Sanford Affair: Scarborough Slams 'Unbridled Glee' Of Fellow MSNBC Hosts

Sanford Affair: Scarborough Slams 'Unbridled Glee' Of Fellow MSNBC Hosts

By Mark Finkelstein (Bio | Archive)
Thu, 06/25/2009 - 06:33 ET

Should be interesting next time Joe Scarborough runs into the likes of Ed Schultz . . .

The Morning Joe host today slammed the hypocrisy of cable news hosts, specifically including some at MSNBC, for taking "unbridled glee" in Mark Sanford's disgrace.

Scarborough didn't name names, but he almost surely had Schultz, among others, in mind. As I reported here, on his show last evening Schultz absolutely revelled in Sanford's distress, boasting "I have no mercy here" and using the most mocking of tones to describe the circumstances. Was Joe also alluding to Keith Olbermann, who had considerable fun at Sanford's expense last night?

Here was Joe's statement of this morning . . .

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Obviously [Sanford] needs to be judged in the toughest sense politically, but personally, I'll just be blunt, I was embarrassed by certain cable news hosts last night, some on this network, that took, and the only expression you can really use is "unbridled glee" in this man's problem and the pain of his wife, the pain of his children.

During the John Edwards situation and others, I never really understood the kind of glee that people took last night. It happens on the left, it happens on the right. And some of these people judging last night, you know, you could call them the Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker of cable news. I would not be making judgements were I these people.

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.

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Sanford is Toast

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 06:38 ET by allanf

First of all, Sanford is finished, and he has only himself to blame.

The media has a blind eye with scandals. Dianne Feinstein and her husband can have questionable deals, so can Harry Reid or even Obama. Repubicans don't have that luxury and they are treated to the cluckings of the hens in the press.

It's better for this to

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 06:50 ET by gmaniac1

It's better for this to happen to Sanford now than later. Yeah, us conservatives are held to a higher standard as the liberals can pretty much do what they want and their own constituents could care less. In fact, they make excuses for those fools.

When the people fear the government it's called tyranny, when the government fears the people it's called liberty!

And So What?

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 13:56 ET by farstar99

Unless you're one of the "moderate" people who thought he was the next Republican President, what does it matter?

The propaganda gerbilists, the Democrats and anyone who thinks this reflects on the party in any way, can simply kiss my Obama.

As I've said before on Sanford, the Democrats have played this card until it's worn through.

It's not working.

Don't care.

Just because you have standards and don't always live up to them, or someone who identifies themselves with your party doesn't live up to them, that does NOT make you a hypocrite.

The hypocrites are all the warped, frustrated little Demotoads who lined up to shield Bill Clinton, but suddenly have an issue with this.

I repeat, kiss my Obama.

Matt Lauer was pretty damn gleeful

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 06:52 ET by PA Conservative

That DB Lauer actually asked McGreevy this morning if he thought that Sanford was "going to have trouble staying in office" if it is found that he went to Argentina on the taxpayers' dime. Did I really just hear him ask that? Are these people completely insane? Do they think nobody will pick up on their bias? Based on that question, we should all be prepping for President BIDEN. I guess in Matt's little brain, the Obama's trip to NYC for dinner and a show (ALL ON THE TAXPAYERS' DIME) doesn't get held to the same standard. If it did, we'd be looking at ways to get Obama out of office. What a bunch of tools.

PAC

That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends,
it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to
institute new government...

Let me see if I have this

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 07:00 ET by ConservativeRex

Let me see if I have this correct. The Gov of South Carolina goes down to Argentina and gets him some and people all over the country are all up in arms over it?

What the Gov of South Carolina does doesn't affect 99% of the folks who claim to be upset over it. The only people it affects, beside his family obviously, are South Carolinians. That is all. He's not my Governor, chances are, he's not yours either.

