During a discussion about Democratic Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker's prospects for the U.S. Senate, Hardball host and Maryland inhabitant Chris Matthews explained one of the reasons why he voted for 2006 U.S. Senate candidate Michael Steele (R-MD) was because he is black.



"You know, it's one of the reasons I voted for my friend Michael Steele when he ran because I think we ought to have some," Matthews explained to guest Steve Kornacki on Wednesday's broadcast. "It's absurd in this country, it's absurd, Steve."





CHRIS MATTHEWS: "The good thing going for Cory Booker, if he's the candidate, Steve, is that we don't have any African Americans in the United States Senate, which I think is a disgrace. You know, it's one of the reasons I voted for my friend Michael Steele when he ran because I think we ought to have some. It's absurd in this country, it's absurd, Steve."