Although the Republicans' Florida convention is on hold due to weather, the debates are moving forward starting with MSNBC host Chris Matthews and the chair of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus. The pair got into it Monday morning on the set of Morning Joe, which is broadcasting live from Tampa.
Matthews accused the Romney campaign of taking a "cheap shot" and "playing the race card" with Mitt Romney's comment last week that no one has ever asked to see his birth certificate. The campaign has defended it as a harmless joke, not directed at the president, but simply an acknowledgement of where Mitt and his wife Ann were born.
Matthews, to Preibus:
I have to call you on this Mr. Chairman. You’ve been suggesting that somehow Obama has been running a negative campaign and your guy is running a positive campaign, but that’s not accurate. They’ve both been negative. That cheap shot about 'I don’t have a problem with my birth certificate [from Romney] was awful. It is an embarrassment to your party to play that card. This part about getting rid of the work requirement for welfare is dishonest. You are playing that ethnic card there.
You can play your games and giggle about it, but the fact is your side is playing that card. When you start talking about work requirements, you know what game you’re playing, and everybody knows what game you’re playing. It’s the race card. Yeah, if your name is Romney, yeah you were well-born, you went to prep school. Yeah, brag about it. Yeah, this guy [Obama] has an African name and he has to live with it.
Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough asked Matthews to clarify. "You think Mitt Romney’s playing the race card?"
"There’s no doubt he did on the birth certificate," Matthews said. "Why would he bring it up?...And I think the work requirement fits right into it."
Priebus disputed Matthews' accusation.
"You got your monologue in, so congratulations," Priebus said. "The fact of the matter is he’s from Michigan, he was born in Michigan. He’s making the point that 'I was born in Michigan.' We’ve gotten to a place in politics where any moment of levity is totally frowned upon by guys like you just so you can push your brand. It’s a moment of levity. Everybody gets it."
"What's the joke?" Matthews asked. "I don't get it."
Scarborough and co-host Mika Brzezinksi suggested it was an ill-timed, ill-written joke on the Republican candidate's part. "He misfired badly on the joke," said Scarborough.
"Mitt Romney has continuously said the president was born in this country. It's a non-starter, it's a dumb issue, it's a distraction," Priebus added.
They continued like this for a while.
"Garbage, garbage," Priebus said, shaking his head.
"It's your garbage," Matthews fired back.
"We went from a tropical storm to Hurricane 3," joked guest Tom Brokaw.
Cue commercial break.
Watch the clip above.
Leave a Comment:
CM must felt a thrill going up his leg! He's an idiot.
No dreel he called all you racists out like every other news outlet should. I bet you felt something...Maybe that 2x4 of truth to your forehead? lol.
GOOD JOB CHRIS!!!!!!!!!
No dreel, Chris Matthews called it right. I appreciate his ability to be truthful and confront the issue.
CM is NOT a journalist. He is a liberal opinion commentator. HIs job is to keep the distractions going ie birther, tax returns, race card, abortion etc etc. He did a good job in driving this strategy because he CAN NOT defend Obamas record.
WE should be talking about wars, debt crisis, joblessness, economy and a fundamental change in this county that will take place if O gets another 4 years.
Joe is usually good at stepping in but not today. That was a disgrace today by a guy whose leg is still tingly. Well mine isn't, I'm just dealing with the facts.
PS anyone who thinks Mitt is a racist is actually a raciest themselves.
God dog goneit Chris you go boy! That's right you don't give him an out, Prince Peeboy knows exactly what he is doing and actually Chris Matthews is doing what all these other weeny scaredy cat journalist, commentators should be doing calling these people out when they are trying to take things out of context, but what has happened is they have allowed these awful comments to continue and now it is a part of their communication, they don't even know when they are doing it. Chris pointed that out... and the silence of all the others confirmed what Chris was saying...the re-dum-ni-cans have disrespected this President for way too long and it was a pleasant surprise to see Chris fight back...he is doing nothing but telling the truth...CHRIS MATTHEWS...I LOVE YOU MAN!!!!Great Job!
The media is bought by the same folks who buy politicians.
Thank you, Chris Mathews, for upholding honesty and facts above the beltway spin and false equivalencies.
Thank you for your vocal support of the truth, Mr. Matthews! I wish more journalists had the courage and conviction to do what you did.
As if on cue, in a high profile interview in USA Today, Mitt Romney accuses President Obama of gutting the welfare work requirements to “shore up his base.”
Not only is this patently false, he should be called out for lying! Chris was vocal about this in the clip above. And if this is not race baiting, I don’t know what is!!
Watching Chris Matthews made me realize how low the newscasters have gone. He wouldn't let him talk! Let him answer, Chris. You looked like the fool not him. Over the top and unprofessional. Doesn't matter what you said Chris, I stopped listening when you kept talking. I wanted to hear Priebus answer you. You gave him an out by outshouting him. Now Priebus is the winner and you look like Ed Schultz (maybe if I talk really loud and long somebody will listen)
You clearly didn't understand what you were watching. Priebus HAD NO ANSWER! Romney's so-called joke was no joke at all, and YOU KNOW IT YOURSELF. It was a dog whistle comment to all his birther followers. Romney knew it, and that's why he made the comment. Priebus knows that too, but spinning a lie into something else is still a lie. Chris pressed him on it, and Priebus had no answer.
