A fiery Joe Scarborough on Tuesday denounced the media's double standard when it comes to investigating the scandal engulfing the Clinton Foundation's financial dealings. An angry Scarborough erupted "The Clintons have made $150 million over the past decade because of contacts they made during public service!" He described the typical journalist reaction as "Let's bow down before Bill and Hillary, because if we ask the same questions of them that we ask of every other politician, then oh, my God! We have crossed a line!"
Scarborough's outburst was a result of Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski's skeptical questioning of Clinton Cash author Peter Schweizer. She read a quote from the writer's book in which he suggested, "There is nothing clearly illegal about these payments, but their source, size and timing raise questions." This led Brzezinski to complain, "Your book is questions. I just wonder how does that not be interpreted as clearly political? There's nothing here that's evidence of illegality."
Schweizer shot back: "I don't think the standard at NBC News or any news organization would be we only report things when we have evidence of illegality." He added that "a pattern of behavior of self enrichment" by the Clintons deserves scrutiny.
A furious Scarborough began to lecture his own co-host:
SCARBOROUGH: What Bob Menendez did pales in comparison to this book. The Clintons have made $150 million over the past decade because of contacts they made during public service! I will sit back and let you go ahead and ask those tough questions. I'm just curious, though, why are the Clintons held to a standard that Bob McDonnell's not held to, that Bob Menendez is not held to, that all of these Congressmen that get thrown into jail for going on a -- going to a Redskins game or going on a golf trip, compared to $150 million?
He then launched into a critique of the media's double standard:
SCARBOROUGH: When Peter Schweizer was talking about Congress insider trading, we had him on the set. "Great job, way to go. You're great. You've called this out." 60 Minutes had him on there. Great job. The Clintons and suddenly, "oh, my God, let's bow down before Bill and Hillary because if we ask the same questions of them that we ask of every other politician, then oh, my God, we have crossed a line!"
A transcript can be found below:
Morning Joe
4/28/15
8:31MIKA BRZEZINSKI: You say, of even greater concern, this is the setup for the whole book, is that "foreign policy players giving money to the Clintons include foreign governments in countries like Russia, India and United Arab Emirates, where there are major foreign policy issues at stake. There is nothing clearly illegal about these payments. But their source, size and timing raise questions." Your book is questions. I just wonder how does that not be interpreted as clearly political? There's nothing here that's evidence of illegality.
PETER SCHWEIZER: I don't think the standard at NBC News or any news organization would be we only report things when we have evidence of illegality. I think if you see a pattern of behavior of self enrichment --
BRZEZINSKI: But I can question the timing of your book. She just announced a run for president.
SCHWEIZER: Yes. This book has been in the works more than a year. So, I did not coordinate this with her launch of her campaign. What I'm saying is that I began this investigation last year because you have an unprecedented situation that the Obama administration recognized. This is why they signed --
BRZEZINSKI: Did you go after the State Department –
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Hold on. I haven't said anything. I'm going to jump in here. I don't get this. I'll be honest. I'm looking around here and I don't get this. I'm certainly -- I mean if Peter's been reckless, go ahead and say he's been reckless. But I worked with guys in Congress that went golfing like one or two times in Ireland and then six months later, put a bill on the floor of the House and they went to jail and we're sitting here going, "wait a second. Wait. No, Maybe he just got paid three times the amount. Maybe Belarus or telecom companies or maybe this." Come on! We're not naive babes in the woods! And I know you're playing this game: "I'm going to be a tough professional journalist" and that's really awesome.
BRZEZINSKI: No. Hey, Joe –
SCARBOROUGH: Hey, Mika. Bob McDonnell.
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah?
SCARBOROUGH: Let's look at what Bob McDonnell did. What Bob McDonnell did pales in comparison to what's in this book!
BRZEZINSKI: And what Bob McDonnell did –
SCARBOROUGH: What Bob Menendez did pales in comparison to this book. The Clintons have made $150 million over the past decade because of contacts they made during public service! I will sit back and let you go ahead and ask those tough questions. I'm just curious, though, why are the Clintons held to a standard that Bob McDonnell's not held to, that Bob Menendez is not held to, that all of these Congressmen that get thrown into jail for going on a -- going to a Redskins game or going on a golf trip, compared to $150 million?
BRZEZINSKI: The golfing trips, your friends in Congress, who called them out on that and held them accountable?
SCARBOROUGH: What do you mean? The Justice Department did.
BRZEZINSKI: It wasn't Peter Schweizer. It was the Justice Department.
SCARBOROUGH: Oh, no no, no. Are you saying that news -- that newspapers and reporters shouldn't -- shouldn't go out and report on this? Because I'll tell you, when Peter Schweizer was talking about Congress insider trading, we had him on the set. "Great job, way to go. You're great. You've called this out." 60 Minutes had him on there. Great job. The Clintons and suddenly, "oh, my God, let's bow down before Bill and Hillary because if we ask the same questions of them that we ask of every other politician, then oh, my God, we have crossed a line!" It's like – it's like that, that, that, that part in Indiana Jones where you cross the line and the rock comes after you. You gotta run fast because you dare crossed the Clintons' line, who made, may I add, $150 million while dudes get thrown in jail for going on a golf trip in Ireland and the weather probably even sucked! So I don't really understand the shock and awe here.
