Many bloggers are talking about Chris “Mancrush” Matthews reaction to Barack Obama’s speech, but it was a line or two later that caught my attention. I’ve bolded it below.

My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don’t have that too often. No, seriously. It’s a dramatic event. He speaks about America in a way that has nothing to do with politics. It has to do with the feeling we have about our country. And that is an objective assessment.

There is nothing wrong with feelings, but feelings are not facts. This difference is key between conservatives and the left.

Feelings say that no one should ever get sick, therefore lets impose universal health care. Facts say that socializing our medical care will give us the lines, intrusive oversight, and lack of innovation that can be seen everywhere it’s been tried.

In the same way, emphasizing feelings leads to programs that attempt to dictate equal outcomes rather than equal opportunity.

Make no mistake. Many people are agreeing with Matthew’s assessment because of their feelings. Instead of sending a “thrill going up my leg” that sends a chill down my spine.