Chris Matthews is a liberal. As such, his biggest fear is other people, because he doesn't trust them.
Modern American liberalism is based on the fear of other people making their own decisions. Modern American liberals may talk about freedom, but they seldom support true freedom. In fact, true freedom terrifies them. They trust themselves, because they consider themselves enlightened (that is, smarter than others), but they consider non-liberals as unenlightened (that is, less intelligent) and thus untrustworthy. You can see this perspective in their words and actions.
As an example of distrust, Bill Clinton, as president, once spoke out against giving a tax break because he felt people wouldn't spend the money correctly. In other words, money - like sharp objects - is not to be given to the immature and less-intelligent because you cannot trust them to use money (or sharp objects) properly. The same sentiment applies to fast foods, guns, gas-guzzling cars, land usage, etc.
As an example of superiority, look at how liberals often describe other liberals: The King of Late Night television, The Queen of Talk Shows, and other titles of "nobility" that connote being better than the common masses. Which is one reason why liberal "royalty" always believes it should be protected by force of arms, but that the average, unwashed peon should not, because the life of an average, unwashed peon is not worth as much.
When disparaging others, liberals will use terms such as "Neanderthals," "knuckle-draggers," "cavemen," and other words that imply intellectual and social inferiority. In other words, if you disagree with them, you aren't simply wrong or misguided, you are actually a less-evolved creature.
Chris Matthews is a liberal. It would go against his political nature for him not to violently lose bladder control at the mere thought of a common citizen exercising free will.