Chris Matthews faces calls for resignation after comparing Sanders victory to Nazi invasion

[left-of-center2012]

MSNBC's Chris Matthews is under fire after comparing Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-Vt.) decisive win in the Nevada caucuses to the Nazi invasion of France in 1940, with some on social media calling for the "Hardball" host to resign.

"I was reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940," Matthews said during MSNBC's live coverage of the caucuses on Saturday. "And the general, Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, 'It's over.' And Churchill says, 'How can that be? You've got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over?' He said, 'It's over.'"

Criticism quickly poured in on social media over Matthews using the analogy. Sanders, who is Jewish, had most of his family killed in the Holocaust.

Link to tweet

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/484237-chris-matthews-faces-calls-for-resignation-after-comparing-sanders-victory-to

[Bluepinky]

9. Nice way to support democracy!

[Squinch]

12. By working to make sure it doesn't crumble around us? Yes. I think so.

[OliverQ]

17. By comparing a Jew to a Nazi?

[Squinch]

20. Read that again. My statement, and I think Matthews's, is that if BS wins, then Trump wins, and

then Fascism wins.

No one is comparing a Jew to a Nazi. I am comparing a fascist to a Nazi.

[OliverQ]

24. Why do you assume BS would lose to Trump?

He's polling nationally at +8 over Trump. He's beating Trump in the swing states we need to win. He has huge support from most demographics. No moderate/centrist candidate is doing as well as Bernie against Trump right now.

[Squinch]

26. It seems that whenever I answer that question honestly, and present the facts

about why I assume he will lose, I get in trouble here. Even though I am simply posting facts about numbers of voters and past legislative histories. Or lacks thereof.

So I'll leave it to your imagination. You have seen the reasons before and you know what they are.

[Squinch]

30. And it's happened again.

[brooklynite]

32. This is the huge flaw in many Sanders supporters' thinking...

They’ve decided that he’ll obviously win so the only reason to oppose him is because you “hate” him or are “afraid” of him.

One thing I’ve learned in 40 years of political activity is 1) a lot of your candidates DO lose, and 2) not to let your personal bias cloud your view of reality.

[Squinch]

33. And they work diligently to silence those who voice different opinions.

[OliverQ]

37. Well, I'm basing things on the demographics Bernie

is winning and his overall polling which has been consistently beating Trump for months.

Everyone said only a moderate could win in 2016. An outside populist won.
Everyone said only an establishment candidate could win in 2008 and Obama had no chance.

No moderate candidate has won the General election this century. Why do you think we should try that tactic again?

[Squinch]

41. Well, I'm basing things on history and numbers, but again, I don't seem to be allowed to

post those things without getting into trouble here.

But by the way, you don't think Obama was a moderate?

[OliverQ]

44. Based on history, all moderates would lose to Trump.

And no, compared to Obama's challengers, Obama was the outlier. He was the hope and change candidate who wanted to shake up the status quo. McCain and Romney were the moderates.

[Squinch]

45. You don't think Obama was a moderate Democrat? Because we're talking about Democrats.

[thesquanderer]

49. Obama was a moderate, but he campaigned a bit more liberal...

...and was certainly seen as our most liberal option once Edwards dropped out.

But it is an interesting point that, whether he WAS liberal or not, he was seen as the candidate of change vs. the candidates more of status quo.

[Squinch]

50. So a moderate candidate won twice out of three elections in this century.

And yet you said...

Nevermind.

[thesquanderer]

61. It sounds like you're seeing a contradiction within my post, but I'm not seeing it...

..can you explain? (Genuinely curious, as maybe I simply did not make myself clear.)

[Squinch]

62. Sorry. I should have said that to Oliver who said no moderate has won in this century.

Whereas the truth is that moderates have won 2 out of 3 races, and progressives have won none.

And that ratio largely holds with the down-ballot races.

[thesquanderer]

65. re: "moderates have won 2 out of 3 races {this century}, and progressives have won none."

But when did we ever really put up a progressive? It's impossible to win with a progressive if you don't run a progressive.

