MSNBC's Chris Matthews declares now the time for Democrats to get 'vengeance'

MSNBC's Chris Matthews demanded Democrats fight President Trump's nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy "tooth and nail" while speaking on Hardball on Wednesday.

"They have to use every process [and] opportunity they have to stop this," Matthews went on, adding: "The base will attack the leadership for this if they allow [Republicans to pack the court], and they should. This is the time for vengeance for what happened two years ago."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told the Senate on Wednesday that it was "imperative" that "the president's nominee be treated fairly," despite the fact that he led the effort to block former President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, from getting a hearing after the February 2016 death of Antonin Scalia. Some Democrats, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), have already said that "the Senate should do nothing to artificially delay" the next Supreme Court nominee.

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Watch Matthews on Hardball below. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.