The show leads with video clips of shameless racial dog whistling by numerous GOP leaders, including their current standard bearer.  

Donald Trump: "I would like to have him show his birth certificate."

Newt Gingrich: "If you're for paychecks, you're with us. if you're for food stamps, you're with Obama"

John Sununu:  "I wish this president would learn how to be an American."

Mitt Romney:  "No one's asked for my birth certificate."

In this excerpt, Matthews seems truly offended by Romney's readiness to stand behind a baldfaced lie in order to stimulate bigots to vote against President Obama.  

Chris Matthews: Romney defends the welfare ads as accurate, accusing Obama of offering state waivers as a political calculation designed to, quote, shore up his base, which is code for African-American Democrats. So, there you have an ad with all whites in it. Romney comes out himself and says, this is so Obama can feed his base by saying, we'll get rid of those work requirements for people on welfare.