MSNBC’s Chris Matthews was a big suck up with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) during the senator’s appearance on “Hardball” Wednesday night. The whole segment was the equivalent of a big, sloppy wet kiss.
The topic of the interview was the GOP’s secret health care bill.
“What do we do to make sure Obamacare doesn’t die on the vine?” Matthews asked.
“Let’s call it like it is. Literally the White House is trying to choke Obamacare dead,” Booker replied. “…What they’ve done in just a few short months is causing so much damage. …In New Jersey I’m estimating that we’re going to see some pretty high increases in the individual marketplaces.”
At the conclusion of the interview, Matthews asked Booker to dinner — just the two of them.
“Remember you promised we’re going to have dinner some night,” Matthews said. “We have to have a sit-down dinner you and I, talk about all these issues, off camera, and learn about this challenge we face in this country. Cause you’re a comer. People are talking about you, sir. I want to learn ahead about you. A lot of talk about Cory Booker, okay?”
But the coziness only went so far.
“I appreciate it,” Booker replied.
Flashing a big toothy smile, the senator asked, “Would you eat vegan?”
“No, no, no,” Matthews replied. “But I could have a steak and you can have your, uh, potatoes. No, probably carrots.”
As if this wasn’t already awkward and unfunny, Matthews added, “Anyway, thank you Senator Cory Booker. We’ll find the right restaurant.”
Booker: “All right.”
Booker has been a vegan since at least 2014, when he decided to try the plant-based diet for a year.
In 2016, he got a lot of crap from some members of the Congressional Black Caucus when he served them a lunch of vegetarian sushi and salad.
“We should never allow you to buy lunch again,” Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told him, as reported by USA TODAY.
When he asked her what she was missing, she replied, “Meat.”