Last night I actually heard Chris Matthews say something novel, appropriate, and true.
When discussing exit polls in Indiana, which showed that about ten percent of the vote in the open democratic primary came from Republicans, most of whom voted for Clinton, he talked about Rush Limbaugh urging Republicans to vote for Hillary in Indiana to fuel the ongoing fight in the democratic nominating process. Indiana, like many states, does not require one to be a registered Democrat to vote in the Democratic primary (an idea which I think is asking for trouble and should change.)
Since Republicans already have their nominee, there is no reason to vote for a Republican in the primary, so Limbaugh sees this as an opening to prevent Obama from beginning his general election campaign against McCain. Like most Republicans, Limbaugh fears Obama with his youth, charisma and call for change, and wants to knock him out or weaken him so the tired, old Republican candidate might have a chance.
Ever since McCain secured the Republican nomination, Limbaugh has been urging Republican listeners to vote for Hillary in open primaries, where you don't have to be a member of the party to vote in that party's primary. We don't know how much Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" has changed the race, but last night the mischief he urged was probably the only reason Clinton squeaked out a narrow victory in Indiana.
So Chris Matthews, who normally is more interested in hearing himself talk than in saying anything of value to viewers, said something that truly needed to be said.
He chastised Limbaugh and those who voted for Hillary for nefarious reasons and said that they would have to live with that shameful vote for the rest of their lives. He reminded them that many have died for the right to vote in this country, and by using their vote just to cause trouble, they have sullied democracy and shamed themselves. He stopped short of calling them traitors. Certainly he pointed out how juvenile and anti-democratic they were.
Bravo, Chris Matthews!
Some will disagree with you, of course, because some see elections as just another game, a sport if you will, which is why so many, including yourself, use constant sports metaphors in your political commentaries.
The Clintons, too, see this as a game, which is why they stay in it until they think the clock has run out. Except the Clintons keep adding minutes to the game and attacking the timekeeper.
Political campaigns are surely hard fought contests, but they are much more than games. They are struggles to win, but they should not be struggles to win at any cost. A campaign for the presidency is a contest to secure the trust of the American people and to prove the candidate has the wisdom, courage, and intelligence to lead this nation.
In the end, it shouldn't be just about winning. It should be about winning honorably and competing with integrity.
That is not what Rush Limbaugh did, and not what he urged his followers to do. He made a mockery of democracy.
I would be willing to bet that many of the same ditto-heads who volunteered for Limbaugh's operation chaos think Obama is unpatriotic because he doesn't wear a metal flag decoration on his lapel. What one wears does not make one a patriot. However, voting just to cause chaos, and to change the outcome of an election to choose a party's nominee when you don't even belong to that party, says a lot about how little you value this country and its democratic processes.
You, Rush Limbaugh, are the traitor. Ditto for your followers.
