Chris Matthews posed an interesting question: do white voters hold black politicians to a higher standard than they do white politicians? Impressing that enthusiasm for Obama has waned in the second half of his term, Matthews wondered “if this is a phenomenon … this sense of, okay, you’ve got your shot, but let’s see you do it, if it isn’t really, really good, you know, you’re out of there.” Which is really all to ask, are voters racist? And if so, could race cost Obama the re-election?

Michele Bachmann‘s former campaign manager Ed Rollins was grilled by Hardball host Chris Matthews Wednesday about whether he still wanted her to be president. Rollins’ response was an ambiguous “she will evolve,” followed by a refusal to answer whether he wanted her to be Commander-in-Chief.

When questioned by Matthews on whether he is still involved in the campaign, Rollins lukewarmly said, “I’m available if she needs to call me and ask me for anything.”

Chris Matthews concluded his last program before September 11, 2011 with a heartfelt attempt to explain what had happened to the national consciousness in this past decade. Something was missing from the America he so dearly loved, he explained; the “national soul” had been replaced by partisan bickering and rendered the nation aimless along the way.

Former Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell (R-De) demanded an apology from MSNBC’s Chris Matthews via Twitter Thursday morning over comments the Hardball host made during MSNBC’s post-debate wrap-up. “Chris Matthews owes Bible belt an apology for elitist, rude remark about low IQ’s,” O’Donnell tweeted, adding, “Hannity would’ve been fired if he said it!”

Matthews did, indeed, mention Bible Belt voters and “minimal IQ levels,” but a review of the clip in question suggests O’Donnell’s anger might be misplaced.

During a pre-debate appearance on MSNBC’s Hardball, host Chris Matthews pressed former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to explain where the President really stands on issues like Medicare reform, and bluntly asked, “Is President Obama a liberal?”

Gibbs took offense to Matthews’ suggestion that the President’s stances are unclear, calling Matthews’ accusations “crazy and unfounded,” and Matthews took offense right back.

Texan talk radio host Jim Hightower has emerged as a regular source for Gov. Rick Perry commentary since the latter launched his presidential campaign, not the least because he has some experience running against him. On The Last Word tonight, Hightower explained that the reason he lost to Perry in an agriculture commissioner election was really because his opponent in practice was Karl Rove, and that Perry himself is actually fairly “testy” and “thin-skinned”: “he puts the ‘goober in gubernatorial.’”

With the time for Sarah Palin to put up or shut up drawing increasingly near, those in the business of studying what her impact on a Palin campaign could mean for the field are working hard to figure out where the battle lines will be drawn for the other candidates. On yesterday’s Hardball, host Michael Smerconish and the panel predicted good things could come for Mitt Romney if Palin triggers a battle for the Tea Party vote Romney has already largely alienated.

Over the weekend, GOP frontrunner Rick Perry made a thuddingly poor comparison, equating the Civil Rights movement with the struggles of corporations and wealthy individuals. During a pitched Twitter battle with BreitbartTV Editor Larry O’Connor over whether Hardball fill-in Chris Jansing “lied” when introducing the Perry clip Tuesday (she didn’t), I noticed that Jansing’s introduction hewed suspiciously close to the headline of a Thinkprogress item on the same clip.

Rep. Maxine Waters came off a contentious public event with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to jump into a feud with Rep. Allen West, who responded to the caucus last night by comparing himself to Harriet Tubman and accusing Rep. Waters and others of running a “plantation.” On today’s Hardball, Rep. Waters begrudgingly responded, adding that the Congressman had sent his out-of-work brother to her town hall today to ask for help with jobs.

Chris Matthews is fed up. Sure, that’s sort of his shtick, but this time around, he’s taken a break from decimating Republican politicians and is reserving his ire for none other than Barack Obama. The Hardball host, after giving a brief rundown on Republicans’ support of laissez-faire economics (which consists, apparently, of telling the government to “get out of our face”), said he has no idea what the President’s policy happens to be or how it might differ from what Republicans are trying to do.

Texas governor Rick Perry has been a presidential candidate for about three days, but it’s been more than enough time for Chris Matthews to make clear he isn’t buying what Perry is selling. Tonight on the program, Matthews discussed his chances with radio personality Jim Hightower and reporter Wayne Slater, telling them that he believed he “smells birtherism about this guy” and agreed with a comparison made to Donald Trump.

Yesterday, we called the epic debate between Chris Matthews and Rep. Joe Walsh one of “the most exciting and in-your-face political discussions ever recorded” and it’s clear we weren’t the only ones that enjoyed it. Last night, Sean Hannity brought the clip in front of The Great American Panel who, unsurprisingly, all seemed to feel like Walsh came out on top. What may have been surprising was just how harsh one panel member, Matthews former network-mate Tucker Carlson, was in his description of the MSNBC host.

