Chris Matthews went a little off the reservation on Thomas Roberts' show Tuesday, chewing on MSNBC and Roberts for airing an attack ad against Rand Paul, put together by the same group that Swiftboated John Kerry.

TPM:

MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts ended up under friendly fire on Tuesday when his colleague Chris Matthews launched into a tirade against his own network for airing "goddamn" ads by rightwing groups.

Matthews appeared irritable from the beginning of the segment on Robert's afternoon show and brushed off small talk with his fellow host.

Moments earlier, Roberts had played an ad by by the Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America, which attacked GOP presidential hopeful Sen. Rand Paul's foreign policy as insufficiently hawkish.

Matthews said that unlike the "piggish" elites of the Republican Party, average voters who send their children to war would not be interested in more hawkish foreign policy.

"Those people are not impressed by these goddamned ads," Matthews said, scowling.

"I certainly wouldn't put them on free, Tom. That's what we should stop doing," Matthews added in an apparent reference to the clip that had been played. "Stop running rightwing ads for free on our network."

By the time Hardball aired, Tweety had been pulled back in line, taking the time to air the very same ad during his airtime. One can only assume he was told by the powers that be to take one for the team.

I might be moved to applaud Matthews for pushing back on the free ad time, but he didn't do it out of some loyalty to left-side values. He did it because in this election cycle, it appears to be Rand Paul who gives him that thrilly tingle up his leg.

That's right. Rand Paul. John Birch Society spokesman, wrapped in a curly mop of hair and a folksy Kentucky accent. Tweety's "Let Me Finish" segment was filled with love.

I can see why people from both parties are going after this guy even on the very day he announces for president: he’s a danger to conventional politics in this country. He’s willing to challenge government intrusion in our lives, willing to challenge America’s intrusion into foreign countries, especially that sad, tragic mission we call “nation building.”

So here's a suggestion for Tweety. If you're going to appear on one guy's show and rip him for airing "right wing ads," don't turn around and do the very same thing on your own show, no matter how hot you are for Baby Paul to win the nomination.