Chris Matthews Praises Obama’s ‘Bold New Presidency’ for Abandoning ‘Austerity’

MATTHEWS: "Good evening. I'm Chris Matthews in New York. Let me start tonight with this. President Obama lays down the law. He is doing what critics on the left have urged him to do for five years. He is saying what he wants. His new budget says no to austerity, no cuts in Social Security. He says yes again to a big hike in the federal minimum wage, right up there to $10.10. Message to the Democratic base, Barack Obama is with you all the way. Message to the Republicans, you guys had your chance when I was talking deal over entitlements, you said no to tax. Now I'm saying no. The president's political message could be not hardly any sharper. This is going to be one tough election year. He is saying November is going to turn on who brings out their base. Now hear this. President Obama is going to do nothing between now and then, meaning November, that causes anything but joy for the Democratic base. He is going to try to juice the base. Social Security, you've never had a better friend than me, he's saying. Higher minimum wage? Same deal. Well tonight, we take a bold new look at a bold new president."