He seems kinda moderate to conservative to me, but I’ve also heard him described as liberal. Not that it matters a whole heck of a lot when it comes to agreeing or disagreeing with policy or ideas, I’d just like to know 'cause I’m curious.
He is really a mixed bag, but I believe he was/is a registered democrat. Also a few years back there was talk of him possible running for senate against (the very conservative incumbent) Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania.
He worked for Tip O’Neil. Democrat house majority leader in the '80s.
I believe he also campaigned for Jimmy Carter. Lately he has become more moderate, but I once heard him say on his show that he voted for Bill Clinton both times. I think he’s pretty much a moderate Democrat, but he goes after both parties equally. Matthew is basically what Bill O’Reilly pretends to be-- an objective seeker of fact.
Chris Matthews seems to have the same kind of political attitude as Jon Stewart, David Letterman, Tim Russert, Tom Hanks, and a few other hard-core centrists who support positions in both parties. Their hero is John McCain, and he’s a good model for what they believe. And I like the whole bunch of 'em.
Give Tip a promotion there. He was the Speaker of the House.
I just wish Matthews would stop shouting.
Your right… Too much Lott/Daschle coverage, I got minority/majority leader on the brain.
I guess the majority leader doesn’t have to be Speaker. Has it ever happened?
Hey, I love these guys too! Wanna know what else they have in common? They seem like the nicest people…not a mean-spirited bone in their body (which you have to have to be a fanatic-right or left).
Some of us just think Matthews is a pain in the ass irrespective of his politics.
I have trouble understanding how he gets anyone of substance on his show because the guest is rarely allowed to complete a thought without interruption.
John McLaughlin is worse, but just barely.
As noted, Matthews was on Speaker O’Neill’s staff in the 80s and was speechwriter for Jimmy Carter. Prior to the Lewinsky thing, he was an unabashed Clinton supporter. I think it’s safe to say he’s a moderate Democrat.
But he does have conservative leanings. Matthews sometimes describes himself as having a “conservative gut and liberal head” – with the liberal head talking him away from what his gut is saying. Unsurprising, given the strict Catholic environment he grew up in.
I highly recommend Matthews’ book, Hardball (written, BTW, pre-Clinton and long before his CNBC show of the same name was even conceived, though he has added a chapter on Clinton in the latest edition). Above all else, I think Matthews loves the game of politics, and his book is a wonderful compilation of how that game is played.
And yeah, he could keep his voice down a bit.
I think of him as a populist Democrat – I don’t think he is trying to get the approval of academia or hollywood stars.
Just to muddy the waters a bit, didn’t Chris Matthews guest-host the Rush Limbuagh show once or twice?
Democrat/Republican, Liberal/Conservative dichotomies are becoming more and more outdated to describe people’s political beliefs in our times.
There is a Majority Leader in the House, Tom Delay, who took over from Dick Armey.
Much different responsibilities though between the House and Senate Majority leaders.
I heard him sub in once several years ago (I’m not a Limbaugh listner, but I will flip from station to station when driving about). It was kind of funny because he was calling bullshit on some of the dittoheads…something I doubt they’re used to. 
How is Arlen Specter “very conservative”? He seems to be on the moderate/liberal wing of the Republican party.
Yeah, Blueapple, you might want to readjust your political radar. There was serious talk awhile back that Specter might follow in Vermont’s Jim Jefford’s footsteps and defect to the Dems. Since Jeffords left, he’s easily the most liberal Republican in the Senate.
And he was Ira Einhorn’s defense attorney.
(is that relevant? sorry.)
Ain’t that the truth;)