Mika Shoots Down Chris Matthews' Awkward Iran Metaphor (VIDEO)

Chris Matthews' attempt at a metaphor justifying why Americans want to see Ahmadinejad lose or fall ill fell flat on "Morning Joe" Monday.

"We obviously would like to see Ahmadinejad get beaten, we'd love to see the guy have a very bad health condition tomorrow morning, we'd love all that to happen," Matthews said. "We'd love anything that would improve our situation over there. But if we say a lick of that [Iranians] will know it and they will root in the other direction," he said.

Then he attempted a metaphor to explain why Iranians will go against anything America wants, comparing the situation to two fighting brothers.

"I grew up with brothers so I know about adversarial," he said. "If my brother roots for the Yankees, I was for Cleveland or Boston. If he rooted for the Navy, I rooted for the Army. If he rooted for the North -- Joe, you'll like this -- I rooted for the South. Mika, you were saying, 'Why would Lindsay Graham oppose the President?' Because that's what you do if you're in politics. If he takes the peaceful road, you take the more acrimonious, angry road. It's normal politics these guys are engaged in."

Mika Brzezinski quickly shot down his minute-and-a-half long parallel.

"No, I mean Chris, you're talking about growing boys, about growing immature boys, who go against each other when growing up because that's what brothers do," she said. "I have two brothers, I know a thing or two about that. But we are talking about the future of not only Iran but our relationship with that whole area and I think that they're playing with fire if they're acting that way."

A defeated Matthews immediately got quiet, while Joe Scarborough quickly transitioned to the next topic.

"The entire region, exactly," Joe said. "Hey, Willie Geist, also health care on the front pages of the papers..."

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Comments

[pepper47]

She was only was taking the opposite view. The very point Chris was making

[PrincessNikki]

It's sad that Mike missed the point. I think she is blind by Joe and cannot see clearly, maybe she should talk to her dad and get some real perspective.

Good job Chris! me and dozens of others think you were spot on.

[plooger]

Sounds like Mika's the one who missed the point. Matthews wasn't too far off in his assessment of why Graham et al are taking their ridiculous stand. It's partly to position themselves against Obama, when it's not about irrational hawkishness, that is.

[swg63]

Mika's point is moot.
Matthews is still right. We(U.S.) need to let the people of Iran fight their own internal struggles,while keeping a watchful eye.

[topshooter]

exactly, mika was only cutting down the repubs for acting like children. title is misleading

[Okieborn]

I thought Don Imus was bad on his show at times, but I am ready for Don to return for a watchable show !!!

[hapiguy]

Imus,,Imus lets get Imus back,,enough of Mika and Joe,,,

[Clayton139]

Put Nora ODonnell in that Time Slot ! - I can't beleive she does not have (HER OWN SHOW) !!!

[jsgaetano]

Matthews just summarized the entire "platform" conservatives have been operating on. They don't have any true belief system, they are simply anti-liberal.

When liberals cure cancer, conservatives become pro-cancer. Literally!
http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=4717

[Clayton139]

Good one !
Sad but, True !

[roblabrousse]

I think Matthews was stumped for an answer. He was talking metaphor and Mike was talking actual boy behavior. Matthews is used to talking to people who really think. In this case he wasn't. His metaphor was simple but basically people will do the opposite if incited. If Obama came out an supported the reformers with immense vocal support then Armedinajad would intensify against the reformers precisely because of that. So an older brother, Obama is for the Mets then the younger brother Armadinajad chooses the Red Sox to beat the crap out of them. The teams are the cause the supporters are the presidents. But Ms.Shoe Fetish Mika just kept with the boys will be boys not maturing idea which really didn't fit in with the dynamics of this horrible situation in Iran.

[pkafin]

I think you are correct. Mathews wasn't beaten down. I think he was momentarily stunned that what was clearly a metaphor was countered by MIka as if it was a literal psychological explication of the relevant personalities involved.

Mathews was correctly pointing out the oppositional tendencies inherent in human nature.

[SharonWantsToTalk]

Chris brother analogy was kinda weak, but Mika couldn't see past that. She totally missed the Khrushchev reference. Anybody that knows ANYTHING about Iran understands that America giving its stamp of approval to the uprisings is only helping the current rulers of Iran. They will use it to say WE are the reason the elections were protested. The only way America can stay legitimate is to stay out of it. America has a long and sorted past with Iran. We have never acted in their interest. To do so now would only beg suspicion.

[Hank10303]

Mika needs to step away from the Scarbrough; it is affecting her reasoning. There isn't one modicum of maturity in the reactions, responses and rhetoric of the republican party with regards to administration policies. Any possible validity they could have had has been washed away in hypocrisy as evident in their records over the last 8 years. They are like school kids on the football team jealous of the prom king who played basketball. And their policy of "just say no" from Nancy Regan is equally ineffective.

[Hank007]

The reality of politics is so over her head.

[bradwieser]

Some people on here must get a thrill up their leg when Matthews talks. Matthews metaphors are ridiculous. The election already happend, how are we gonna influence it one way or another if it already happened. We will still be the great satan to the religious leadership and the token president no matter what Obama says and the young people there will still be more pro western no matter what we say. So lindsey graham has a more realist opinion on the situation than the president. No big deal. Obama is handling the situation just fine so far. Chris matthews however seems to be losing his mind more and more everyday.

[PulSamsara]

Weak. It wasn't the election we were trying to influence. It was the street - and we were trying to 'influence' them by, intelligently, staying out of the way.

No wonder your wandering aimlessly in the wilderness.

[chronic]

Exactly!

[shelchak]

I don't think that was necessarily a shoot-down. Chris is right -- the Reps ARE acting like immature boys -- and Mika is right -- they're playing with fire when they do so. If they have better ideas, they should just say what they are, and stop dumping on the president, in public. They sure didn't like it when it was Bush getting dumped on -- what hypocrites.

[exile]

no body gets the chance to respond on the right wing wacko "news" programs.

never thought i would say this but can we have imus back.

[sarahwaters]

i agree i miss him

[bradwieser]

This coming in defense of Matthews is funny considering he asks his guest a question and then as soon as they start to answer he starts to tell them why they are wrong and then they try and answer again and he goes off on a tangent and then asks them a different question, repeat process. At least matthews will have people on his show that disagree with him though, thats much more than you can say for Olberman and Maddow. Whats the point in bringing guests on your show if they will just agree with everything you say. Who watches Scarbrough anyways the guy comes on at like 6 am ET. if you are up that early and watching TV you are either over 60 or boring the crap out of you 3 year old.

[commercelib]

Mika has almost completely gone over to the "other side" since Morning Joe began. I'm beginning to think she has a crush on Scarborough, for god's sake. What must her father think?

[MsMicki]

Good question commerce, I have wondered the same thing since I am a big fan of her father's. It's hard to believe that she is even from his loins. If she didn't look like him, I would be wondering.......

[mesuki]

I don't even understand why Mika is a part of that show.Joe treats her like a dumb blonde every chance he gets and won't shut up long enough for her to get a word in edgewise.

[chronic]

Because she is.

[1will]

Chris Mathews was at a disadvantage. His leg was still tingling from his last Obama story.