***UPDATE 5:55PM*** Matthews has apologized for referring to West Point as an "enemy camp" when talking about President Obama's speech last night:
Now I've heard too many politicians say things like, "oh that was taken out context" to explain something they wish they hadn't said let me just say to the cadets, their parents, former cadets and everyone who cares about this country and those who defend it: I used the wrong words and worse than that I said something that is just not right and for that I deeply apologize.
As those who watch me regularly probably got right away, my point was that the military up at West Point was probably a skeptical audience for President Obama given his strong position against the war in Iraq and generally more dovish image. I was wrong to make that conclusion based on the lack of applause or apparent enthusiasm in the ranks of officers and cadets last night.
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MSNBC host Chris Matthews wishes he could have phrased his point about President Obama's speech at West Point last night a little better after he referred to the venerated military academy as an "enemy camp." Matthews was saying that Obama was not getting the warmest of receptions from the cadets in the audience, and that his decision to make this speech at West Point was "interesting" because Obama "went to maybe the enemy camp tonight."
WATCH:
The host later acknowledged that "enemy camp" was perhaps the wrong phrase, but that his point about the location remains: "Maybe earlier tonight I used the wrong phrase, 'enemy camp,' but the fact of the matter is that he went up there to a place that's obviously military."
Matthews also did not have the most flattering reaction last night to the interview Dick Cheney gave to Politico yesterday. Cheney slammed President Obama throughout the interview, accusing him of "projecting weakness" to America's enemies. Matthews said Cheney reminds him of a "troll":
Does he ever stop? He's crawled troll-like out from under his bridge to say that President Obama is projecting weakness to our enemies. [...]
But he is really tough. I compare him to the troll that comes out from under the bridge and bites the ankle of the kid crossing.
WATCH: