In an exclusive one-on-one interview with Townhall, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus blasted MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews over their contentious on-air exchange earlier today. Priebus said Matthews seemed "intent on taking the banner of being the biggest jerk in the room," described Matthews' delivery as "spitting," and disparaged the host's nightly program as "not serious" with an audience of "ten viewers:"
On today's Morning Joe, Matthews accused Priebus and the GOP of engaging in racial politics to demean President Obama's reputation. (We've addressed his two supporting "evidence" here and here). When the chairman dismissed the accusation as "garbage," Matthews relied, "you're garbage." Other NBC News personalities on set appeared visibly uncomfortable with Matthews' line of questioning and acrimonious style. Priebus also discussed the the severe weather affecting the convention and currently bound for gulf states, as well as the running debt clock unveiled during this afternoon's brief session. As of this writing, the US federal government has accrued more than $270 million in debt since 2:00 pm ET today