Kudos to Chris!
Watch it again. I used to like CM for his questions. Not his diatribe about how bad Republicans are. I found the joke amusing. Even Obama jokes about it. And tying the "race card" to it? Maybe that's why we struggle trying to find the truth amidst all of the "garbage". Intelligent people should be able to have a civil conversation. CM must have a ratings issue, otherwise why would be so incredibly rude and obnoxious. Why don't we talk about jobs, economy, college kids, small business, the middle class.........
Why don't we talk about jobs, economy, college kids, small business and the middle class (which Romney does not belong too..??) Because all the GOP wants to talk about is abortion, birth control pills, rape, the Black President that all of the right wing hates, screwing the elderly and trying to pull the wool over everyones eyes.....
Sorry but they lie, and twist the facts all day everyday......
Wait until the debates..Pres Obama will chew Romney up and spit him out...lets see him lie in front of the American people...oh wait, he already does that everyday..
You go Chris !!!!...You were great.
Thank you Chris Matthews. You made watching MJ a joy today .. truth to "power".
Great job, CM. This is why I stopped watching MJ. They never challenge the GOP aggressively.
Morning Joe is one of my favorite morning shows, but I agree that they don't challenge the GOP guests by asking a followup question(s) when they spout off their propaganda!
CM is an embarrassment to the MSNBC team, if that's possible! He constantly falls back on bringing up the "race-card" but he's the one who usually brings it up. His commentary is limited to talking fast and as loudly as possible, so that no intelligent conversation can get through.
Back over to FOX noise Lou..Shooo....
So I see that you're not open to intelligent conversation also. Typical for most Libs!
I agree that CM was extremly forward, but that is what the press is supposed to do, their suppopsed to go after and press questions on these kind of guys, on both sides democrat and republican, especially when you know the guy is lying or twisting words and even using racist comments, and he did do all of that, the press should not be afraid to get in these guys faces, becasue men like this will lie, or they will try and steer the conversation or questions away from areas that they are not comfortable with or do not want to approach, while he was being kind of rude Chris Mathews was challenging many of these untruthful and very racsit comments, like a journalist should do, the others had no idea or thought of what to do.
"Chris Mathews was challenging many of these untruthful and very racsit comments, like a journalist should do"
Sorry, I can't disagree more. CM was not professionally challenging their view, whether right or wrongly held. He was just being a blow-hard and a bully. I know that's just his style, but don't you pretend that it passes for good journalism.
Chris, Chris, Chris...where's your professionallism? Wow. No matter what your argument may have been, it's totally lost through your anger. Shame on you for lobbing crap like that. Maybe it's time to check in to anger management. And to suggest that reference to the complete delay on Obama's behalf to present a birth certificate for so long makes Romney's comment RACIST?? WTH?
Thank You Chris - you were so right. Thanks for calling them out.
Words cannot express how incredibly proud I am of Chris Matthews for calling Reince Prebus out on his bs! Priebus is a weasel and reminds me of a privileged, spoiled brat that loves to throw a brick, then hide his hands. The other Morning Joe commentators were just going to let Priebus spout off his propaganda and let those lies walk. However, Chris did the right thing and verbally excoriated that racist Priebus who tried to laugh and shrug it off, because he obviously knew that Chris wasn't going to let him get away with it.
ATTENTION ALL MSNBC HOSTS! Chris Matthews...FOLLOW HIS LEAD!
Thank you Chris Matthews, so nice to see a journalist with backbone. I wish you were on Morning Joe every day!
Gosh, I couldn't agree more!
Gosh. Next you'll be telling us all about the thrill you get up your leg, listening to that blow-hard.
Hooray for Chris Matthews!! The past 4 years has proven that racism is alive and well in the USA. First Republicans pledge allegiance to Norquist, not to the people they were elected to represent. Their second order of business is to oppose everything Obama wants to achieve - no bi-partisanship whatsoever, no negotiations, no working across the aisle. Their primary goal is to oppose OBAMA at ALL COSTS. And why is this their SOLE goal? You called it Chris. The only distinction between Obama and any other Democratic president is his color! So they willingly lose their integrity by saying that women workers are only entitled to 70% of the income earned by their male counterparts, (gotcha Obama) and they chip away at more integrity when they don't condemn Rush Limbaugh for calling Sandra Fluke a slut, (gotcha again Obama) and there goes the remainder of any integrity when they allow and encourage ongoing commentary about birth certificates and anti-Americanism to be part of their rhetoric. Here is the President of the United States of America, who actually took out Bin Laden, and he doesn't get an iota of respect from the Republicans. I didn't march for civil rights to have the good ole boys club revert back to the 50's... and my husband didn't fight a war so that we could EXCLUDE voters and close poles and rig elections to that WHITES ONLY serve in government. It it sickening. Thank you Chris Matthews.
