It’s totally inappropriate to compare a campaign victory in an election to the Nazis conquering a country during World War II, but that’s exactly what MSNBC host Chris Matthews did on Saturday night after Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) won the Nevada caucuses by a landslide.
Sanders, propelled by his unwavering support of Medicare for All, won the state by a large margin, making him the clear front-runner to become the Democratic 2020 presidential nominee.
But rather than simply note Bernie’s big win, Matthews did so by comparing it to the Nazis seizing France in 1940.
“I was reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940,” Matthews said while covering the caucuses. “And the general, Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, ‘It’s over.’ And Churchill says, ‘How can that be? You’ve got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over?’ He said, ‘It’s over.'”
Seriously, he said this.
MSNBC’s Chris Matthews likens Sanders victory in Nevada to Nazi Germany overrunning France in 1940: “It’s too late to stop him … it’s over” pic.twitter.com/6GJetLoDkq
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 22, 2020
It’s an inappropriate comparison regardless of who won, but it’s especially bad because Bernie Sanders is a Jewish man who lost several family members during the Holocaust.
Needless to say, Matthews’ remarks drew mass outrage towards MSNBC and calls for his resignation, including from Sanders communication director Mike Casca.
never thought part of my job would be pleading with a national news network to stop likening the campaign of a jewish presidential candidate whose family was wiped out by the nazis to the third reich.
but here we are. https://t.co/2G1bqZ6bkI
— mike casca (@cascamike) February 22, 2020
I am disgusted and sickened by the commentary I’m hearing right now from Carville on @MSNBC
— Thom Hartmann (@Thom_Hartmann) February 22, 2020
This is inexcusable, @MSNBC! Comparing the nomination of @BernieSanders to the fall of France to the Nazis??? @HardballChris needs to be taken off the air, go to confession, and immediately apologize to the candidate – who also happens to be Jewish – energizing the electorate. 1/ https://t.co/gBrGBLbIpe
— Sara Nelson (@FlyingWithSara) February 22, 2020
Chris Mathews has been generous to me on a number of occasions, even blurbing my book. However, his constant references to political violence and today Nazism to describe Bernie Sanders campaign is beyond the pale. @HardballChris must resign or be fired from @MSNBC.
— Arun Chaudhary (@ArunChaud) February 22, 2020
Chris Matthews just compared Bernie Sanders, a Jewish man whose relatives were killed by the Nazis, to the Nazi army. He should be fired immediately. #FireChrisMatthews https://t.co/Z6irGFuXK4
— Krishan Patel (@IAmKrishanPatel) February 22, 2020
We should all be speaking out against Chris Matthews comparing Bernie Sanders’ win in Nevada to Nazi Germany overtaking France, which was profoundly offensive and disgusting — for anyone but particularly regarding a Jewish candidate who lost many relatives in the Holocaust.
— Charlotte Clymer ?️? (@cmclymer) February 23, 2020
Hi. Jew here. The Nazi occupation of France lead to the murder of 72,500 Jews. Bernie Sanders, me, and millions of other Jews grew up w/ nearly no extended family in traumatized household because of the Nazis. This comment by Chris Matthews is disgusting. pic.twitter.com/L2ybnPVAiI
— Abraham Gutman ? (@abgutman) February 23, 2020
Chris Matthews compared @BernieSanders victory to Nazis taking France. What happened to unity? I told you they were liars!! Unity meant compliance to the elites. Now that Bernie is winning, all of them are attacking him more not less. What happened to not hurting front-runner?!
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) February 23, 2020
A few days ago, @chucktodd read a passage likening Bernie voters to Nazi brown shirts. Now Chris Matthews is likening Bernie’s campaign to a Nazi invasion.
Bernie is Jewish and his family was killed by the Nazis. None of this is OK. https://t.co/xsz3vUHEKQ
— David Sirota (@davidsirota) February 23, 2020
I am not a @BernieSanders supporter. But Bernie Sanders views are mainstream and comparisons between him and Nazis are not only ridiculous but offensive. Chris Matthews and MSNBC should apologize for comparing the Shoah to a Jewish man winning a caucus. https://t.co/AC1KaASn4Q
— Jordan Acker (@JordanAckerMI) February 23, 2020
Make no mistake, Bernie is more than capable of beating Trump in November. He has a grassroots following and his ideas are popular and will help millions of people. He also scares the hell out of wealthy people. And anyone who does that deserves the support of the American people. Chris Matthews, on the other hand, should resign in disgrace.
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