On Tuesday's Morning Joe on MSNBC. co-host Mika Brzezinski harshly criticized Republicans for not caving on tax increases to make a debt-limit deal.
"I think the Republicans look stupid and mean. I'm sorry, this is stupid. This is a no-brainer in terms of a deal. This is a no brainer and they look mean and they look difficult and they're going to lose this," she said. Video is below...
Brzezinski's remarks came after she read an excerpt of the very end of an op-ed in Politico by co-host Joe Scarborough. "I read this section or another piece of this is because I do think there are people on the far right who think that more is being asked of them in terms of their ideals. And that this makes perfect sense. There's nothing wrong with this. Who would have a problem with this? I don't get it."
Interestingly enough, the op-ed she cited was not primarily about Republicans' unwillingness to raise taxes. It was about the circus of hyperbole carried out by the media in describing it. Although Scarborough's criticism of columns by Richard Cohen and David Brooks is not unwarranted by any stretch of the imagination, it would be easier to take him seriously had he mentioned Newsweek editor Tina Brown, who compared Republicans to "suicide bombers" on Morning Joe while he was out last week, or any number of his colleagues at MSNBC.
A transcript of the statement, which aired at 6:48 am on Tuesday, follows.
MSNBC
MORNING JOE
07/12/2011
6:48 am EDT
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: [quoting op-ed] "If Obama moves forward with specific cuts on entitlement programs and Pentagon expenses, Republicans must work aggressively to close loopholes that favor billionaires and multinational corporations. I am quite confident even Tea Party members would be fine with Warren Buffett paying more than the 14% income tax rate and would be happy to see the world's largest corporation, GE, pay more in taxes than their own household. Think about that. There is room for compromise. There's still hope for a grand bargain, but launching hyperbolic attacks at conservatives for staying true to their campaign promises only keeps us further away from that final deal." I just think - I read this section or another piece of this is because I do think there are people on the far right who think that more is being asked of them in terms of their ideals. And that this makes perfect sense. There's nothing wrong with this. Who would have a problem with this? I don't get it.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: I, I yeah. Mike?
BRZEZINSKI: Maybe this isn't the table to ask.
MIKE BARNICLE: Why haven't they done this years ago? I mean, it's so obvious to so many people, and yet there are legions of tax lawyers and lobbyists to throw roadblocks.
BRZEZINSKI: I think the Republicans look stupid and mean. I'm sorry, this is stupid. This is a no-brainer in terms of a deal. This is a no brainer and they look mean and they look difficult and they're going to lose this. Because at this point it's a chess game and if it comes down to this -
SCARBOROUGH: Well, the discussion's been about raising income tax rates I think they -
BRZEZINSKI: Oh, you know what, it's called cut a deal on things that make sense.
SCARBOROUIGH: - they need to do a deal on closing loopholes.
