Chris Matthews Expresses Support for Racial 'Reparations If You Could Figure Out What It Would Be'

January 20th, 2016 10:59 PM

"By the way, I do believe in [slavery] reparations if you could figure out what it would be," Hardball host Chris Matthews admitted to his panel during the "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" segment on the January 20 program.

Matthews's comment came on the heels of syndicated columnist Clarence Page informing Matthews that Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was being freshly criticized by the Black Lives Matter movement for "opposing racial reparations" while instead favoring "a class view" of tackling the plight of underprivileged minorities.

"He was criticized heavily by Ta-Nehisi Coates and I expect some other people will be following," Page noting in fairness that it "turns out Bill Clinton took the same position back in the '90s, and while Hillary Clinton hasn't addressed them directly, she probably has the same position."

"She's not going to be for reparations," Matthews agreed, quipping, "Socialism and reparations: There's a winner! Ha!" 

It was at that point that Matthews then added on a serious note, "By the way, I do believe in [slavery] reparations if you could figure out what it would be."

Tell the Truth 2016