You also could say that Obama--especially the first time--did kinda win as a progressive, even though he didn't govern as progressively as many thought he might. I think he was good at getting people who wanted to see him as a liberal to see him as a liberal. He also won against Republicans who, themselves, were seen as moderate. McCain, definitely. But even Romney, who really had to try hard to convince his base that he was sufficiently conservative for them (or "severely" conservative, as he put it). He was, after all, the Massachusetts governor who first implemented something very much like what would become Obamacare. So it's not impossible to say we won those elections with the candidate who was perceived as less moderate.

You could argue that, each election this century, the more extreme candidate won, regardless of which side they were extreme on. I'd say Bush was more right than either Gore or Kerry were to the left; Obama--while moderate--was still more to the left than McCain or Romney were to the right (or at least perceived that way); and of course, Trump. Maybe the key to winning is going with the candidate who is more exciting to your party's closer-to-fringe die-hards. Or more likely, that's not the key to winning... but it is at least not at all a recipe for being especially likely to lose, either. Sure, you've got McGovern and Goldwater, but you've also got Reagan. The more extreme candidates do not always lose, and so maybe the key to victory is not necessarily appealing most to the middle.

This century, at least, I think the candidates in any given election who were closest to moderate were usually the ones that lost. Kerry, McCain, Hillary being the clearest examples.

[Squinch]

66. We put up a lot of progressives in 2018. They got trounced. I mean, really demolished.

Moderates on the other hand turned dozens of red districts blue and gave us back the House.

But I am guessing that doesn't count.

[thesquanderer]

68. Ah, yes, I was talking about Presidents. Local dynamics can be different. BUT...

Here's an unknown: If the 2018 progressives who got demolished might have won if it weren't a mid-term election, and if the Dem at the top of the ticket was a progressive. You'd be talking about a bigger and different voting demographic. IOW, those same candidates who lost in 2018 could conceivably have won if it has been 2020, especially with a Sanders or Warren at the top of the ticket. Assuming those elections would have gone the same way regardless would really be just a guess.

[Squinch]

69. I am sure you are perfectly well aware that your post is absurd.

[Bluepinky]

23. Apparently the people voting in Nevada, Iowa and NH don't agree.

For the record, I voted for Klobuchar in NH, but I respect the will of other people. Almost all of Sander’s policies are ones I believe in.

[brooklynite]

59. Funny how, a month ago, IA and NH were "unrepresentative" in these parts.

[KPN]

55. THIS. And people wonder why the terms "elite" and "establishment" are used by voters who

are dissatisfied with the record of the past 40+ years.

Matthews is his own worst enemy. A reminder: he was outspokenly anti-Sanders in2016 as well. I assume partly for the same reason he uses now. What was the result then?

Yeah, it was stolen from Hillary. But nothing has changed. We already know well they are doing everything they can already to make sure they can steal it again.

I'm obviously not an expert, but my sense is absent a real star like Barack Obama, Sanders and Warren are our two best chances. The majority American people want real results. They want change. That extends across the political continuum. The argument that America is centrist doesn't hold and didn't hold true in 2016. Why would it now?

[Farmer-Rick]

18. So, if Bernie is the Democratic candidate will you still vote Democratic?

[Squinch]

22. Is that supposed to be a gotcha? I can't stand BS. Never could. But if it comes down to

him vs. Filthy Donnie, I would walk barefoot over broken glass to vote for BS. Do I pass your test?

However lots and lots of moderates are not like me. They'll stay home.

[Farmer-Rick]

27. No, it was an honest question.

Hate makes people do irrational things. I don't hate Biden or Bloomberg though I think both of them will lose to Trump. But I will vote for them in the general.

Just wondering how irrational hate gets.

[CanonRay]

35. Yes. Unequivocally.

Vote blue no matter who

[Evergreen Emerald]

51. I will vote for a Democrat

[OliverQ]

19. Your opinion is not based on fact.

Bernie is winning among every demographic. The only other candidate even polling in his league is Biden.

[samnsara]

2. oh ffs....

