After 35 Hours, MSNBC Panelist Bravely Admits: 'I Don't Agree With Joe' Scarborough
It only took 35 hours for MSNBC analyst Mark Halperin to bravely announce, "I don't agree with Joe" Scarborough. A day after appearing on his show, the Game Change co-author more firmly refuted Scarborough's pessimistic assessment that the entire GOP establishment thinks Mitt Romney will lose the general election.
After Hardball guest host Michael Smerconish played a clip of the negative Scarborough comment, Halperin mocked, "Michael, I've worked in TV for 25 years. When the host of the show says something, you have two choices. You can say, 'That's exactly right, Joe!'" [See video below. MP3 audio here.]
Halperin continued, "Or you can follow the advice of Bambi's mother: 'If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.'"
On Thursday, Halperin quibbled, saying that he didn't "totally" agree with Scarborough.
Halperin allowed that there is "pretty broad-based pessimism" amongst some Republicans. But he claimed, "I think there are plenty of Republicans who are cautiously optimistic but who believe Mitt Romney can win this."
On Thursday, Scarborough insisted:
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Nobody thinks Romney's going to win. Let's just be honest. Can we just say this for everybody at home? Let me just say this for everybody at home. The Republican establishment--I've yet to meet a single person in the Republican establishment that thinks Mitt Romney is going to win the general election this year. They won't say it on TV because they've got to go on TV and they don't want people writing them nasty emails. I obviously don't care. But I have yet to meet anybody in the Republican establishment that worked for George W. Bush, that works in the Republican congress, that worked for Ronald Reagan that thinks Mitt Romney is going to win the general election.
A transcript of the April 5 Hardball exchange can be found below:
5:16
MICHAEL SMERCONISH: Mark, by the way, you were on Morning Joe when Joe Scarborough described the gloom and doom within the GOP about Mitt Romney's chances this fall. Let's watch this.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Can we just say this for everyone at home? The Republican establishment, I have yet to meet a single person of the Republican establishment that thinks Mitt Romney will win the general election this year. They won't say that on TV because they have to go on TV and they don't want people writing them nasty e-mails. I honestly don't care. But I have yet to meet anybody in the Republican establishment that worked for George W. Bush, that works in the Republican Congress, that worked for Ronald Reagan that thinks Mitt Romney is going to win the general election.
SMERCONISH: As we wait for the sequel to Game Change, does that comport with your reporting? Is that what you, Mark Halperin, are hearing from the GOP folks?
MARK HALPERIN: Michael, I've worked in TV for 25 years. When the host of the show says something, you have two choices. You can say, "That's exactly right, Joe!"
SMERCONISH: Or nothing.
HALPERIN: Or you can follow the advice of Bambi's mother: "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." I don't agree with Joe on that. I do agree that there is pretty broad-based pessimism among some elements of the establishment. There are some people who are waiting to see- have Romney prove to them that he can actually win this. But, look, he signed Ed Gillespie up, Ed Gillespie, one of the best strategists in the Republican Party, if he can put his imprimatur on the Romney campaign, I think there are plenty of Republicans who are cautiously optimistic but who believe Mitt Romney can win this.
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Comments
it's the Republican's election to lose
Submitted by MidAmerica on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 6:57pm.
If the Republican establishment can't figure out how to defeat a phony loser like obama then they need to step aside.
Go to McCain for advice. The Republicans need to figure out what McCain and his advisors would do and then do the opposite.
Exactly
Submitted by Semus on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:37pm.
Exactly
he got two things right
Submitted by jimtrees on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:58pm.
what he said now, and when he called obama a d--k.
MSNBC must suspend Halperin. Again.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:10pm.
How dare he question the leading conservative voice on cable?
No more chances...
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:19pm.
Halperin must be permanently silenced.
Jer
er Jer?*
Submitted by cajun2 on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:32pm.
You do mean "take away his microphone" right?
If you mean "take away his microphone" and then cramming
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:39pm.
it down his throat, then yes.
Nah...I only endorse solutions which are neither physically injurious nor painful to the body.
Jer
sorry Jer*
Submitted by cajun2 on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:44pm.
I missed the snark. A bit distracted by LSU beating the #1 team in the country!
sssshhh,,,(its the gators)
Good evening Caj
Submitted by cocodrie on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:57pm.
Blonde ain't gonna be happy.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
good evening Jer
Submitted by cocodrie on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:54pm.
I liked your violent remedy a lot.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
good evening, cocodrie...
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:57pm.
It does sound tempting, doesn't it?
Jer
Jer
Submitted by cocodrie on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 10:10pm.
You could tell him it's chicken.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
The debates among the left...
Submitted by KyWriter on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 9:42am.
...as to which Republican can or cannot defeat Obama are merely orchestrated distractions from the simple fact that nearly any Republican will beat Obama this fall, and are designed to discourage Republican voters from coming out to support a candidate they opposed in the primaries. You have two categories of leftist operatives: one, best represented by Spittlemeister Ed Schultz, rallies the base of true crazies, and the other, of which Halperin is a good frontman, attempts to ensare middle-of-the-roaders with demonstrations of moderation. At one time, both were effective; these days, not so much, so which faction will dominate the campaign? My money is on the wackos, given the fact that Obama is rapidly becoming as unhinged as his acolytes.
That tells you a lot about the current "Mourning Joe" program .
Submitted by Clemenza on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 9:47pm.
. . .. The most conservative person on the set is a left wing mockey.
About 3 months
Submitted by Marsh on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 11:54pm.
before the Republicans took back the house Mark delivered the news to Joe that they would take about 60 seats. Joe looked both disappointed and disbelieving.
Holy cow, thats the first time I ever saw
Submitted by T Walt on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 11:27pm.
Michael Smerconish. Damn he looks older than his radio voice. I had a completely different look for him in my head based on his radio voice. I pictured someone who kinda looked liked Andy Bernard from the Office.