Chris Matthews: Do Republicans Oppose Obama Because of His Race?

Chris Matthews on Friday actually asked a GOP Congressman if Republicans oppose President Obama because of his race.

On the 5PM installment of MSNBC's "Hardball," Matthews brought on Rep. Bob Inglis, the Congressman from South Carolina who easily lost his primary fight in June to Tea Party candidate Trey Gowdy and has been badmouthing his Party ever since.

Early in the conversation, Matthews asked, "What is it that`s gotten into your Party`s water supply, the Republican Party`s water supply, that makes them strangely hostile to the president, not just against his policies, but personally? Is it race?"

Fixated on racial conspiracy theories, the "Hardball" host later in the interview asked, "If we had about a million Heidi Klums trying to cross the border, the Mexican border of the United States, you know, the gorgeous blond from Germany or whatever, do you think that would be a problem with immigration right now, or is it really just ethnic?" (video follows with partial transcript and commentary):

After voting for TARP and telling voters not to listen to Glenn Beck too much, South Carolina Republican Congressman Bob Inglis was outvoted in his primary this year. Now he`s offering up some very honest advice for his party and some very scary stories from his time on the trail.

Here`s how Mr. Inglis described one campaign donor meeting to David Corn at 'Mother Jones' -- quote -- 'They say, `Bob, what don`t you get? Barack Obama is a socialist, communist, Marxist, who wants to destroy the American economy, so he can take over as dictator. Health care is part of that, and he wants to open up the Mexican border and turn the United States into a Muslim nation.'

Well, that was a funny conversation. Somebody actually thought that the Muslims would be pouring over the Mexican border. The Rio Grande protects us from Islam. These people have got a problem."

REP. BOB INGLIS (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: "I guess so. It`s -- I think it`s generally not seen as a Muslim nation, but -- Mexico isn`t."

MATTHEWS: "Well, what is -- what is -- let`s talk about the conspiracy theories. What is it that`s gotten into your party`s water supply, the Republican Party`s water supply, that makes them strangely hostile to the president, not just against his policies, but personally? Is it race?"

MATTHEWS: "I can`t resist asking this. I got to ask this question. If we had about a million Heidi Klums trying to cross the border, the Mexican border of the United States, you know, the gorgeous blond from Germany or whatever, do you think that would be a problem with immigration right now, or is it really just ethnic? The people from a different ethnic background.

If Heidi Klum, by the million, was trying to cross the border, I figure a lot of guys would be down there welcoming her personally. What`s your view?

I want to make this a little ludicrous because I think it`s obvious it`s ethnic. And I want people just to admit it."

So, in Matthews' distorted view, Republicans oppose Obama's policies because of his race, and Americans that are against illegal immigration only feel this way because those coming across the border are Mexican.

Remember all the economic policies you voted Matthews? Where are they?

http://change.gov/agenda/economy_agenda/

...A tax cut for 95 percent of workers and their families — plus seniors: Barack Obama and Joe Biden propose a permanent tax cut of $500 for workers and $1,000 for families. A first round of these tax credits could be mailed out quickly by the IRS based on tax returns already filed for tax year 2007. In addition, Obama and Biden would extend these expedited tax credits to senior citizens who are retired as a down payment on his plan to eliminate taxes for all seniors making up to $50,000.

Extend unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits: Millions of Americans are looking for work but unable to find it in the weak economy. Today, more than one in five unemployed workers has been out of work for more than half a year — the highest level since early 2005. Obama supported extending unemployment insurance this summer, but already 800,000 jobless workers have exhausted those benefits and are being left without any unemployment compensation. Obama and Biden believe Congress should immediately extend unemployment insurance for an additional 13 weeks to help families that are being hit hardest by this downturn. In addition, they believe we should temporarily suspend taxes on unemployment insurance benefits as a way of giving more relief to families.

Penalty-free hardship withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s in 2008 and 2009: Many families are going to be facing unique economic hardship over the coming year. To help these families pay their bills and their mortgages and make it through these tough times, Obama and Biden are calling for legislation that would allow withdrawals of 15% up to $10,000 from retirement accounts without penalty (although subject to the normal taxes). This would apply to withdrawals in 2008 (including retroactively) and 2009.
Instruct the Treasury to allow seniors to delay required withdrawals from 401(k)s and IRAs: Currently seniors are required to start withdrawing from their 401(k)s and IRAs at age 70 1/2 and every year thereafter over their lifetime. But the explicit requirement that withdrawals continue on an annual basis — and the related requirement that the amount withdrawn be based on currently much higher year-end 2007 asset values — is based on Treasury regulations, not the statute, which has a less specific mandate. That means the Secretary of the Treasury has authority to change its regulations to protect seniors from being forced, at this critical time, to sell their investments and “lock in” their losses just after market values have plummeted in an almost unprecedented fashion. Obama and Biden are calling on Treasury to temporarily suspend the required withdrawals for retirees over age 70 1/2. Because retirees often make these required withdrawals late in the year, there is still time to help millions of affected seniors — but only if done promptly. In addition, because lower-income seniors may have no choice but to take withdrawals this year and in 2008, Obama and Biden will exempt any withdrawals made up to the required minimum amount from taxation. This will give seniors the flexibility they deserve — to forgo withdrawals if they choose or to take those withdrawals tax free if they need those resources to pay their bills.

Funds to counteract high heating costs this winter: Obama and Biden are calling for supplementing the recently passed LIHEAP funding to ensure that cold-weather states can cushion the impact of high energy prices for their residents this winter. The Energy Information Administration said that consumers will pay a projected $1,137 to heat their homes from Oct. 1 to March 31 — 15 percent more than last year’s heating outlay during this time. Homeowners that use heating oil rather than natural gas could see increases of 23 percent compared to last year. As part of his $25 billion state fiscal relief package, Obama’s plan will supplement existing LIHEAP funding to help state programs expand to cover more residents while continuing to provide a meaningful benefit.

Remember all the economic policies you voted Matthews? Where are they?

http://change.gov/agenda/economy_agenda/

Provide tax relief for small businesses and start-up companies: Obama and Biden will eliminate all capital gains taxes on start-up and small businesses to encourage innovation and job creation. Obama and Biden will also support small business owners by providing a $500 “Making Work Pay” tax credit to almost every worker in America. Self-employed small business owners pay both the employee and the employer side of the payroll tax, and this measure will reduce the burdens of this double taxation.

Create a national network of public-private business incubators: Obama and Biden will support entrepreneurship and spur job growth by creating a national network of public-private business incubators. Business incubators facilitate the critical work of entrepreneurs in creating start-up companies. Obama and Biden will invest $250 million per year to increase the number and size of incubators in disadvantaged communities throughout the country.

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