Chris Matthews: Tea Party Cheerleader?

MSNBC's Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews: TEA Party cheerleader?

He sounds like a supporter now, even though in broadcasts in times past Matthews maligned the conservatives and the Republicans with race-baiting and other misleading slanders.

Matthews shared the following thoughts after the David Brat upset against Eric Cantor, debunking the mainstream media illogic which trashes conservatives, limited government advocates, and TEA Party affiliates as stupid:

Well, first of all, I don’t think you can assume that the liberals are smarter than the conservative professors. I think that’s crazy talk, and it’s exactly the attitude conservatives can't stand. I don't know which professor is more popular but that doesn't mean that's the better professor first of all.

Exactly. Professors in universities often attain their standing in academia by parroting their mentors and conforming with their peers. The academics who stand out and promote reasoned inquiry and truth face an Inquisition of protest and shame, most often by not earning tenure.

Popularity was never the final arbiter of truth, accuracy, or sound teaching. Then again, Mainstream Media colleagues may start labeling Chris Matthews an extremist for his "crazy talk".

Secondly, I think, I was listening to Brat last night, I listened to him today. I think he's very sophisticated for a politician. He's certainly up to the ranks of most politicians I've ever dealt with. He speaks in a speculative manner, in an intellectual manner, he can handle any debate on this program or my program.

Wow! Why the sudden turn of attitude towards Tea Party activists?

This looking down our noses at Tea Party people has got to stop. They have a message, they’re as American as any liberal is, and they’re really angry of the failure of the system.

Thank you, Mr. Matthews.

I was speaking with Tea Party supporters a few days ago, and they are reaching out to Democrats as well as Republicans, as more people in this country, whether liberal or conservative, are getting tired of a Washington political class more invested in enriching themselves than defending our rights, securing our borders, and respect the rights and integrity of the states and the people to govern themselves.

The Tea Party Movement includes Independents and Democrats, not just Republicans. While Democratic Party leaders have stifled dissent on key issues, the Republican Party in different states has not shied away from the movement's concerns about issues. A diverse caucus of ethnic groups and social backgrounds, the Tea Party Movement is still flexing political muscle

The second question comes to mind: why is Matthews changing his tone about the Tea Party movement?

Perhaps he wants to avoid the fate of fellow MSNBC anchors like Martin Bashir, who was pressured to resign following his incendiary comments about Sarah Palin and her comments about the national debt. Maybe Matthews is responding to data which posits him as the most disliked news broadcaster in the business.

Or maybe he is waking up the new media reality, that viewers are fed up with the anti-conservative, elitist snobbery which has dominated the mainstream media for so long?

Whether for gain or for good, Matthew's change of heart about the Tea Party is a gain for the country and good news for all of us.