Clearly disappointed in Obama’s performance, Matthews lamented to host Rachel Maddow: “This tonight wasn’t an MSNBC debate, was it? It just wasn’t,” he said.

“I don’t know what he was doing out there. He had his head down. He was enduring the debate rather than fighting it. Romney came out with a campaign,” continued Matthews.

The liberal host then offered advice for the president. “I know he likes to say he doesn’t watch cable television, but maybe he should start. I don’t know how he let Romney get away with the crap he threw out tonight about Social Security.”