Meanwhile, we've got a crazy assed Korean boasting he's going to nuke the United States...crickets. You got one of the most corrupt congressmen ever to step foot in congress (and that's saying something) on trial now for among other things, keeping $99K dollars in his freezer for God's sake, oh, and he's a democrat. And where's the coverage? Why, there's no room for the coverage because there's too much space filled by the e-mails of a REPUBLICAN Governor, that's not your's, getting himself some in Argentina. Isn't that special?

Oh, but he was supposed to be a candidate in 2012....who the hell said?! The media said, that's all! They were the only one's saying that crap. And the media is not saying anything about a corrupt DEMOCRAT on trial for bribery and taking millions of illegal dollars. A federal congess member that does affect all of us!

Now I suppose the media has to cover some reality show now, until another Republican somehow screws up, and then they'll be worth four pages in every stinking newspaper.

Everybody except democrats and media members fall short of the grace of God and sins, apparently.

CRex.... I couldn't have

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 14:06 ET by bigtimer

CRex....

I couldn't have summed all this up better.

Btw...I have been past disgusted there hasn't been any coverage here and there of Jefferson's trial, including Fox....same old line here, but we do know what the msm would be doing with coverage of this if this was republican congress-critter.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

Gotcha moment

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 07:20 ET by jdlybrand

Sick, twisted people like Olberscum and Schultz revel in these things. I was never a fan of John Edwards; but I did't feel unbridled glee when he fell from grace. On the contrary I immediately thought of his wife and children. The only people these two guys feel compassion for is the images of themselves they see in the mirror.

Agreed

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 08:11 ET by ArcherB

I did not see anyone claim to be happy over John Edward's affair.

"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary."

--Ernesto "Che" Guevara

The Edwards Affair

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 10:41 ET by V the K

Most of us were just shocked that John Edwards had an affair with a WOMAN!

Not me

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 15:02 ET by ArcherB

I find nothing shocking about a lesbian relationship. Open your mind!

"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary."

--Ernesto "Che" Guevara

What an idiot-

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 07:21 ET by Reaganite Republican

He was seperated, all he had to do was be honest about it... and he wasn't hiding anything from his wife, his coverup was the mistake that cost him... pretty dumb.

The DNC has been tracking his every move since he embarassed Chairman O with his rejection of porkulus funds. Anybody with a dozen brain cells could tell you he would get caught. They didn't uncover this... but they would have eventually.

I for one am glad nobody will be talking about a presidential run for the guy, I've seen enough of his judgement to know we'd be much better off with someone else.

He was never going to beat Palin, Gingrich or Romney anyway.

Thanks, stoopid- and good job, I hope it was worth it… I pray for your family.

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/

I feel pretty much

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 08:05 ET by general company

The same way. Also I have very little sympothy for him as well. He new full well how this would play out if he was caught, now WE get to suffer for his consiquence. I could ring his neck.

1 bad Repub equals 100 bad Dems

My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

it's a shame

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 15:40 ET by katainkent

that stupid can't be painful for both sides of the fence, though.

___________________________________________
Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past - George Orwell - 1984

John Edwards knocks up his mistress....

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 07:23 ET by Gecks

gets a staff member to lie and say it was him, all the while trying to convince us that he is the best "choice" for President. Elizabeth Edwards, knowing the truth, stood up there next to him and was complacent in the lie. In a exact opposite action, Jenny Sanford has picked up what dignity she had left and moved to the Carolina Coast. It will be a long road to forgiveness for Gov. Sanford, if Jenny is willing to let him walk that road, and I wish him the best of luck. If his wife is willing to try and reconsile, I think he needs to set an example, resign as Governor and get his own house in order.

"An Ethical man knows it's wrong to cheat on his wife, a Moral man won't do it" Duckie-NCIS

Playing Devil's Advocate

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 07:38 ET by motherbelt

Playing Devil's Advocate here:

If Bill Clinton got away with what he did in the Oval Office and stayed in office, why should Sanford resign as Governor?

