Citing no evidence, Matthews dubbed Palin "a conservative version" of "Norma Rae"

During the September 7 edition of his NBC-syndicated television show, Chris Matthews played a clip from Gov. Sarah Palin's September 3 acceptance speech as the vice-presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention and asserted that Palin is "a conservative version you think perhaps of some movie heroes like Norma Rae, the factory worker fed up with minimum wage, who did whatever it took, even jail time, to get the union organized." Matthews then played a clip from the 1979 film, Norma Rae (20th Century Fox). Matthews also said of Palin: "[B]eing mayor of little Wasilla got her ready for some big fights, a strong female up against the odds fighting for justice. It's a familiar theme." Matthews did not provide any evidence of Palin being "up against the odds fighting for justice."

From the September 7 edition of NBC-syndicated The Chris Matthews Show:

MATTHEWS: Before we break, Republicans think they've found a pit bull in Sarah Palin, but before she became the governor battling big oil, she was Sarah the neighbor, the friend, the mom. In fact, her first foray into political action was the PTA.

PALIN [video clip]: This is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity. I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom and signed up for the PTA, because I wanted to make my kids' public education even better.

MATTHEWS: She calls herself average but being mayor of little Wasilla got her ready for some big fights, a strong female up against the odds fighting for justice. It's a familiar theme. She's a conservative version you think perhaps of some movie heroes like Norma Rae, the factory worker fed up with minimum wage, who did whatever it took, even jail time, to get the union organized.

[video clip from Norma Rae]

MATTHEWS: I love that stuff. And when we come back, Palin will fight to the end, but how will that play against [Sen.] Joe Biden?

—M.W.