MSNBC host Chris Matthews impugned the motives of forty percent of the country on Thursday, asking if Republican presidential candidates have to go after "the obvious target, minorities" in order to appear to the party's voters.
Transcript below:
EUGENE ROBINSON: Given the tough rhetoric, the Republicans could do worse actually with the latino community than they did the last two elections. I do agree, and it's an opportunity for Jeb Bush, for Scott Walker, for others if they so choose to show some courage and to show some, you know, some force and strength.
KATHLEEN PARKER: I don't think they lack courage. Do you have the right opportunity to get in there and make a point without looking unnecessarily combative? I think that Jeb Bush is the one who would sneak up first on that immigration issue because, you know, it is an insult. When Donald Trump says, oh, listen, they love me, I've got hundreds of those people working for me, that's the way he says it.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Steve Kornacki, the challenge is when you swing for the fences with the big line, you know, and everybody knows you think it's the big line. You lay it right out there and there's nothing in reaction. Is there a chance you could swing for the fences and not go to right field every time? Can you say something big to this audience tonight that isn't just red meat for the hard right that they'd actually applaud? Or do you have to go for the obvious target, minorities, and the big Democrats, Hillary, Obama? Are they the only safe places to go for the fences?