Television news commentator Chris Matthews discussed the changing face of conservative politics in the United States and the possible implications on the upcoming 2008 presidential election Tuesday night in ICC Auditorium.

Matthews, the host of MSNBC’s “Hardball,” said the Bush administration is leading the United States away from “traditional conservativism” in foreign and fiscal affairs. The administration’s pre-emptive attack on Iraq goes against the traditional conservative idea of attacking only after being attacked, he said.

“If Madeline Albright had suggested this war, not one Republican would have backed it. But all the dutiful Republicans say, ‘Yes master, we have to fight this war,’” he added.

Matthews, who called the current Republican Party “not quite conservative,” also criticized the administration’s decision to invade Iraq.

“It’s hopeless. This is nation-building? This is ‘romper room,’” Matthews said.

Matthews also criticized the Democratic Party because “they don’t have their own program.” Matthews said Democrats are currently “playing defense” and that they need to come up with their own agenda. “Their foreign policy eludes me,” Matthews said. He also lamented what he said was the Democratic Party’s lack of a strong, central leader to provide a prominent voice and position. Matthews pointed to former president Bill Clinton (SFS ’68) as a Democrat who was able to unite the party because of his personality.

“I swear, Bill Clinton could get action on Mars,” Matthews said.

Matthews attributed the recent political shifts to party extremists.

“Most people are between the 30-yard lines,” he said. “But the people beyond the 30-yard lines dictate. The extremes feel that if they give an inch it is a slippery slope.”

These extremists’ control over large amounts of campaign donations allows them to dictate policy, Matthews said.

Matthews also criticized the Bush administration’s fiscal policy, which he called “activist conservativism,” in contrast to more traditional conservative ideas.

Bush’s push for the privatization of Social Security is “shrewd politics,” according to Matthews, because it will “get kids to think like Republicans.” Young adults who have money invested in the stock market will be inclined to watch interest rates and stock trades, and will begin thinking in economic terms like many Republicans, he said.

Other popular Bush policies like tort reform are also likely to get more votes for the Republican Party, Matthews said. Almost all trial lawyers are Democrats, and thus make campaign contributions to Democrats over Republicans. By changing policy on lawsuit caps, Bush will gain more support from Republicans.

Matthews predicted a “subway series” for the 2008 presidential election with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) receiving the Democratic nomination and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the Republican candidate. Matthews said the first priority for Americans in the 2004 presidential election was national security, prompting Clinton to get involved in defense and security issues during her time in the Senate.

Another potential Republican candidate is Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Matthews said. He added that a general election between Giuliani and Clinton would be very close, but McCain would “clobber” Clinton.

Matthews mentioned Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as a potential leader for the Democratic Party’s future, but voiced concern that Obama may try to run for president too soon. He also said that a Clinton-Obama ticket for the 2008 election would be “too much” for America to handle.

The event was sponsored by the Lecture Fund.