On Hardball, Matthews told Swift Boat Vet: "You haven't produced any personal knowledge"

Larry Thurlow, the member of Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth whose account of John Kerry's activities in Vietnam was discredited by The Washington Post, appeared on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews on August 19. During the exchange, Matthews said, "[Y]ou haven't produced any personal knowledge about this plan you talked about, Mr. Thurlow, and that's the problem tonight."

THURLOW: Well -- that's exactly right. I don't think he should be president.

MATTHEWS: Well, that's fair enough. There's nothing wrong with it. Say it -- you have a million times in this country a free opportunity to say so. I'm asking you...

THURLOW: You're -- you're exactly right.

MATTHEWS: ... should [President] George [W.] Bush be allowed to raise this issue in the campaign?

THURLOW: If he wants to, he...

MATTHEWS: Otherwise, it's just you.

THURLOW: ... certainly should be able to.

MATTHEWS: In other words, it's OK, for you, for a guy who didn't serve in Vietnam to attack a guy who did? That's all I want to know.

THURLOW: Well, I don't think a guy that didn't serve in Vietnam should attack some guy's record that did serve in Vietnam, if he has no personal knowledge of it.

MATTHEWS: But if he has the knowledge because of you, should he be able to do it?

THURLOW: He has no personal knowledge. He's...

MATTHEWS: OK.

THURLOW: What my -- what I feel...

MATTHEWS: OK, we're going back to your personal knowledge, sir.

THURLOW: ... on him is he hasn't...

MATTHEWS: The problem is, you haven't produced any personal knowledge about this plan you talked about, Mr. Thurlow, and that's the problem tonight.

THURLOW: No, what I -- what I...

MATTHEWS: This plan has not been authenticated. That's the concern I have.

—O.W.