[See NewsBusters for more.] In pre-debate coverage on Thursday, Chris Matthews called for someone to ask Bernie Sanders about his love for socialism, saying that the other Democrats are “afraid” to raise the issue. Matthews underlined the fact that Sanders is serious about his hard-left views: “I've looked at the old tapes of his interview with Phil Donahue where he really does defend the notion of socialism, not just a welfare state like in Scandinavia, but real socialism.” The Hardball host added, “No profit motive, no free markets. The government basically runs the economy.” Keep in mind that Matthews was saying all this on MSNBC, a network that will simulcast part two of the Democratic debate. He insisted, “A good question for him: I don't think a Democrat will ask it, name a government that has run an effective economy in the history of man. Governments are not good at running economies. The market tends to work.”
