Joy-Ann Reid appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews prepared with her research. She grilled former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for her support of Donald Trump even with newly confirmed misogyny, lewdness, and more on video. Chris Matthews tried to intervene several times.
Joy-Ann Reid did her research
Joy-Ann Reid got no support from Chris Matthews as she grilled an overmatched former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann over her support for Trump.
Michele Bachmann attempted to spin the recently discovered sexist, misogynist tape as Hillary Clinton opposition research distraction to avoid talking about issues. Joy-Ann Reid did not allow her to get away with the bait and switch misdirection. Reid called out the incompetence of the Republican Primary field for not doing their opposition research. There would be no Donald Trump as Republican Presidential candidate if that were done. Chris Matthews gave an audible sigh when Joy-Ann spoke that truth. But Reid did not stop there.
“You Congresswoman back on August 30th of this year said on a show called The Brody File, that God had raised up Donald Trump,” Reid said. “That Donald Trump had been raised up by God to be the Republican nominee. And you went on to say that God lifts up who he will and takes down who he will. So it seems to be that based on your own past statements, this was either done to Donald Trump by himself, by David Fahrenthold, by somebody at Access Hollywood, or by God. And I wonder if you now believe that God is taking down who he will.”
Chris Matthews sighed disrespectfully at Joy-Ann Reid’s statement and told Bachman she did not have to answer that. He was attempting to protect Bachmann on some religious context stating Reid’s comments were rhetorical. Reid’s question was based on her research and Bachmann’s past statements. It deserved an answer. I do not think I ever heard Chris Matthews dismiss a question by one of his panelists in this type of form before.
Later on, Joy-Ann Reid personalized her same comment by indirectly pointing out the hypocrisy of evangelicals. Chris Matthews might have realized his initial reaction to Reid was out of order as he then agreed with her even as she was making the same religious argument.
Joy-Ann Reid does her research and has no fear in confronting the hypocrisy of the Right as do many of the more glorified male hosts on MSNBC. Absent her voice, many on the Right would continue using MSNBC as just another platform to use our airwaves to misinform.