Matthews: Spitzer allegations raise questions about "the judiciousness of these superdelegates"

Summary: On Hardball, Chris Matthews repeatedly referenced allegations that New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer was linked to a prostitution ring to call into question the role of superdelegates in the Democratic nominating process. Matthews stated: "I have to bring into question the prudence, the justice, the judiciousness of these superdelegates."

During the 7 p.m. ET March 10 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, discussing reports that Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D-NY) was linked to a prostitution ring, host Chris Matthews stated: "He is, however, I have to remind people -- maybe my sense of irony insists on it -- a superdelegate, one of these people placed in a privileged position of ruling on whether the democracy in the Democratic Party is going in the correct direction and, if not, to correct it." Matthews added, "Once again, I have to bring into question the prudence, the justice, the judiciousness of these superdelegates, their ability to think beyond mortal men. Here's a guy ... who had no judgment, who's going to pass judgment on whether the voters of -- who vote in Democratic caucuses and primaries got it right?" NBC News' Andrea Mitchell responded, "Well, he's one of 756." Previously, on the 5 p.m. ET edition of Hardball, Matthews stated, "Now, here's a fellow that's not showing the best of prudence or judgment, is he? Am I stretching this point? I hope so."

During both March 10 editions of Hardball, Matthews repeatedly invoked Spitzer's status as a superdelegate and his alleged link to the prostitution ring to call in to question the role of superdelegates in the Democratic nominating process. During the 5 p.m. edition, Matthews raised the issue three times:

• Matthews said that Spitzer "is one of these highly placed superdelegates whose judgment we're supposed to look up to and hold precious as somehow higher and mightier in its importance than the average voter who schleps to a primary or a caucus." He continued, "They're going to rule on how well we vote. If we vote inappropriately, the superdelegates -- this oligarchy -- will rule down and say, 'Sorry, you blew it.' Now, here's a fellow that's not showing the best of prudence or judgment, is he? Am I stretching this point? I hope so."
• Matthews later said to New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D), "Governor Spitzer's a superdelegate. He may not be one by Denver in August. But it just shows that superdelegates are people, too. The idea that superdelegates are mightier and smarter and more judicious than the rest of us has obviously been misproven again."
• Later, Matthews said to National Journal contributing editor Linda Douglass, "Just so we can all get a fix on the prudence and good judgment of superdelegates, we've got one here, the governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, superdelegate." He added, "His judgment is somewhat impeached now."

From the 5 p.m. ET hour of the March 10 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:

MATTHEWS: He's a big Senator Clinton backer, a colleague of hers in New York. Fair enough. She's not involved in this. But he is one of these highly placed superdelegates whose judgment we're supposed to look up to and hold precious as somehow higher and mightier in its importance than the average voter who schleps to a primary or a caucus. They're going to rule on how well we vote. If we vote inappropriately, the superdelegates -- this oligarchy -- will rule down and say, "Sorry, you blew it." Now, here's a fellow that's not showing the best of prudence or judgment, is he? Am I stretching this point? I hope so.

[...]

MATTHEWS: Governor Spitzer's a superdelegate. He may not be one by Denver in August. But it just shows that superdelegates are people, too. The idea that superdelegates are mightier and smarter and more judicious than the rest of us has obviously been misproven again.

[...]

MATTHEWS: Let me start with Linda Douglass. Thank you for coming on. Thank you all for coming on tonight. Linda, you start. Just when we thought we had a really good political story, which is this incredible story of how the Democratic nomination fight is going to end with Barack way ahead in votes and popular votes and delegates and states, and yet Hillary with the inside game mastered better than anybody -- along with her husband, the former president -- along comes this big story. Just so we can all get a fix on the prudence and good judgment of superdelegates, we've got one here, the governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, superdelegate.

His judgment is somewhat impeached now. Can he survive?

From the 7 p.m. ET hour of the March 10 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:

MATTHEWS: Andrea --

MITCHELL: And Chris --

MATTHEWS: -- let me ask you about Hillary Clinton -- Senator Clinton of New York. Of course, if you are a senator from a state and the governor's of the same party, you have to have a working relationship. You don't have to be soul buddies.

He is, however, I have to remind people -- maybe my sense of irony insists on it -- a superdelegate, one of these people placed in a privileged position of ruling on whether the democracy in the Democratic Party is going in the correct direction and, if not, to correct it.

Once again, I have to bring into question the prudence, the justice, the judiciousness of these superdelegates, their ability to think beyond mortal men. Here's a guy --

MITCHELL: Well --

MATTHEWS: -- who had no judgment, who's going to pass judgment on whether the voters of -- who vote in Democratic caucuses and primaries got it right?

MITCHELL: Well, he's one of 756.

—R.C.