Chris Matthews had to address misinformation spewed by leading homophobe Tony Perkins

Alvin McEwen has been on the rampage -- and rightly so -- about the lies spewed by Tony Perkins on Hardball the other night.

Tonight, Matthews offered a clarification:

Tony Perkins is a homophobe. He's a bigot. Nothing more. Stop giving him air time.

NOTE FROM JOHN: Well, he is a little bit more... He's the head of an official "hate group" now.