Go check out this clip from Crooks & Liars of Chris Matthews interviewing Howard Dean. Now is it just me or is Matthews going out of his way to bait Dean into saying something controversial? First Matthews tries to put words in his mouth :

DEAN: I served with George Allen when he was governor. I don‘t think he belongs in public service, to be honest with you. There are Republicans who are capable and smart, thoughtful people, and he‘s not one of them. So you know, the people in Virginia are going to do what they want to do, but I…

MATTHEWS: You make him sound like a knucklehead. Is that what you think?

DEAN: I‘m not going to use those kinds of words.

MATTHEWS: Well what words are you saying, he doesn‘t belong in public service, because of why?

Immediately after that, it seemed like Matthews was trying to get Dean to slip-up and say something racially insensitive :

DEAN: Because he‘s always shooting from the hip. He never thinks through what he means, and he caters to the wrong instincts in people. And I think using derogatory terms to people of color is certainly something that a public servant might not do.

MATTHEWS: Do you know what Macaca means?

DEAN: Yes, I do.

MATTHEWS: What does it mean?

DEAN: You know what it means as well as I do. It refers to a monkey, and it‘s also a racial epithet used in some parts of the world.

Or am I just being paranoid here? I know Howard Dean has a reputation for inserting his foot in his mouth, but the way Matthews seems to be egging him on is frustrating to watch.