[HarlanPepper]

67. The Revolution tolerates only adulation for its leader.

Anything else must be silenced.

[underpants]

3. Hey! Remember me?

I used to be relevant. Please tune in to see what I say next.

[redqueen]

11. LOL exactly. I remember him being subjected to a LOT of criticism here back in the day.

Now he has defenders for this kind of crap. Amazing.

[MarcA]

57. Agreed and their excuses for him are pathetic. n/t

[bahrbearian]

34. If Bernie was wearing a Cod Piece and strutting across a aircraft carrier

It would be :

[...]

MATTHEWS: Do you think this role, and I want to talk politically [...], the president deserves everything he's doing tonight in terms of his leadership. He won the war. He was an effective commander. Everybody recognizes that, I believe, except a few critics. Do you think he is defining the office of the presidency, at least for this time, as basically that of commander in chief? That [...] if you're going to run against him, you'd better be ready to take [that] away from him.




MATTHEWS: Ann Coulter, you're the first to speak tonight on the buzz. The president's performance tonight, redolent of the best of Reagan -- what do you think?

COULTER: It's stunning. It's amazing. I think it's huge. I mean, he's landing on a boat at 150 miles per hour. It's tremendous. It's hard to imagine any Democrat being able to do that. And it doesn't matter if Democrats try to ridicule it. It's stunning, and it speaks for itself.

MATTHEWS: Pat Caddell, the president's performance tonight on television, his arrival on ship?

CADDELL: Well, first of all, Chris, the -- I think that -- you know, I was -- when I first heard about it, I was kind of annoyed. It sounded like the kind of PR stunt that Bill Clinton would pull. But and then I saw it. And you know, there's a real -- there's a real affection between him and the troops.

[...]

MATTHEWS: The president there -- look at this guy! We're watching him. He looks like he flew the plane. He only flew it as a passenger, but he's flown --

CADDELL: He looks like a fighter pilot.

MATTHEWS: He looks for real. What is it about the commander in chief role, the hat that he does wear, that makes him -- I mean, he seems like -- he didn't fight in a war, but he looks like he does.

CADDELL: Yes. It's a -- I don't know. You know, it's an internal thing. I don't know if you can put it into words. [...] You can see it with him and the troops, the ease with which he talks to them. I was amazed by that, frankly, because as I said, I was originally appalled, particularly when I heard he was going in an F-18. But -- on there -- but the -- but you know, that was --

MATTHEWS: Look at this guy!

CADDELL: -- was hard not to be moved by their reaction to him and his reaction to them and --

[underpants]

36. He only flew it as a passenger, but he's flown --

[Hassin Bin Sober]

42. I just looked him up. Pat Caddell died in February. So...

[dbolski]

4. He is mentally unstable. He should resign.

[dbonds]

5. It is long past time for Mathews to retire.

He is a corporatist and a bad tv host. He always talks over his guests when he doesn't like their point.

[jimfields33]

13. Like many over 65, some can't afford to financially retire

If you look everywhere there are people over 65 still working. I’m not sure what he’s paid but I’m sure his first 40 years of working we’re not as good as today’s.

[PatSeg]

21. Matthews makes $20 million a year

He could have retired a long time ago. Money isn't the issue. Personally, I never thought he was terribly good at his job, but I also think this whole issue is over-reacting, reading more into what he said than he meant. It was a poor analogy, but certainly wasn't meant to compare Bernie's campaign to Nazis.

[Downtown Hound]

31. I can pretty much guarantee you that's not the case with Matthews. n/t

[yaesu]

6. Mathews has went off the deep end, again, he should be fired but MSM needs him to get Dump reelected

<a href="https://ibb.co/NxHGcN6"><img src="" alt="doing-it" border="0"></a>

[patricia92243]

7. This is only a tiny example of what Trump will be saying. If you can't stand the

heat, get our of the kitchen. (Harry Truman)

[lunasun]

28. Yes Truman !

[underpants]

38. ✅

I had not seen that before

[MarcA]

54. +1,000 n/t

[cwydro]

8. I'm not a fan of Bernie, at all.

But Matthews was way out of line, even without the Jewish angle.

