Mike Barnicle, come on up here and accept this morning's Lanny Davis Award for shameless defense of the indefensible. You've earned it. Not merely did the Morning Joe panelist excuse Barack Obama's nasty jab at Nancy Reagan, he actually claimed that we need more of those kind of "jokes" from our presidents.
Joe Scarborough began the discussion by asserting that whereas mayors, governors and other lesser officials can get away with what Obama said about the former First Lady, it is unbecoming in the mouth of a president. The Morning Joe host also suggested that had George W. Bush made a comparable crack about a beloved Dem First Lady, the New York Times would have taken him harshly to task. Leaping to Obama's defense, the former Boston Globe columnist didn't merely don the wetsuit: Barnicle went full bathysphere.
Mika Brzezinski dug Scarborough's chivalry.MIKE BARNICLE: I don't think the Times would have done anything about it. I think your theory about mayors and governors making jokes like this, presidents don't: I think it's about time presidents started making jokes like this again. Lighten up, America.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Yeah, making fun of elderly ladies. Yeah, that's where we want to go.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: I can't believe you're rising above the crowd here, but I like it. You're a gentleman.
Dispatch From Department of Strange Coincidences How's this for serendipity? Speaking of bathyspheres, Today— Morning Joe's companion show over on NBC—opened with a shot of . . . a deep-sea submarine, teasing an upcoming segment about Ann Curry's undersea adventures. Check the time of my item: 6:55 AM, before Today came on. And no, I hadn't read anything about the show's subject matter before writing my bathysphere line. Pure coincidence. Spooky! Anyhow, perhaps NBC can make the sub available to Barnicle next time he feels the urge to take a plunge for the president-elect.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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went full
November 10, 2008 - 07:02 ET by motherbeltwent full bathysphere?????
Jeez, Mark, I almost spewed my coffee!
Hey Mike, would that include jokes about Barney Frank?
I think the more we see of Mr. President-Elect, and then Mr. President, the more glimpses we're going to get of that instinct to slip in a dagger here and there. He did it on the campaign trail; now he feels he's got carte-blanche.
Ha!
November 10, 2008 - 07:05 ET by NortonalecThank you, thank you! I am Nipsy Obama, and I will be here all this term. Try the free-range veal!
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."~David St. Hubbins
Norto, your tag-line fits
November 10, 2008 - 07:31 ET by motherbeltNorto, your tag-line fits so perfectly there!!
Even at the Correspondents Dinner or other occasions where they joke around, spouses are off-limits.
Obama doesn't seem to know the difference betwee that and a press conference.
Scarborough hit the nail on the head.
Barnicle and Biden
November 10, 2008 - 07:21 ET by Mica the MagnificentHey gang, there's a reason Barnicle likes the Obama team so much. Birds of a feather flock together. I'd say I made that up, but I wouldn't want to Barnicle myself.
Ha ha ha. Hey, lighten up, Mikey.
http://www.cnn.com/US/9808/19/barnicle/
I wonder...
November 10, 2008 - 07:59 ET by Nortonalec"but I wouldn't want to Barnicle myself." Is that the same thing as being Munsoned?
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."~David St. Hubbins
FU
November 10, 2008 - 08:18 ET by axemanJoe just dropped the F-bomb. Live. hahahaha
What was he talking about?
November 10, 2008 - 08:23 ET by SeashellWhat was he talking about?
Re: FU
November 10, 2008 - 08:30 ET by axemanSomething, apparently, about Rahm Emmanuel and an article written by guest, Jay Carney. Newsbusters has got to post a clip.
He swore he only said the letters, FU, at first. But he was really squiming.
http://tinyurl.com/553gyl
Yes Mikey, that's what we
November 10, 2008 - 08:22 ET by SeashellYes Mikey, that's what we want from our President, jokes about elderly women,and those about former first ladies are really funny.
BTW, speaking of Morning Joe, have any of you noticed that Mika has been sporting the Sara Palin hair style?
That's our Mike...no class,
November 10, 2008 - 08:52 ET by motherbeltThat's our Mike...no class, all a$$
Get ready for 4 years of the one man gaffe machine.
November 10, 2008 - 09:09 ET by JWFHe realized he stepped in it when he made the living Presidents gaffe and the audience laughed.
He tried to cover by making a poor joke. Poor in that it Nancy Reagan supposedly consulted astrologers not seanceers. It was supposedly Hillary Clinton who channeled nonliving people much like a seanceer.
Don't forget this is the man that gave us 57 states and then proceeded to start naming them. New Pennsylvania anyone?
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
Gaffe Machine
November 10, 2008 - 11:27 ET by BlondeActually JWF...this is going to be a two man gaffe machine....you know, Joe the Gaffer, he of that little three letter word...J.O.B.S.
