That couldn’t possibly be Chris Matthews saying nice things about conservatives and the Tea Party on MSNBC, could it?  On Ronan Farrow’s little-watched MSNBC program Wednesday, someone looking and sounding exactly like Chris Matthews defended conservatives and the Tea Party. (video below) Via The Blaze

Discussing Brat’s stunning upset over House Majority Leader Eric Cantor Tuesday night, Farrow noted the Tea Party candidate and his Democratic opponent both teach at the same school, before adding that Brat had a lower “rate my professor” score.

He then asked Matthews, “Is it rare to see that kind of brazen intellectualism, particularly in populist candidates like this?”

“Well, first of all, I don’t think you can assume that the liberals are smarter than the conservative professors,” Matthews immediately shot back. “I think that’s crazy talk like that and it’s exactly the kind of attitude conservatives can’t stand. I don’t know which professor is more popular, but that doesn’t mean it’s a better professor, first of all.”

“Secondly, I was listening to Brat last night, I listened to him today, I think he’s very sophisticated for a politician,” he continued. “He’s certainly up to the ranks in most politicians I’ve ever dealt with. He speaks in a speculative manner, in an intellectual manner, he can handle any debate on this program or my program.”

“So this looking down our noses at Tea Party people has got to stop,” Mathews added. “They have a message, they are as American as any liberal is, and they are really angry at the failure of the system.”

If we put aside the possibilities that a very convincing impersonator has kidnapped the real Chris Matthews and is acting in his place, or that conservative pod people have taken over his body, I see only a couple of alternative explanations for this sudden change in behavior:

1. Matthews has had an epiphany. Oh, how I hope this is true, because it raises the possiblity that other obnoxious liberals could go through the same transformation. Or;
2. It is an act, borne of desperation, as MSNBC’s ratings and credibility have tanked. Perhaps the shock of polling demonstrating it is the least-trusted TV news source in America has given executives there such a scare that they are leaning on Chris to be a little less crazy.

Richard Baehr offers some other thoughts:

This is stunning, really, since he was one of the worst look-down-your-nose (they are all a bunch of racists) offenders for the past 4 years. Is it possible MSNBC is testing a bit more neutrality, since current model is driving people away -- boring as much as anything.

Two other factors at work here:  Chuck Todd is probably the most reasonable guy NBC/MSNBC has. Liberal for sure, but not nakedly partisan like the rest.  He was there for this joint interview.

Second: Farrow is proving to be overrated pretty boy, and no one watches his show.  He may have tried to push Matthews where he thought Matthews would go (in typical MSNBC fashion -- right is stupider) and Matthews did not take the bait.

I think the comment is totally out of character for Matthews. He liked McCain in 2000, but that was when he was running against W. for the nomination. That was the last time he said something nice about a Republican, by and large.  He has been a horrible racialist (all opposition to Obama comes down to racism). I would, not be surprised if some of the worst offenders are trying a softer approach. Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow are still out there in Ezra Klein/snooty leftist mode.