Matthews's statements defy conservatives' claims that he is a "liberal Democrat" | Research | Media Matters for America
hes a conservadem and a clown
Matthews previously admitted that he "voted for Bush" in the 2000 election on the October 3, 2003, and February 23, 2004, editions of Hardball. Further, his stated positions on a variety of issues undermine characterizations of him as a liberal, and his false and misleading claims have often furthered a conservative or Republican agenda. Some examples since the 2004 presidential election are listed below.
Matthews on the filibuster debate
Matthews has repeatedly espoused Republican talking points while discussing the Senate compromise over judicial filibusters. He has claimed, among other things, that progressive advocacy groups are "fanatical" and "militant"; that because of the recent bipartisan agreement aimed at averting the "nuclear option," Democrats can stop "pouting and bitching ... [and] actually participate in legislation now"; that Republicans might "get double-crossed or screwed by the Democrats"; and that the Republican position that every judicial nominee deserves an up-or-down vote "sounds great to me."
Matthews on Social Security
Matthews baselessly impugned the motives of Democrats opposing Bush's proposal to cut Social Security benefits for middle-class and wealthy retirees using so-called "progressive indexing" and falsely suggested that means testing would result in cuts only for those who "do well" or "make more than the average income." Earlier in the Social Security debate, Matthews echoed privatization proponents' crisis rhetoric and pushed the Bush administration's terminology on Social Security privatization by referring to "personal accounts" more frequently than "private accounts."
Matthews on Hillary Clinton, Tom DeLay
Matthews has repeatedly smeared Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and questioned her ability to lead. On the May 30 edition of Hardball, Matthews expressed surprise that retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, an NBC military analyst, wasn't "chuckling a little bit" at the idea of Clinton giving orders to the troops as commander in chief: