Chris Matthews and Rick Murphy

What can you say about MSNBC and its line-up of boorish, liberal hosts?

It's a freak show.

Chris Matthews' performance on Wednesday was an embarrassment.

Video.


Transcript

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Let me ask you this: Do you want a reliable ID card that prevents people from being hired illegally in this country... right now?

RICK MURPHY, ARIZONA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: I'm not in favor of a national ID if that's what you're talking about.

MATTHEWS: Of course, you're not because you're one of the BS artists in this world...

MURPHY: No, absolutely not.

MATTHEWS: OK. Let me ask you this: What's the chief reason people come to this country? Isn't it to get a job?

MURPHY: It's either to get employment or it's to get the free benefits that we provide. We have way too big of a welfare state, and we need to crack down on that as well.

MATTHEWS: OK, you're a hopeless Right-winger. You're hopeless, because the reason people come to this country is to get a job, and the first thing they do is try to get a job. And as long as there's a way to get one illegally, they're going to come to this country. You don't agree with that. Everybody listening knows that's the reason.

MURPHY: Well, Chris, the reality is there are lots of reasons people come here. And one of the reasons is because we haven't secured our border, and we are allowing the drug cartels free access to the southern half of our state.

MATTHEWS: OK. Change the subject. OK, OK. But here's the problem: You're not serious. Thank you, Congressman, for joining us. Congressman Grijalva, thank you for joining us. You're serious. Mr. Murphy is not.

That sort of attack from Matthews is terribly inappropriate. It's unacceptable and reflects poorly on MSNBC and NBC News.