MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Chuck Todd were appalled by a new Ted Cruz commercial attacking Hillary Clinton, labeling it “vicious” and “rough.” The campaign spot parodied the 1999 cult classic Office Space, showing “Hillary Clinton” angrily destroying a computer hard drive.
After playing a clip, a disgusted Chuck Todd condemned, “That was a little rough. That was a little uncomfortable to watch.” Todd added, “That looked vicious” and suggested the commercial crossed the line.
Mitchell lectured, “First of all, Ted Cruz is not running against Hillary Clinton yet. And I just think the parody is great in politics,” but “I'm not sure it plays in South Carolina, the Bible Belt.”
It’s rare on MSNBC to see such concern for the sensibilities of Christians.
Given that Chuck Todd has tossed softballs to Hillary Clinton on the e-mail scandal and Mitchell was thrilled when Bill Clinton hit the campaign trail for his wife, perhaps the journalists should have realized the ad wasn’t aimed at them.
A transcript of the exchange is below:
Andrea Mitchell Reports
2/12/16
12:21ANDREA MITCHELL: Ted Cruz has had very edgy, clever, some would say, ads. But there's a question. I just want to play part of this Office Space spoof for you. Because I was talking to a political science professor just yesterday about civility and discourse in this campaign. We talked about profanity, a lot of other obvious issues and then this pops up.
[Clip of Ted Cruz “Office Space” ad.]
MITCHELL: Now—
CHUCK TODD: That was a little rough. That was a little uncomfortable to watch.
MITCHELL: Yeah! First of all, Ted Cruz is not running against Hillary Clinton yet. And I just think the parody is great in politics or anything, but —
TODD: Whatever. There was the line. That looked vicious. It was sort of, whatever it is, whatever that line —
MITCHELL: I'm not sure it plays in South Carolina, the Bible Belt.
TODD: I'm not sure if it does either. I don’t know if it does either.
