Matthews Calls Gingrich Comments Xenophobic, "Anti-World" (VIDEO)

On "Hardball" Tuesday Chris Matthews criticized Newt Gingrich for comments he made at a GOP Senate-House fundraising dinner Monday night, saying his statements exhibited "xenophobia" and an "anti-world mentality."

At the fundraiser Gingrich declared proudly that he was not a "citizen of the world" and that 'the entire concept is intellectual nonsense and stunningly dangerous." (Gingrich also used the occasion to declare that President Obama had "already failed.") The former House Speaker then went on to list a number of countries that he would not want to be a citizen of under any circumstance.

Matthews, who had began the segment by asking if Gingrich could be the figure to lead the GOP's comeback, made it clear he found nothing to like in Gingrich's worldview : "If that's gonna lead the Republican Party out of the wilderness, maybe they should just stay in the wilderness, because he looks like the enemy."

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Comments

[tapeatsbill]

Small minded Newt/

[calvert567]

"Matthews, who had began the segment..." Grammar check please. Yipes.

[Jeffreygeez]

We are all citizens of the world. People like Gingrich think moral superiority is a result of geography. Arrogant and just plain ignorant. Another nail in the coffin of the Republican Party.

[carolr51]

Newt and his kind are stunningly dangerous.

[Jeffreygeez]

President Regan said that America was the moral conscience of the world- So in his opinion because of geography we American´s had superior moral conscience´s ??? duH??

That kind of arrogant attitude is a direct insult to millions of people who do not happen to live in the United States: Moral superiority by a place or nation is not possible. It is a one on one deal. Figure it out or just listen to America´s local news stations. Morally superior hardly..

[EDGAR45]

Newt the Salamanda

[mjc]

There is a contest between Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove to see who can make the most obscure and mean(ingless) comments. It's a race to see which one really speaks for Repugs. But Matthews would do better ignoring both these men. They are both fishing for some issue to really cream Democrats with and their lines have gotten hold of some rotten log or old shoe in the stream, not issues.

[Madcitychick]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/10/740625/-Newt-Gingrich-Calls-Reagan-Concept-Intellectual-Nonsense-and-Stunningly-Dangerous


Ronald Reagan, addressing U.N. on June 19, 1982
I speak today as both a citizen of the United States and of the world. ... My people have sent me here today to speak for them as citizens of the world, which they truly are, for we Americans are drawn from every nationality represented in this chamber today.

Newt Gingrich addressing GOP on June 8, 2009
Let me be clear. I am not a citizen of the world! I think the entire concept is intellectual nonsense and stunningly dangerous.

The great difference between Reagan’s rhetorical skills and President Obama’s rhetorical skills are [sic] that Reagan used his rhetorical skills to shine light on truths and fundamental facts, Obama used his rhetorical skills to hide from fundamental facts.

How embarrassing for Newt. And for the roomful of Republicans who applauded him while he insulted Ronald Reagan.

[db08]

What fundamental facts did Reagen shine the light on and what is Obama hiding? Be specific...show us what you mean.

[sarabono]

Been watching Chris lately. He seems to be having trouble finding relevant things to talk about in a coherent way.

[Kingstone]

Pathetic!

[lew]

Why does this guy get any face time on TV? He's a small time history teacher from some podunk college who had to resign from Congress for ethics violations. He's dumped 2 wives and his religion yet is the face of the Republican party. Oh right, the party of phony, self righteous hypocrites. No wonder he's the leader. But spare the rest of us please.

[newsdudeATL]

I don't want anything to do with another Bush.

Just say no to Jeb Bush.

[robbymar]

Its funny that America has spent so much time trying to get countries around the world to open up to the global economy and free their markets. After we have finally succeeded and the rest of the world is benefiting from this we want to turn our backs on globalization. We should want to be a leader in this new global community emerging. Or follow newt and become isolationist.... worked out well for the USSR

[logicalchoice]

we don't! The R's do!

[dezzertguy]

Tingles is always good for a laugh and he is funny. He has no respect for the US and just follows blindly after Obama.

[logicalchoice]

Follows blindly. Is that what you did for the last 8 years?

[Bongborg]

It's what he's doing now, he just don't know who the leader is.

[robiform]

Great comment, Chris--now, for the umpteenth time, PLEASE stop having Tom DeLay as a guest on your show! Why he isn't already in jail is beyond me and he has absolutely nothing to say that any sane person would want to hear!

[Samirah1368]

The GOP is anti-world

[rockyb26]

yep

[logicalchoice]

Agree!

[sueno]

What Gingrich really meant was
he's happy to be white and forget
the rest of the world.
Good for Chris to denounce Gingrich,
one of the worst politicians in the history of this country-

[logicalchoice]

Agree!

[Bongborg]

"one of the worst politicians in the history of this country..."

I dunno. Newt really ain't so much as a pimple on the wheelchair-bound a$$ of George Corley Wallace, as far as being a corrupt d*ckhead goes.