August 9, 2009

Chris Matthews unloads on Jim Dean, brother of Gov. Howard Dean, and chair of Democracy for America, for DFA's ads targeting Sen. Ben Nelson on health care reform.

Matthews: That's what you're saying.

Dean: I understand what you're saying. We're challenging him.

Matthews: No, I'm saying what you're saying, not what I'm saying. You're trying to kill this guy, so he'll turn around, squirm in bed a while and do what you want him to do.

Dean: We're not trying to kill this guy. What we're trying to do is challenge him to get involved and engage the voters in this debate and we're pointing out as a material fact...

Matthews: Okay. I'm smirking because you're obviously writing the ad. You're writing the copy and yet you're coming on this show and giving us the foreplay and the soft sell.

Matthews goes on to carry water for watered down health care reform in the name of getting something done and asks if Dean's organization wants to get it all or nothing, and why they're trying to "destroy" Ben Nelson. He then pretends to be quoting members of Ben Nelson's family asking about the attacks on him.

Matthews: Okay, what do you think Sen. Nelson of Omaha thinks of your ad as he watches himself described as the enemy of health care reform? A guy in bed with the Mutual of Omaha and the rest of those insurance companies out there in Omaha, uh, how would you think he thinks you're doing to him?

Dean: I think Sen. Nelson should think about the fact that...

Matthews: Should? We're into the subjunctive now. I asked you what you think he thinks of your ad and he gets on, his kids get on, they watch his grandkids, I assume watch, everybody's checking in on your ads and you're blasting away at this guy. Daddy, grandpa, aren't you a liberal Democrat? Aren't you a Democrat? Why are they attacking you?

Liberal Democrat huh? Who in the hell do you think you're kidding Chris?

Can you help us out?

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