The Great Barack is going to have a serious problem with women if he keeps it up, first he insulted Hillary....then took a swing at Sarah Palin with his "lipstick on a pig" remark....and now he's bashing Nancy Reagan.
All the while he thinks he's so cute and sly with these little jabs (like the little jabs with his middle finger).
The One is a huge disaster in the making....imagine what he'll do when he gets uncomfortable in a real situation under alot of pressure....what's he going to do, flip off Imadinnerjacket?
Sheesh!
So what flower am I thinking of?
November 10, 2008 - 09:12 ET by KC Mulville"Full bathysphere" is a new one for me, and a pretty good one.
Although I can hear the media hacks, as they descend into the tank for Obama, calling out "Dive! Dive!"
The Nancy Reagan joke
November 10, 2008 - 09:47 ET by NorthCoasterwas crudely fashioned and in poor taste. I guess we have to look forward to four years of such snide comments portrayed as jokes by Barack and Joe. It would be an interesting competition to see who can top the last classless joke with the next. If someone had lots of time, a score card spreadsheet could keep track of the "latest greatest gaffes" for fun and enjoyment.
Oh, by the way Barack, you combined Nancy and Hillary in your "joke". Have you properly apologized to them both?
This is not going to be the
November 10, 2008 - 10:31 ET by marpelThis is not going to be the last time Obama will be defended by the MSM. They are all Obama apologists and I think this is as creepy as it comes.
Barnicle approves making
November 10, 2008 - 10:46 ET by TN MomBarnicle approves making fun of an elderly former First Lady? Shameless!
I don't think obama's dig at Mrs. Reagan was a gaffe...I believe he attacked her on purpose, an in-your-face slap to all the 'Reagan' people who voted against obama!
Good morning TN
November 10, 2008 - 10:53 ET by cocodrieI agree with you. No speech of Hussein is unscripted. This is just the beginning.
hi coco
November 10, 2008 - 11:04 ET by TN MomThis is just the beginning.
It's gonna be a long 4 yrs.
well, the Hussein part is gonna be fun! Everytime he is formally introduced at State of the Union:
BAAARAAACK HUSSEIN OBAAMMMMMA
Let's Get Ready To RUMMMMBLE! (WWF-Style).
TN
November 10, 2008 - 11:10 ET by cocodrieUnwess he is intttttttwodddduced by BBBwany FFFwank.
coco
November 10, 2008 - 11:14 ET by TN MomBBBwanny FFFwank funny!
too bad Biden cant introduce him...Gird your loins America, the pres is about to speak!
Have a blessed day Tn.
November 10, 2008 - 11:29 ET by cocodrieHave a blessed day Tn.
oops. double post. off to
November 10, 2008 - 11:19 ET by TN Momoops. double post.
off to work now. Gotta earn money! I'm behind on my Share The Wealth tax quota.
Y'all have a GREAT day!
TN Mom
November 10, 2008 - 11:03 ET by NorthCoasterYou say the intent was a slap at Reagan people. It's interesting to consider it that way.
So, Barack said in so many words, "You people are so stupid that you follow President Reagan, who's wife gets his plans during a seance. With me you won't need the Oracle speaking to you because I'm The One who has all the answers".
I guess he forgot that Hillary was getting directions from the Oracle when she channeled Eleanor Roosevelt.
The whole episode fits with the immaturity presenting itself in the poor jokes and use of the middle finger. I hope he grows up before the country gets screwed.
northcoaster
November 10, 2008 - 11:11 ET by TN MomI think it he intended to slap all those who voted against him, and he knows how very popular Reagan was/is.
I also believe the Barack America (Joe Biden) was no gaffe, they wanted that to be the new catch-phrase. Didn't work.
And then there's the Lipstick on Pig comment, and the middle finger to Hillary.
1st Press Conf-he snubbed Fox.
Elitist SNOB.
I wonder how much Barnicle
November 10, 2008 - 12:38 ET by UtherpendI wonder how much Barnicle would like it if Michael Reagan came up and slapped him like a punk for insulting his mother?
Uther
November 10, 2008 - 14:59 ET by well99I'd pay to see that.Barnicle just won the Blue Dress Award for Obama apologist of the day.
Nancy is Michael's step
November 10, 2008 - 15:25 ET by marpelNancy is Michael's step mother. Nonetheless, I think he's protective of her. Now, Ron Reagan is her natural son and Patti Davis is her natural daughter....but they're both liberals, so I'm sure it's ok with them that their Mother was insulted. They used to insult their Dad every chance they got.
he'll see the big board..
November 10, 2008 - 17:48 ET by tonemeisterhey, after the o's settle into the peoples house they can invite hillary and bill over. then they can get the oujia board out and maybe find out who killed vince foster....
Barnicle...if it wasn't another gaffe
November 10, 2008 - 17:58 ET by LionKing