Matthews: Jewish voters "have one key concern," Israel; "[I]f you're African-American ... [y]ou care about certain programs of the federal government"

Summary: Discussing "the Catholic vote" on Hardball, Chris Matthews said: "It isn't like a vote like, for example, if you're a Jewish voter probably you care about Israel, that's a safe bet. You have one key concern. ... But clearly, if you're African-American, you care about civil rights. You care about certain programs of the federal government. That's a generalization, but probably true."

On the April 16 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews asked MSNBC political analyst Mike Barnicle, "What is the Catholic vote, Mike Barnicle?" Continuing, Matthews asserted: "It isn't like a vote like, for example, if you're a Jewish voter probably you care about Israel, that's a safe bet. You have one key concern. I can't think of other groups that would make it that simple. But clearly, if you're African-American, you care about civil rights. You care about certain programs of the federal government. That's a generalization, but probably true. You're more progressive."

From the April 16 edition of MSNBC's Hardball:

MATTHEWS: What is the Catholic vote, Mike Barnicle? It isn't like a vote like, for example, if you're a Jewish voter probably you care about Israel, that's a safe bet. You have one key concern. I can't think of other groups that would make it that simple. But clearly, if you're African-American, you care about civil rights. You care about certain programs of the federal government. That's a generalization, but probably true. You're more progressive. But Catholics -- where would you put them? Is there a squirrel box or a rabbit hole you can put them in politically?

—R.C.