embraced by
Catholic priests and a poll that showed the city favors a lifetime in prison
for Tsarnaev, rather than capital punishment, by a 62-27 percent margin.
by warning that he was about to “play tough guy” and berate those liberals who
generally support the death penalty but fail to follow their convictions. He
mocked the “softness” of Bostonians displayed in remarks they embraced by
Catholic priests and a poll that showed the city favors a lifetime in prison
for Tsarnaev, rather than capital punishment, by a 62-27 percent margin.
How can the
system allow for juries to uphold the federal death penalty “except in liberal
Boston?” he asked, not allowing his two guests a moment to speak.
system allow for juries to uphold the federal death penalty “except in liberal
Boston?” he asked, not allowing his two guests a moment to speak.
Then Matthews
started naming names. He referred twice to a 1994 law, overwhelmingly approved
by Congress, that set forth the types of federal crimes, including deadly terrorism,
that warrant the death penalty. Twice Matthews noted that the bill was signed
by President Bill Clinton and supported at the time by four prominent
Massachusetts liberals: Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Barney Frank
and Rep. (now Sen.) Edward Markey.
started naming names. He referred twice to a 1994 law, overwhelmingly approved
by Congress, that set forth the types of federal crimes, including deadly terrorism,
that warrant the death penalty. Twice Matthews noted that the bill was signed
by President Bill Clinton and supported at the time by four prominent
Massachusetts liberals: Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Barney Frank
and Rep. (now Sen.) Edward Markey.
“Why pass this
law,” Matthews said with a snarl, “if you’re not going to enforce it, even in
this most classic example of premeditated, calculated murder?”
law,” Matthews said with a snarl, “if you’re not going to enforce it, even in
this most classic example of premeditated, calculated murder?”
You can watch
the entire video here.
the entire video here.