He’s an idiot.

[bearsfootball516]

10. He should have retired long before that statement.

[4139]

14. It's more like the French Revolution and the over throw if the bourgeoisie

[Farmer-Rick]

15. Yeah, it as if no one knows he is Jewish

Not that religion should be an issue....but we all know it is.

The Jewish groups kind of ignore him. The Catholics I knew at the time were all in behind JFK. I just find it weird that Jewish folks aren't much more supportive of Sanders. Even my sister and brother-in-law who are very religious Jews, are talking about voting for Trump. But then they are a bit nuts.

[Bluepinky]

40. Maybe Jewish groups ignore him because he honors the US Constitution

that calls for separation of church and state?

He’s different than many of the hypocrites in office now who inject religion into their platforms and speeches (even Trump does it) to get support from religious people. I like that Bernie doesn’t talk about religion.

If religious people would rather vote for a bully who claims to be religious (while stealing, cheating and lying for his own gain), than a guy whose policies are to assist the greatest number of people, but doesn’t talk about religion, then they aren’t following the teachings of Jesus.

[OliverQ]

16. Bernie's family was killed in the Holocaust.

Chris Matthews is disgusting trash. He said he'd rather Trump win again than Bernie.

[lunasun]

25. Did he speak of fascism when trump was running ? I don't have cable and only know his name

Seems like many have been doing some form of bashing from what I have read
Todd, Williams and Matthews at least I have read about, is it the whole station ?
Commcast is owner I think so.....

Sad they had to go there

Link to tweet

?s=21

[Downtown Hound]

29. Chris matthews is, and alwasy will be, a blubbering gasbag

Yes, every once in awhile in between bouts of extreme verbal flatulence, he says something intelligent, but overall, he's a fucking idiot who's well past his sell by date.

I don't even know why anybody listens to him. He's a pompous ass.

[dawg]

39. He wasn't calling Bernie a Nazi ...

he was just using a historical example of a surprising and overwhelming victory.

[melman]

43. He should be fired

But he won't be. For some reason he seems to have a lifetime job there.

[keithbvadu2]

46. Nazis? Trump "emboldened" them.

Nazis? Trump "emboldened" them.

America fought a war against the Nazis and supposedly won.

Yet here they are marching to "take back America".

When did the Nazis have America?

" Michael Von Kotch, a Pennsylvania resident who called himself a Nazi, said the rally made him "proud to be white."

He said that he's long held white supremacist views and that Trump's election has "emboldened" him and the members of his own Nazi group. "

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fights-in-advance-of-saturday-protest-in-charlottesville/2017/08/12/155fb636-7f13-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html?utm_term=.b54a0162fe07

[nolabear]

47. I'm not a fan but this sounds far too much like 45.

Unfair! Censor him! He said something we don’t like!

Be very, very careful with that. The cable news stations are not nonpartisan, none of them. Start calling for heads to roll when you don’t like an opinion—and I didn’t like that one—and nobody but those in power will be able to express one.

[duforsure]

48. I turn the channel because I am tired of his interrupting his guests

And going on outlandishly about his delusional thoughts. Theirs many others that deserve his place on TV.

[NurseJackie]

52. My opinion of him just SKYROCKETED!!!

[jmg257]

53. LOL! Oh the poutrage! Its OVER! was his only point. Sheesh, like there isn't enough real stuff

to get worked up over, we need this nothing bulll shit complaint?!?



Wake up, people!!!

[rickford66]

56. Forget his political views, he's a terrible interviewer.

[Aaron Pereira]

60. I'm beginning to see why Bernie complained about the fairness of MSNBC's coverage.

James Carville: Bernie is a communist
Chuck Todd: Bernie's supporters are like brownshirts
Chris Matthews: Hold my beer.

I'm always looking for the positive side so in this case I'm glad to see MSNBC getting honest about their bias.

[polichick]

63. Chris should have retired a while ago - he says lots of dumb shit.

[Blue_Tires]

64. Matthews should have been fired for much worse than this

over the years...