Chris Matthews: Romney Doesn't Understand the Constitution Because He 'Looks Down' on President Obama 'as a Person

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During his show on Wednesday, MSNBC's Chris Matthews critiqued the debate performances of President Barack Obama and his GOP rival Mitt Romney. While the host thought the president won the debate decisively, he couldn't believe that Romney could "look down" on the president, who according to his guest, actor James Lipton, became a "hero" during the debate.

“It was the face off in 'High Noon.' And the President of the United States was Gary Cooper.” Lipton said. “At that moment, he became a hero, I think”

Lipton referred to Obama as a president and Romney as a "boss," saying that “job creator is a euphemism for profit creator."

Matthews later played a clip of the memorable exchange between Romney and Obama over permits for energy exploration on federal land, which are down over the last four years. As Obama attempted to interrupt Romney, he told the president "you'll get your chance" to talk.

“I don’t think he understands the Constitution of the United States…He’s the President of the United States. You don’t say, ‘you’ll get your chance,'" Matthews said.

Lipton added: “If Mitt Romney were the president and Barack Obama were the challenger, and these roles were reversed, and Obama treated Romney – the president in this construct – the way he was treated, you would have heard an outcry from coast to coast and you would never, ever hear the end of it…It is rude. It’s inexcusable. I think it’s a very, very sad day when the presidency, which has been under fire since Nixon — and particular this president — can be treated this way by someone who is an American citizen."

Matthews said it was a "lack of deference" on Romney's part. "Through it all he looked down at the president…He looked down at him as a person."

Watch the clip via MSNBC/Mediaite below: