This space has not served as an unmitigated cheering section for Mika Brzezinski. But kudos to the Morning Joe panelist for the well-deserved shot she took at John Edwards today.
Perhaps it was the Edwards's lack of candor that incited Mika's ire. It's been widely reported, as in this ABC News blog, that the former NC senator tried to exploit Hillary's now-famous emotional moment of yesterday:
Edwards offered little sympathy and pounced on the opportunity to question Clinton's ability to endure the stresses of the presidency.
"I think what we need in a commander-in-chief is strength and resolve, and presidential campaigns are tough business, but being president of the United States is also tough business," Edwards told reporters Laconia, New Hampshire.
But when Brzezinski asked Edwards at 7:10 AM ET today whether he had indeed criticized Clinton for tearing up, Edwards brazenly replied "absolutely not." When Edwards went on to proclaim his own machismo, Mika saw her opening and went for it.
View video here.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: I want to ask you about something you said about Hillary Clinton yesterday. It was a response to her, I guess, tearing up a little bit. It seemed that you might have been criticizing her. Were you, and was it fair?
JOHN EDWARDS: Absolutely not. I respect anybody who goes through this difficult, grueling process. It is hard, I mean it is really hard. And she deserves enormous respect for that.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: You ever tear up on the campaign trail?
EDWARDS: Not that I can remember.
SCARBOROUGH: Really? Because Buchanan even admitted that he teared up.
EDWARDS: Not that I can remember.
BRZEZINSKI: Uh-uh, you're getting nothing, Joe.
SCARBOROUGH [laughing]: The Granite State's candidate!
That's when Mika slipped in the shiv.
BRZEZINSKI: That's good to know. Because it looks like it could be a tough night ahead. What do you next? I mean, you get through New Hampshire. Potentially you come in third, maybe you come in second. Does the campaign continue and how do you somehow regain momentum, especially against what is happening with Barack Obama?
Edwards gave an answer full of bluster and bragadaccio about continuing his campaign "to the White House. I intend to win."
Maybe so. But should Edwards get misty along the way, don't look for Mika to wipe away the tears.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Will there be a new
January 8, 2008 - 09:46 ET by rimskyWill there be a new category at the Oscars this year? Best peformance by a Dim in a primary role?
Mark, could it be that the demolibs are beginning . .
January 8, 2008 - 10:07 ET by FastEdto learn that the voters aren't as dumb as they think they are? And maybe, just maybe, over-the-top demonstrations of "emotions" are seen as such?? And can we draw voting conclusions of the nation from Iowa and NH??
NO - seems to be the constant here, what think?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
The Muskie Moment
January 8, 2008 - 10:14 ET by allanfVoters want their Presidential candidates to be rock solid stable. Hillary's outburst if planned was ill advised. It brings to mind Edmund Muskie some 36 years ago.
She may well be done. Voters will not tolerate any sign of emotional instability.
As for Edwards, the world charlatan is too complimentary a description.
That's hilarious
January 8, 2008 - 10:41 ET by RJFirst the Breck Girl critiqued Hillary's clothes....now he's purring that she's too emotional.
Meeeow.....it's a Cat fight!
Whether the moment was
January 8, 2008 - 10:45 ET by BruzillaWhether the moment was contrived or not is open to dispute, but what's undisputable is Clinton using it to boost her vote tally. I can only speak for myself, but if I had an emotional moment like that, I wouldn't be running about pointing out how it makes me more human. I think I would say something like "I don't have a comment about it, thanks." Last night, as she made the rounds of the news shows, she sounded like a car salesman hyping a 1991 Hyundai with 300,000 miles to a 19-year old. After hearing her trying to sell her "spontaneous" outpouring of emotion I came to the conclusion that it was all a put on.
STAGED
January 8, 2008 - 11:05 ET by Gat New YorkHillary Clinton is one tough person and nothing she does is unplanned.
I did not see tears and I found it interesting that for the balance of the day she seemed to have a prepared text to take advantage of that so-called tearful moment.
Also was the "iron my shirt" incident. In watching it she was not at all rattled or surprised. In fact, she seemed to have a prepared response the minute this guy held up the sign. And by the way with the heaviest security contingent, how did this guy get up front at her rally? I would certainly like to know exactly who this person was and why he needed no prodding to leave very peacefully.
Futures for Sale! Now there's a sign.
January 8, 2008 - 11:24 ET by Hunter12Attacking Hillary on some type of domestic issue makes absolutely no sense except to fire up anyone gullible to think this wasn't staged. I agree with you, Gat. How could two guys with signs get into her rally?
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Pray it doesn't work for her.
January 8, 2008 - 11:02 ET by Hunter12I can see Tears in Tulsa, California Crying, Misty in Missouri, and so on. Hillary will be crying across the country if she gets any bounce at all from this.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Liz the impaler
January 8, 2008 - 11:03 ET by rubberpelletfrancisWatch your back, Mika. At this point johnny steps aside to let elizabeth fight his battles. John talks tough, but the dirty work is done by his wife.
Perhaps that is why Buchanan
January 8, 2008 - 11:08 ET by AJSHOPEPerhaps that is why Buchanan never won Joe.
Actually
January 8, 2008 - 11:29 ET by well99It was Bills turn to cry.Cry about the press cry about NH being too soon.He was whineing like a 3 year old who had his bottle taken from him.Silky is in back of the line for his tear flow.
Edwards is sitting in the
January 8, 2008 - 12:29 ET by drillanwrEdwards is sitting in the catbird seat ... Especially if he comes in second with BHO beating out Slick Hilly in N.H.
Edwards is now running for Obama's nod as VP running mate ...