Bloggers mock Chris Matthews' fear of 'kung fu' terrorists

In the legendary television series Kung Fu, Young Caine once confessed to the blind Master Po that he believed living in darkness "must be worst" of all things.

The wise kung fu sage replied: "Fear is the only darkness."

If that's the case, MSNBC host Chris Matthews must be newly blind.

During a Dec. 30 broadcast, Matthews confessed to his guests that he believes the plotters behind an attempt on a Christmas day flight into Detroit probably made more than one bomb. "They are out there to get us," he said.

"And I think we have got to get serious about catching terrorists, not just catching weapons," Matthews continued. " I‘m waiting for the terrorist who knows kung fu or something that gets on an airplane without a weapon. God knows what that is going to be like."

Video blog Crooks and Liars called it "the doof quote of the week."

"Also note the context: Matthews is urging us to 'get serious' about counterterrorism, and in the next sentence, warning us of the potentially deadly consequences of terrorists who know 'kung fu or something,'" writes Steve Benen at Washington Monthly.

"Apparently, 'getting serious' means not taking security advice from Chris Matthews," he concluded.

Oddly enough, Matthews is not the only one to speculate about displays of martial arts prowess on an airliner. In mid-2006, China's Sichuan Airlines sought to recruit female flight attendants between the ages of 18-24 who would be willing to undergo kung fu and tae kwon do training to provide mid-flight security.

The airline received over 500 applicants in its first round of hiring.

This video was broadcast by MSNBC on Dec. 30, 2009.