Reports surfaced this weekend that MSNBC is looking to replace Cenk Uygur at 6PM and are looking to make a rather noteworthy switch at that time slot by bringing in Al Sharpton to host his own at that time. Those paying close attention may note that Uygur was never named the official host at the 6PM slot, never having shed the “interim” qualifier to his spot.

The war between Media Matters and Fox News that has resulted in some on the latter network calling for the former organization to have its tax-exempt status removed has resulted in many comparisons between the two, and debates over how much bias is an unfair amount. On tonight’s Hardball, Chris Matthews and his panel debated just how ideological Media Matters is, but not for long before discussing the “authoritarian” nature of conservative opinion itself.

Firebrand Rep. Ron Paul didn’t make it through the day of his official 2012 presidential campaign launch without falling into the libertarian quagmire that is the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Making his debut as an official Republican candidate on Hardball yesterday, Chris Matthews asked Rep. Paul to explain why he wouldn’t vote for the Civil Rights Act. What ensued was a heated exchange culminating with Rep. Paul objecting to Matthews’ alleged claim that “liberty is disgusting.”

The gulf between the headlines Tuesday, which trumpeted President Obama “Losing His Cool” in the “Outburst Heard ‘Round the World,” and the Clark Kent-esque reality of Obama’s admonition to a Texas reporter, was comically underscored by the fact that current media it-boy Donald Trump treats every interview like he’s the king of a very crowded subway car. Why, then, did Obama’s demeanor cause such a stir, while Trump’s gets nary a mention?

Earlier today, we reported that right-wing radio giant Rush Limbaugh completely bungled the task of reading Tommy Christopher‘s critique of a Hardball segment comparing the Qu’ran to the Bible. Later in his show, Limbaugh corrected himself, and apologized to Christopher. Mr. Christopher tells Mediaite, “I’m glad Rush corrected the record, and I forgive him, but I cannot accept his apology.”

On Sunday, Mediaite published an article in which I was critical of Time Magazine World Editor Bobby Ghosh for statements that he made on Friday’s edition of Hardball. Ghosh explained why burning the Qu’ran was “much more inflammatory” than burning a Bible. Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh took issue with Ghosh’s remarks on his Monday morning show, then slammed Mediaite by pointing out… exactly the same thing we pointed out in our commentary.

On Friday’s edition of Hardball, my friend Chuck Todd filled in for host Chris Matthews, and took a look at the implications of a deadly riot that was allegedly inspired by Pastor Terry Jones‘ recent burning of the Qu’ran. Todd was joined by guests James Zogby, President of The Arab American Institute, and Time Magazine World editor Bobby Ghosh, who explained to Todd why burning a copy of the Qu’ran was “much more inflammatory than burning a Bible.”

Hardball host Chris Matthews was quite impressed with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton‘s speech about the U.S.’s current take on Libya its leader, Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Matthews – despite relative silence on the issue from those on his panel – praised Clinton for her strength and “hawkishness.” He even felt she looked, well. Downright presidential.

Unlike a certain President Someone…

Chris Matthews appeared on The Tonight Show last night with and predictably revealed his admiration/adulation for President Barack Obama, particularly for the White House response to the disaster unfolding in Japan. He also brazenly shared his opinions on many other news items of the day, but was most vocal in his critique of Governor Mike Huckabee‘s recent comment that Obama grew up in Kenya learning about the Mau-Mau Revolution. Matthews did not demure in his critique, simply saying “it’s racist!”

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews is the latest media personality (deservedly or not) to draw ire for a display of insensitivity regarding Japan’s still-unfolding earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis. The knock on the Hardball host is best summed up by Newsbusters’ headline, “Chris Matthews Sees Japan Earthquake an ‘Opportunity’ for Obama to Remind People He Was Born in Hawaii.”

A review of Matthews’ remarks, in context, paints a slightly different picture.

Last night Chris Matthews spoke at length about the field of potential GOP presidential candidates, and took subtle swipes at many along the way. Except when it came to Newt Gingrich (who his expected to announce an exploratory committee for a possible run imminently.) No, Matthews swipes at Gingrich were anything but subtle, comparing him to a “car bomber” with a “crazy Mephistophelian grin of his.” Whoa!

The Daily Caller is reporting that, on Friday’s Hardball, host Chris Matthews “Calls Obama Critics ‘Crackers‘,” and cites this as a deviation from the “new civility.”

While technically correct, Matthews’ target was much narrower than Daily Caller‘s Jeff Poor implies, and while “cracker” is, indeed, an uncivil term, it is arguably an apt one for the “birthers” who just can’t shake the feeling that President Obama just doesn’t belong here. Finally, though, this clip illustrates one more benefit of white privilege: even our racial epithets are easier.

In case you didn’t think enough people were talking about Sarah Palin, earlier today Chris Matthews weighed in. He heavily criticized Palin’s upcoming Hannity appearance…and even had help from Republican strategist guest Todd Harris.