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

Because we all know...

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 09:05 ET by Gecks

that Bill and Hill haven't had a "marriage" in years, and the only reason Hillary touted the "Vast Right-Wing Conspiricy" theory and stood by her "man" was politcally motivated. Neither one of them were interested in saving a marriage that didn't exist. On the other hand, Govenor and Mrs. Sanford claim that they want to try to save thier marriage, and I cannot see that happening if they are doing it under the microscope of the public eye. As I said, I wish them the best of luck, but they need to work on it privately, and he won't be able to do that while he is Governor. I have no doubt that he will one day recover from this, but right now, he needs to put his family first.

"An Ethical man know's it's wrong to cheat on his wife, a Moral man won't do it" Ducky-NCIS

Saul Alinsky would be so

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 07:45 ET by Mazzi

Saul Alinsky would be so proud. All the minions are following the directives perfectly...

"I would rather be historically accurate than politically correct" ~ My husband's T-Shirt

Who is behind this?

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 07:50 ET by slickwillie2001

I believe that there is much more to this story than we have seen yet. From the day Sanford left his office, as inconsequential as the story was at that time, this has been pushed into the old media. His email account seems to have been compromised, likely a crime. Someone is playing the media here, and it's likely democratic undercover opposition research, or less likely, Republican enemies in South Carolina. I would also like to know if anyone has accessed his State Department passport file, another crime if done so without cause.

Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, -beware, you are probably being watched and followed by the democratics PI's. There are probably democratic plants on your staff. Sweep for bugs regularly.

How this all unfolded is the real story. Will someone in SC launch an investigation? Will a real journalist look into who is conducting this orchestra?

My thoughts as well

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 08:09 ET by KC Mulville

The details don't add up. Why would an otherwise respectable governor simply take off for a few days, unannounced and unreachable? Love drove him to it? And then he suddenly returns, and the first thing he does is call a press conference to admit to the affair? Meanwhile, we're hearing shady reports, like the email sabotage.

This, coming right on the heels of another GOP "bright light," the senator John Ensign, admitting he had an affair. We soon discovered that he admitted it after being blackmailed by the husband of the woman.

I'm a suspicious sort. Were these guys just low-hanging fruit? "Oppo" squads are famous for this sort of thing. It reminds me of the Nixon plumbers unit ...

By the way, if they were adulterous, or even if they were simply easily lured into a scheme, that's no excuse for them. They deserve the scorn that's coming their way. But in fairness, so too did the Democrats (e.g., John Edwards). After all, the media went out of their way to avoid the story (the National Enquirer had to do it for them). They didn't cover the story until after Edwards' wife wrote a book.

A Little To Neat To Be All The Story

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 12:46 ET by stratman

Nixonian activity is what I thought as well.

I heard that a Freedom Of Information Act inquiry was used to get some of the info, I believe for the emails. I didn't know that FOIA worked that quickly nor that private emails were covered, especially when those emails were never used as evidence in a prosecution.

Ironic how the ones who screamed the loudest about dirty tricks, corruption and power consolidation of the other side are actually guilty of same.

Sigmund Freud would be bored with the simplicity of their neuroses.

Re Emails

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 13:37 ET by slickwillie2001

The article from the newspaper that posted them indicates that they were received 'anonymously' in December. If that is so, then they have probably been on his trail since then, waiting for a trip to Argentina. Though he brought this on himself, if the law was broken in revealing the emails, I want that looked into because the next time it could be someone handing off political strategies to the democratics.

Paper Reveals SC Gov's Romantic Email Exchange: http://news.yahoo.com

Would FOIA work on a government email account? I don't think so. Obviously not on a personal email account.

From Your Link...

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 15:35 ET by stratman

"In an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," State reporter John O'Connor said the newspaper was sent the messages from the governor's personal e-mail account by an anonymous person."

Look to the wife first, an angry staffer second, and a Democrat wet-works operative third.

