Chris Matthews Jokes About "Thrill Up My Leg" Comment On Leno: "I Report All Senses...I'm A Frickin' American, I Do Have A Reaction To Things"

John McCain may be using it as fodder for his latest campaign ad, but Chris Matthews isn't backing down from his "thrill up my leg" comment. Monday night on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Matthews defended his infamous comment about his visceral reaction to a Barack Obama speech.

"You know, some journalists only report what a guy says and what they hear and what they see," Matthews told Leno. "I report all senses."

Matthews then continued, explaining how inspired he was by Obama's speech about race in America, and explaining that his sense of patriotism compels him to respond emotionally to big stories that affect American life:

"I'd rather be honest and say what I feel than sit there like some kind of statue and say, 'Oh that was noteworthy.' I'm a frickin' American. I do have a reaction to things. And I do react emotionally to my country. I care about this country, I wanna look out for it. It's my job. I'm not just some umpire. I take a side: us. That's who I'm rootin' for."

Watch:

From NBC, 7/21

Comments

[Wildcatdiva]

tweety has his moments. well they made a video about his thrill...i guess he'll want to see it.

[WarriorJames]

I'm glad Matthews can 'man up' to his enthusiasm for Obama! There are enough tv/news drones out there! Jeez, why not get excited about something as wonderfully possible as having the exact opposite of Shrub leading this nation?!?!

[helonias]

Wasn't that a Zep song about lemons or something

[divergal]

Ah, Chris. He's honest, at least. As much as I agreed with him about Obama's speech on race, I had a very different reaction when he spoke of Bush' evident "masculinity" or "virility" as he strutted across that aircraft carrier to deliver the "mission accomplished" speech. Yuck. The dude doesn't know enough to unhook? Or, maybe it was deliberate? (Yup.) Anyway, Matthews gushed about Bush' "manhood."

Is it true that for guys bombing a city into oblivion is a sexual turn on? And admiration for big basket isn't limited to fans of Calvin Klein underwear ads? But in politics shouldn't we give it a rest, or does everything have to titillate?
If so, glad I'm a woman...

[Gina322]

Wow! I love his explaination of his reaction, and I also LOVE the fact that he is not apologizing for it! Way to go!!!!

[venicesurfer]

apologize for it. NO. embarrassed by it, YES.

[ProgressiveThought]

Give them hell Chris!

[rwhiteside]

At least he's real.

[thefringecenter]

Real? Maybe real gone. Rachel Maddow has already chosen the new Hardball drapes.

[k6007]

I hope her journalistic integrity doesn't vanish as fast as all the rest of proppushers' does.

[suziq]

Really? I quit watching him after the umpteenth time he kissed tomdelay's backside..­.

[Grannysue]

Since the media carried the water for the Bush White House and their lies about Iraq for so long, they have some repenting to do, Chris thanks for at least being honest, the guy's speech moved you, well it moved a good many people, of course you can't move people on the Right, they have nothing to move, their like robots, they vote for the R, not for the A (American), but oh, yea they all do wear their little flag pins, even while trashing the Constitution, lying about WAR, giving the CEO'S and Corporations anything they want, on the backs of everyday Americans. Obama can walk and Talk and even chew gum at the same time, he doesn't need someone standing behind him to correct his statements about "who were fighting in Iraq", which Country borders which, who we invaded etc., I know it's difficult for the Right, they have Rush and Ann and Hannity and OREALLY, NOVAK and all the other blowgags who think they are reporters or that their opinion matters only. Got news for them, your all done, the majority of the public, except for the hard core trolls, are done listening to your lies and endless attacks on anyone who looks or acts different then you or what you believe, so deal with it, because frankly we just don't give a dam anymore!

[engineer68]

Chris, did you have these feelings about America during the Viet Nam war?

[SmokinJoeCalculus]

Who is this 'us' he is rooting for? And does it have oil?

[Eisen4Life]

Chris has been in love with McCain for awhile and now gets stabbed in the back by him for liking someone else too. What he has done is not newsworthy--Chris constantly brings up McCain's war hero status AND Obama being an inspirational speaker. That is pretty much how most of America views both candidates. McCain just feels jilted.

[CTmom13]

I like Tweety, I like KO better...b­ut Tweety is a good guy

[barackobama4prez]

Let me get this straight. The media has given a big pass to rethuglicans for the 1st 2 terms of the century and we're NOT supposed to be enthused by a breath of fresh air? Gimme a break.

And I also agree that if there is real emotion there, news persons should all their human side to come out. But they should also expect for a reaction to that.

[JohnnieP]

Well said, Chris.

[000Jade000]

Go, Chris. It would thrill you to know that millions of us experienced that thrill at the same time that you did, and that, yes, it thrilled us when you mentioned it.