Amid Wednesday’s live breaking news coverage of authorities intercepting mail bombs sent to prominent Democrats and CNN’s New York City headquarters, MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin teed up a former Hillary Clinton aide to blame President Trump for the incidents without knowing who sent the explosives or why.
Talking to former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philippe Reines, who worked in the Clinton State Department, Melvin observed: “...we do know that we are, shall we say, in a climate now where there are often attacks made on the media, the press, journalists. And we know that there are attacks that are often made on George Soros and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.” The host then asked: “Two weeks before these midterms, Philippe, does it seem like someone might be trying to send a message here?”
Reines promptly accused the President of being responsible for that “climate”: “I think your larger point is correct, in that, you know, irrespective of what this person’s political leanings or motivations are, we are living in an atmosphere where hate and violence have been not only incited but condoned by Donald Trump.”
The Clinton aide went so far as to argue that even if the would-be bomber turned out to be “the most liberal person in America,” Trump would still be to blame: “It doesn’t really matter....there are a lot of people who are living on the edge of sanity in general....And when people in authority kind of lift the guardrails from that, people are gonna act out, and there is no human being more responsible for the climate we’re in than Donald Trump.”
Reines wrapped up his rant by asserting:
Today is the 643rd day he has been in office. I don’t think he has uttered a single word on any of those days that in any way condemns violence or tells people to dial it down. He thrives on it, he requires it. He cannot succeed without hate and anger. He – for him to say everyone should dial it back would basically be him acknowledging and raising a white flag, and it’s absolutely horrible.
Melvin didn’t challenge a single controversial word uttered by Reines, he simply thanked him for his incendiary comments and hoped he could “stick around” to offer more irresponsible analysis.
Returning in the following hour, on Andrea Mitchell Reports, Reines proclaimed:
But if you are looking at who they’ve targeted so far, it’s almost like they’re following Donald Trump’s Twitter feed....And what struck me about the White House statement, when you said they quickly issued one. I don’t think that’s quick, because until Donald Trump tweeted a few moments ago, he’s been mum. And the other part of Sarah Sanders’ statement is those who are responsible will be held accountable. And I think you have to ask how much Donald Trump is responsible for the climate that we’re in, where things like this happen.
Like Melvin, Mitchell offered no push-back.
Here is a transcript of the October 24 exchange:
11:24 AM ET
(...)
CRAIG MELVIN: Philippe Reines joins me now as well. Philippe is a Deputy Assistant Secretary, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under Hillary Clinton. And Philippe, we know that the Secretary is in Florida right now for some preplanned events, some fundraising events. And we don’t want to jump the gun too much here, we don’t want to get too far out in front of our skis, but we do know that we are, shall we say, in a climate now where there are often attacks made on the media, the press, journalists. And we know that there are attacks that are often made on George Soros and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Two weeks before these midterms, Philippe, does it seem like someone might be trying to send a message here?
PHILIPPE REINES [FMR. HILLARY CLINTON AIDE]: Well, look, obviously someone who sends bombs in the mail or in any way delivers or tries to hurt people, isn’t a sane or good person. So, don’t want to ascribe to them of any higher political strategy of affecting midterms. But I think your larger point is correct, in that, you know, irrespective of what this person’s political leanings or motivations are, we are living in an atmosphere where hate and violence have been not only incited but condoned by Donald Trump.
And, look, you know, this could be the most liberal person in America who has some problem with these four individuals and institutions. It doesn’t really matter. Excuse me, there are a lot of people who are living on the edge of sanity in general, I don’t mean that to be facetious. And when people in authority kind of lift the guardrails from that, people are gonna act out, and there is no human being more responsible for the climate we’re in than Donald Trump.
Today is the 643rd day he has been in office. I don’t think he has uttered a single word on any of those days that in any way condemns violence or tells people to dial it down. He thrives on it, he requires it. He cannot succeed without hate and anger. He – for him to say everyone should dial it back would basically be him acknowledging and raising a white flag, and it’s absolutely horrible.
MELVIN: Alright, Philippe Reines there, former aide to Hillary Clinton. Philippe, thank you. Stick around for me, if you can.
(...)
