Chris Matthews: Dems Have to Denounce Socialist 'Crap'

Chris Matthews, a prominent political commentator known for his sharp rhetoric on MSNBC's Morning Joe, recently urged Democratic candidates to distance themselves from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) during the upcoming election cycle. On Wednesday, during an episode of the show, Matthews criticized the DSA's influence within the broader Democratic Party, calling its ideology "crap." He argued that non-DSA Democrats must explicitly reject the group's platform to avoid being unfairly associated with its more radical policies. In a pointed exchange, Matthews stated that the DSA had inadvertently helped regular Democrats by clearly outlining its beliefs. "Their chair made that clear," he said, referring to the DSA leadership. This transparency, according to Matthews, has created a challenge for mainstream Democrats, who must now publicly disavow the group's positions. "All you have to do is go out there and say, thank you, DSA, for telling us what you believe in. I don’t believe in that stuff," he remarked, emphasizing his personal rejection of the DSA's agenda. Matthews further suggested that Democratic candidates would need to take a firm stance against the DSA, making it clear that they are not aligned with its views. "You’ve got to say, no, no, I’m not a member of the DSA and here’s why and make it very clear," he advised. He stressed that this clarity was essential for maintaining credibility among voters, especially as the election season intensifies. "So it’s going to require politicians to be good politicians and say, here’s where I stand," he said, listing traditional Democratic values such as support for labor unions, equal opportunity, civil rights, and other core principles. He warned that the final stretch of the campaign would likely see attacks targeting specific figures associated with the DSA, including El-Sayed, Mamdani, and others in New York. "I think that’s going to be a line that has to be drawn by Democrats," he said, implying that the DSA's actions could lead to widespread backlash against the broader Democratic base. "Because I’m telling you, the last six weeks of this election is going to be an attack on El-Sayed, and the DSA in New York, and Mamdani, and it’s all to come out and blame every Democrat for everything the DSA is doing." Matthews concluded by reinforcing his skepticism toward the DSA's policy proposals, stating that he does not believe in their checklist of beliefs. However, he acknowledged that running for office would necessitate a public rejection of the group's influence. "I don’t believe the DSA plan. I don’t believe in their checklist of what they believe in. I’ll say so. But running for office is going to require that, I think, before the election," he said, underscoring the potential political fallout for Democrats who remain too close to the DSA. As the election approaches, the tension between the DSA and mainstream Democrats is expected to escalate, with candidates facing pressure to clarify their positions. The coming weeks will likely see increased scrutiny of the DSA's role in shaping the Democratic narrative, potentially reshaping the party's image ahead of the vote.