The segment was pegged to Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-SC) departure from the senate for the greener, red-meatier pastures of The Heritage Foundation, but was sidetracked when Matthews asked Chairman Steele how he would “umpire” the conflict between more establishment Republicans, and Tea Party ideologues like Sen. DeMint.

“I would remind them we’re a center right party, very much like the country,” Steele replied.

“I don’t agree with that,” Matthews declared, abruptly.

“The country is center right,” Chairman Steele repeated.

“They just voted for Obama.

“Center left,” chimed in fellow contributor Joy Reid.

“That’s another show,” Steele answered smoothly, trying tp pivot. “We’ll have that conversation. But the country is center-right in large measure.”

“We can’t have another arithmetic system!” Matthews exclaimed, referencing the presidential election results.

Seeing he wasn’t getting around Mathews, Chairman Steele said “51% of the people identify themselves as pro-life. That’s center right,” then tried to punt again, adding “That’s another show.”

“They don’t believe in outlawing abortion,” Matthews said.

“They self-identify as pro-life,” Steele repeated, and went for the exit again. “Let’s move on. The point is…”

“No,” Matthews said, “I can’t move on,”when it comes down to the law the people are pro-choice, when it comes to values they may be against abortion,” and asked “You have just said the country is a center right country, and your evidence of that is that Obama won?”