MSNBC president Phil Griffin apologized Thursday after host Chris Matthews called Charles and David Koch "pigs" in a segment with Rep. Ed Markey Wednesday.
Griffin apologized for Matthews’ "crass language" to Mark Holden, general counsel for Koch Industries, Inc., according to Newsbusters. Griffin said that Matthews would not be required to apologize to the Kochs.
In the exchange Wednesday, Matthews called the Kochs "pigs," and said he is in the "business of name calling," after Princeton professor Michael Oppenheimer declined to join Matthews:
MARKEY: The Koch brothers want Romney, and Romney has promised, to roll back those fuel economy incentives. It endangers the planet. And it’s going to endanger young men and women who have to go to the Middle East to import the oil from there rather than backing it (ph).
MATTHEWS: Well, Professor Oppenheimer, back in the ‘60s, we called such people pigs. Pigs. No, really, they don’t care about the planet, they don’t care about the destruction of war. All they want is what they got, their stuff. And they want more of it. Is that what we’re facing here, just greed? I’m not talking about the guy working in the coalmine. That’s hard work. I’m talking about people who won’t listen to you, won’t listen to science because they want more stuff.
MICHAEL OPPENHEIMER, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: Listen, Chris, I’m not into name-calling here.
MATTHEWS: Well, I am.
OPPENHEIMER: Fine, that’s your job, not mine.