MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said one of the dumbest things he’s ever said in his life Thursday evening, and that’s saying something.

When NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno asked if he thought John Boehner (R-Oh.) would lose his Speakership as a result of the current government shutdown/debt ceiling debate, Matthews responded, “It might be the greatest thing he ever does in his life” (video follows with transcript and commentary):

JAY LENO: Do you think Boehner will lose his Speakership?

CHRIS MATTHEWS: It might be the greatest thing he ever does in his life.

LENO: Yeah. [Cheers and applause]

MATTHEWS: If he just stands up, and in Jack Kennedy's book was "Profiles in Courage" it was about men who stood up to their party and said, “This is what I believe and I'm willing to take the heat. And if it means the end of my career.” Sam Houston, people like that, they’ve all did it, and take on the people that put you there and say, “Look, this is more important than popularity, or polling, or even this job. Take it and shove it, because I'm going to make this country work democratically again. We're going to have an actual vote in the House. We're going to have democracy here.” [Cheers and applause]

So caving in to Democratic demands thereby losing his position as the second most powerful person in the nation would be the greatest thing Boehner ever does in his life.

Do you need any more evidence of what liberalism means? Do you think Matthews would say this if Boehner were a Democrat?

No, I don’t either.