Republican Joe Walsh Taunts ‘Bully’ Chris Matthews: Obama ‘Sends a Tingle Up Your Leg’
Republican Congressman Joe Walsh didn't put up with Chris Matthews' “bullying” on Tuesday, mocking the liberal MSNBC anchor for his effusive praise of Barack Obama. Over the host's frequent interruptions, the Illinois Representative taunted, ” Hey, Chris, your President, who sends a tingle up your leg -” Walsh appeared to discuss the debt ceiling debate and what Republicans are willing to cut. The Congressman jokingly referred to Matthews' famous 2008 remark that an Obama speech created a ” thrill going up my leg .” A seemingly chagrined Matthews dismissed, “Okay. Here we go. This is where I thought we'd end up.” The anchor resorted to arguing semantics, reminding, “And first of all, tingles is your word.” [Video and MP3 audio here .] Walsh continued to fight back, bombarding, “He doesn't send a thrill up my leg, Chris, all right? And he has not been serious about this debt crisis, and why don't you jump on that?” Later, Walsh slammed Matthews for his propensity to interrupt guests, declaring, “You know what you do? You bully guests. Answer me a question: Did the President ignore the debt situation in his State of the Union address?” The Hardball host quickly talked over Walsh and went to break. Matthews may argue about the difference between “tingle” and “thrill,” but it's not the only such remark he's made. On July 27, 2004 , during the Democratic National Convention, the journalist alerted viewers that then-Senator Obama had created a “chill” in “my legs.” A partial transcript of the July 19 Hardball exchanges follow: CHRIS MATTHEWS: Your bill doesn't specify cuts. It calls in ten years for reduction in government spending to 19.9 percent of the economy. Are you happy with that number that would reduce it to, basically, $3 trillion from $3.75? It really doesn't change that much. But, my point to you is do you really think you're going to get two-thirds vote in the House for a balanced budget amendment? Two-thirds vote? JOE WALSH (R-Ill) : Hey, Chris, the fiscal situation now, this President- MATTHEWS: Will you get- You said you're going to get a two thirds vote? WALSH: Yes! Yes. It's so severe
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on July 19, 2011. Filed under