I have said all along that there are many people, particularly white males, who cannot stand the idea that a black man is president. The way the House and Senate disrespect the President and don't even make a pretense of trying to work along with him, treating him as though he doesn't have ANY good thoughts, that's just showing on prejudicial and racist they are -- THEY think they are better than our President and do everything they possibly can to "put him in his place." I've had many tell me that I'm crazy, but I know what I see --- grown men not able to believe that a black man can and is extremely capable of being the President of the United States. Shameful, simply shameful!
You sir, have NAILED IT! :)
It's about time someone from the media called out Romney and his lies and his use of the race card. Everyone has debunked the welfare comments and yet he continues them. The birth certificate comment was no joke. Keep it up Chris. Maybe some of the other media people will start to do their jobs and show Romney for what he is.
Chris is one of the few who are not afraid to call a spade a spade.Morning Joe is starting to sound like Fox News not holding Republican Tea Party for their blatant racial agenda. Sure Mit was trying to play up to Birthers and Tea Party base, everyone knows that. A few weeks ago Morning Joe treated good Ole Newt like he was the second coming of Christ softball questions they asked him what's your favorite animal in the zoo Give Me A Frekin Break. How about asking him about the meeting that took place with chosen republicans including Newt during President Obama's Inauguration were they vowed to ensure none of his policies went through wether it was good for the country or not, no matter what make him look as bad as possible.
Morning Joe was exciting this morning with Chris Matthews on it. Thank you Chris!!!!Someone has to call them on their lies. Finally a news person who is not afraid to say what we all know is true.
Thank you Chris Matthews for standing up for the President! You have amazing courage! As musch as I like Mika she is too weak to tell it like it is. And when he's not talking over everybody, Joe Scarborough may appear to be fair and balanced. However, he is a republican who will defend his party because that is who he is. I don't know why "Morning Joe" is not on Fox.
The garbage that is spewed from the mouth of Reince Priebus is nothing but hate speech!
How can anyone in either political party call themselves patriots yet insult our President almost on a daily basis.
I am an independent voter and prior to 2008 I voted Republican. I served 27 years in the military and we're always taught to respect our President, the flag and country. Yes, I may not always agree with his policies but that is why we vote!
To Mika I would say - SPEAK UP! Don't allow Joe to talk over or through your comments or opinions!
To Joe I would say - you would be better served on Fox News.
To Chris Matthews - I watch your show daily and you make more sense than any of the other political commentators combined! The only other persons I would rank near you are Rachel Maddow, Laurence O'donnell, Melissa Harris-Perry, Chuck Todd and Chris Hayes.
Scarborough is a remorseless, pathological liar.
No facts. Pure hyperbole. This is all Mathhews has in his verbal arsenal. Blow hot air then talk over and shout down any reply because the insulting nonsense that he's spewing doesn't stand up to scrutiny. What a light-weight. Keep it up, Chris. It makes your opposition look fantastic!
Ok, you can wake up now.
Chris Mathews proved once again that if you are going to play with the big boys you had better come with something other than a set of someone else's rehearsed views ...you better come with a sense of history and the facts...other than that, it's best you stay home.
Republicans will get what they deserve come November: a severe rebuke from the voters. Their obstructionism and outright prejudice against the administration is clear to the American people. Americans love a fair fight, with emphasis on "fair". Neocons who run the Republican party think they can criticize Todd Akin while advancing his very agenda. American people can smell a phony policy an ocean away. Until the Republican party actually speaks for the majority, they will be held accountable.
Nice to hear an honest, direct response by Chris Mathews to the Republican spin machine trying to paint Obama as an illegitimate president. I'd like to see a little more courage from the other hosts who sat there in stunned silence.
Chris must be watching the polls tighten up. I think he will miss the tingle up his leg. He seems to be getting crankier and crankier lately, maybe he is just getting old. It is terrible how he treats most of his guest, except the ones who are liberal. He never lets them answer without interrupting them. He just like to hear himself talk. I think I will give up watching hardball as my source for the "other side of things" Unfortunate. MSNBC should find a better host. Maybe he is just mad because FOX is always number 1 in the ratings. Who knows what motivates him?
Maybe his conscience motiveates him, gun lover, hug, says it all...
Thank you Chris Matthews!!! It is about time someone in the media takes a stand with the RNC Renice Prebus and the Republican Party on their deceitful tactics. This type of behavior in America will only stop if the media do their part by calling individuals-out on dirty tactics, especially tactics that do more harm to America than good.
It was disheartening that Renice Prebus was just bashing the president. You were the only one that stepped-up to show the audience in the background (who were clapping); and the viewers that was enough. I was getting ready to turn off my TV until you spoke up. I thank you so much for being you and not afraid to take a stand on issues. It would have been nice if Mr. Borkaw taken the same stance.
Chris Matthews was beyond unprofessional !!!l he's an idiot. And some of you congratulate him. Must be the democrat way to bitch about a joke instead of the real problems of the country. Why don't you smell the coffee, this country is in trouble, and is Pres. Obama doing anything about it? Not in my life time.
No James you are wrong. The media should be honest. Chris Matthews was very honest. He was telling the truth. I am sorry if the truth hurst.