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MSNBC’s Chris Matthews: Democrats Are ‘Too Pure’

Julia Nista General Assignment Reporter
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MSNBC’s Chris Matthews stated Thursday that the worst thing anyone could say about Democrats is that they are “too pure,” even though Democratic Rep. John Conyers and Democratic Sen. Al Franken have recently announced they’re leaving Congress due to sexual misconduct allegations.

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“You know I don’t know how you can avoid the education of this,” Matthews said on his evening show Hardball with Chris Matthews.

“The worst you could say about the Democrats is that they’re too pure, and that’s a stupid thing to say, but that’s the worse thing you can say about them,” Matthews continued. “These guys set too high a standard for public office, how’s that for an argument. My opponents, that party of my opposition, they set too high a standard, you know, come on.”

“I think it’s important that the Democratic Party has at least remained consistent,” responded guest Jason Johnson from The Root.

Conyers, who stepped down from the House Judiciary Committee following allegations of sexual misconduct and public knowledge of a 2015 settlement regarding the sexual harassment of one of his staffers, recently announced his impending retirement. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi initially called Conyers an icon after the allegations became public, but later reversed her position.

Franken announced Thursday he will be resigning in the coming weeks due to several allegations against him of sexual misconduct.

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