On MLK Anniversary, Matthews Explodes with Rage Over Racism Directed at Obama
Chris Matthews burst out of the gate on Wednesday with a staggering display of anger after he was asked to frame the events which will mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Matthews railed against Republicans who refuse to acknowledge what he sees so clearly – the subtle racism which is ceaselessly aimed at President Barack Obama in an effort to delegitimize him.
Matthews says he expects “heated rhetoric” from the speakers who will mark the half-century anniversary of King’s inspirational speech. Instead of a message of hope, Matthews predicted – or rather hoped – that anger and resentment would be the dominant themes Wednesday’s commemorations.
“This country’s divided today — heavily divided, sharply divided — between the ‘noes’ out there,” Matthews began. “The ones who reject an African-American president , have rejected him from the day he was elected and the day they heard he might be elected.”
“The other half of the country rather disillusioned,” he continued, betraying his own sentiments. “Rather disenchanted; almost pouting with disillusionment right now.”
“Frustration and rejection are going to clash today,” Matthews added, anticipating the tone of the speech he would give. That is, if he were invited to speak.
MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts asked Matthews for his thoughts on a quote from former President George W. Bush who praised King on this anniversary effusively and said that the erecting of a monument to him in the nation’s capital reflects “the promise of America.”
This noble and inoffensive sentiment moved Matthews to an expectorating rage. Though he praised Bush for issuing a “nice statement,” he returned to the theme that today’s racism directed at the president is so subtle that only a select few mediums (himself among them) can channel it.
“They never say their problem with Obama is that he is black but look at the pattern,” Matthews continued. “The pattern is rejection of his legitimacy at the first point saying he is not really here illegally.” Matthews insisted that some Republicans in Congress are insisting that Obama is a “crook” because he is here illegally and that talk of impeachment – a staple topic of discussion among opponents of second term presidents – is an expression of their racial hatred for the president.
“At least in the old days they were honest about it,” Matthews insisted. “Today, they are not. That’s how rough it’s going to be today, I think.”
This is a bad bet. While some of today’s speakers will surely focus more on the challenges ahead than the progress behind, the most important speaker — the president — does not have a track record of echoing MSNBC’s racial resentments.
When the president does talk about race, which is rare, he is often conciliatory. In his speech addressing the verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin, Obama spoke to African-American concerns. He spoke the language of frustration and repression, getting the attention of the nation’s minorities who were frustrated by that verdict. And, in the end, he made sure to inform them that racial progress is being made and each generation moves successively closer to equality.
It is a safer bet to anticipate a peacemaking tone from the president rather than blood-boiling rage that Matthews hopes he will see.
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This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
