Yes, it's fair to report Ben Carson's problems in pronouncing "Hamas," as a reflection of his lack of foreign policy fluency. But despite being billed as an MSNBC political "correspondent," on today's Morning Joe Hunt mocked Carson in a manner more befitting a late-night comedian trolling for laughs from a liberal crowd.
After rolling a clip of Ben Carson addressing the Republican Jewish Coalition yesterday in which Carson's pronunciation of "Hamas" left something to be desired, Hunt cracked "there were some questions afterwards in the room whether he was talking about the terrorist group, or the Middle Eastern food staple." Washington Post columnist Gene Robinson gleefully piled on, saying that when he was in Gaza he had "some very good hummus" and "I also met with a member of Hamas." A sighing, seemingly sympathetic Mika Brzezinski observed "it's just too easy."
Sure, Hunt tried to give herself some cover, staying largely deadpan and putting her laugh line in the mouths of "people in the room." But neither Hunt nor anyone else could possibly have been confused, given that Carson stated that "Hamas rules the Gaza strip."
It was disappointing to see the normally fair-minded Willie Geist getting in on the action, acting as a straight man. When Robinson said he was in Gaza once, Willie asked "how was the Hamas?"
Again, it was fair game to report Carson's pronunciation struggles. But Hunt and Robinson took it a step further. Could you imagine them pulling a similar stunt over the stumble of a favored Dem candidate?
KASIE HUNT: I want you to take a listen to this one particular section where [Carson] was talking about Hamas.
BEN CARSON: The challenge is the split between Fatah and Hamas. Fatah and Hamas operate in a constant state of conflict. Fatah rules the West Bank, Hamas rules the Gaza strip.
HUNT: There were some questions afterwards in the room whether he was talking about the terrorist group or the Middle Eastern, uh, food staple.
EUGENE ROBINSON: I was in Gaza once --
WILLIE GEIST: How was the Hamas?
ROBINSON: -- it was a very peaceful time, and actually had some very good hummus.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Oh my God.
ROBINSON: -- this is, that's absolutely the truth.
MIKA: [long sigh]
ROBINSON: I also met with a member of Hamas.
MIKA: You did? So there was a difference? All right; it's just too easy, and I'm --