You guys are basically

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 13:25 ET by Mazzi

You guys are basically saying what I thought when I first heard this story, but I didn't want anyone to think I was a conspiracy theorist. Seriously though - the press on this is sooooo suspicious. Why would a missing Gov. make even a ripple in the news, when his staff was not officially worried? It makes no sense at all, unless someone was blackmailing, extorting or sabotaging, and feeding the story to the press. And coming so close to the Ensign thing? I am thinking that there are some political shenanigans happening.

I have to say the same thing I have said when any politician, R or D gets caught sans pants. It's none of our business. Unless the politician uses taxpayer funds, lies under oath, or somehow involves illegal activity, it's not our concern. It's between him, his wife and his God. It ticks me off that I stand along side the libs on this issue, and then they toss out the hypocricy as soon as it's not one of "theirs".

"I would rather be historically accurate than politically correct" ~ My husband's T-Shirt

Disgusting Press

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 08:00 ET by Six String Spiff

North Korea threatens war with US.

...Crickets

Deficit QUADRUPLED in the first months of Obama

...Crickets

Unemployment doubled and then some from where Bush had it.

....Crickets

Iran slaughtering it's own citizens do to the brutal fascist regime

....Crickets

Governor from SC has affair

....AND IN BREAKING NEWS TODAY!!!

MSM.. I hate you all.

May Karma hand you misery to spare.

Old Media and Sanford

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 08:32 ET by slickwillie2001

To his credit, Lou Dobbs opened his 7pm ET news show with the situation we are in with North Korea. He didn't get to Sanford until well into his program. On the other hand, Shemp Smith opened his 7pm ET news show with the Sanford story in his best Geraldo voice, and a $$$$-eating grin on his face. That's why I don't watch him.

Shep Smith

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 12:59 ET by MeowMeow

and Geraldo are FNC's token libs. I take them with a grain of salt.

I suspect that this dangerous cocktail of Obama's ignorance and placation, the MSM's pandering and shilling, the corrupt Dems like Frank, Pelosi, Reid, et al., is going to culminate and add up to something truly disasterous.

As painful as all this is, it bodes well for Republicans in 2010, which, thankfully, is fast approaching. Obama's trying to push through cap and trade, and this ridiculous health care reform RIGHT NOW because he knows his time to do so could well be limited.

All of the Dem's actions are going to backfire, is my point. It couldn't not backfire. It's all so impulsive and hair-brained, and defies logic: how could it not?

Even Kossacks say: "Olbermann = piece of crap"

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 08:12 ET by SickofLibs

Even some Kossacks say Olbermann = piece of crap

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/24/746547/-OlbermannPiece-of-Cr....

Wow. When a Kossack has

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 08:51 ET by motherbelt

Wow.

When a Kossack has to lecture Olbermann on decency, you know he doesn't rise to the level of pond scum.

Olbermann's nothing but a high-tech, low-level Peeping Tom.

No wait....Peeping Toms just look, they don't take take pictures or write descriptions and publicize what they've seen.

So Olbermann doesn't even rise to the level of a Peeping Tom.

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

Yeah, and at least peeping

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 09:06 ET by SickofLibs

Yeah, and at least peeping toms do their own "work."

About 80% of the Kos kids replying to that guy's post, however, were totally supportive of the Despicable Orange Cone's vicious diatribe.

Republicans having affairs and running on moral high ground.

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 08:58 ET by acaiguana

The real issue here is that Republicans run on the moral high ground of family values. It is their choice and appeals to those of us who believe in family values even if our own lives have gone through train wrecks from divorces and child custody issues. We work through these issues without public condemnation.

Governors and Professional Politicians cannot expect the same lack of public interest.

As long as Professional Politicians who identify as Republicans do silly things in their personal lives to counter their public stands; Republicans will always be treated to more ridicule than Democrats.

Democrats on the other hand have no value system whatsoever regarding personal behavior. Drugs? What they hey, they all did drugs, right? Obama was a coke head. Then he wasn't.

Pot? Hey everyone smokes Pot, right? No biggie.

Affairs? It's just sex. No big deal.

Stealing public funds? Hey, we're all human. If someone complains enough after a couple/three years, we'll prosecute them. Within a hair's breath of the statute of limitations.

Enforcing anti-corruption and waste laws? Don't be such a nit-picker (by the way fire that guy!).

So, as long as Republicans say they are on the side of 'the right thing to do' they will be villified by the MSM and Democrats.

Sucks to have a value system, huh?

ACA

...

Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)

I see no problem with

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 10:18 ET by Tom Paine

I see no problem with aspiring to hold the moral high ground. The difference with conservatives is how we react when we fall short of the goal. People are human after all and these things are going to happen. No one claims to be perfect but that shouldn't prevent us from doing the right thing. As with Bristol Palin’s out of wedlock pregnancy – no one said it could never happen but she and her family stepped up to the plate and did the right thing when it did. Likewise, every conservative politician who has fallen short has been most strongly denounced by other conservatives, unlike liberals who wear their moral shortcomings as a badge of honor.

Uh, Paine... I think that is what I said.

Fri, 06/26/2009 - 09:42 ET by acaiguana

Read the post again.

ACA

...

Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)

Red State Update Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 09:09 ET by laree

Red State Up Date Hiking the Appalachian Trail, too funny. Governor Sanford has started the euphemism ball rolling

http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/06/red-state-update-hiking-appalachian.html

Warning Adult Humor Don't Watch Video unless you have a sense of humor.

Glass Houses

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 09:10 ET by Blonde

Perhaps Joe's disgust at his fellow cable bobble-heads comes from personal experience.

The coverage of the entire Sanford "affair" is telling, to me. The continued media bleating will lay out the rest of the agenda, even for the blindly partisan.

I hope he fails, too.

So the media and pop

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 09:15 ET by G. May

So the media and pop culture figures have been seething with indignance about how all a certain someone did was lie about a blow job, but now Gov. Sanford is guilty of high crimes and worthy of reporting over Iran and NK?

I guess Republicans ARE held to a higher standard.

The biggest difference you see is that conservatives and other Republicans will be the first to chime in and criticize and condemn the governor's actions. When a democrat does it, it's time to defend, apologize, understand, ignore, or cheer them on.

What a sad world we live in.

Hypocrisy

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 10:17 ET by SeeksTruth

I watched a little of the Ed Schultz and Countdown last night and got the impression that the point of both of their segments wasn't that the governor cheated - it is the hypocrisy of the cheating in context with that "family values" gimmick that the neocons rode into town on. No one doesn't feel for his humiliated wife. Why should anyone feel any sympathy for someone who jumped off his moral high horse all by himself.

Maybe the Republican Party will finally stop touting themselves as a party of extraordinary values when they prove themselves to be like everyone else.

Hypocrisy

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 10:51 ET by cvgbuckeye

I am a Christian. I am a Bible teacher. I have a flock that God holds me accountable for. "To those who are given more, more is expected".

I am also a sinner and a hypocrite. Hard as I try not to, I sin every day (although I do not think I have sinned in the last hour or so). Although I am a sinner, the worst, I will continue to proclaim Jesus Christ as my Savior and the ONLY way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; no compromise, no question, absolute truth.

I will endure all the criticism of the world as I try every day to become more like Jesus Christ. Today, I am nothing like I should or want to be but I am far better than I was before.

God guide and forgive me.

Just an imperfect Christian in need of God's grace.

§ Joe doesn't have the GUTS....

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 10:24 ET by TheSter

....to call out OlberDorf.

He can take on Eddie....So can Mika!!!

Ster.

you are badly in need of an expensive course of psychiatric treatment. Now I'm not going to say that a trip down to our dairy will cure you, but it will give hundreds of lower-paid workers a good laugh.