Hillary Clinton found the notion of Carly Fiorina being strangled a laughing matter. But on today's Morning Joe, Mark Halperin acknowledged that Fiorina is "exactly right" when she suggested that if a conservative candidate had laughed in similar circumstances, the liberal media would be all over it. "I don't think there's any ambiguity about that," added Halperin.
No doubt. Can you imagine the media/Dem outcry if a Republican presidential candidate had laughed at a similar suggestion about Hillary? "We interrupt regular programming for Breaking News on the GOP War on Women: Laughing at Murder!"
Note that Carly took the high road, letting not only the questioner but even Hillary off the hook. She focused only on the media double standard. Can you imagine Hillary being so high-minded? Just try to imagine what the MSM/Dem line-up would be doing if a conservative had laughed at such a suggestion about Hillary.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Yesterday Carly Fiorina responded to Hillary Clinton laughing off a veteran's joke about the Republican presidential candidate. The man told a story about working under Fiorina working at Hewlett Packard, which he ended by suggesting that he'd like to strangle the former CEO.
QUESTIONER: I get laid off. There's 20,000 of us and we get laid off, right? She told us it was for cost cutting. A couple of months after we get laid off, 20,000 people, she bought two jets to fly executives around the country instead of using commercial aircraft and she says she's a great CEO. Every time I see her on TV, I want to reach through and strangle her. I know that doesn't sound very nice, but
HILLARY CLINTON: [extended laughter] I wouldn't mess with you. [laughs again]
CARLY FIORINA: I can understand why someone who was laid off might feel badly about it. It was a very tough time. I think he has his facts wrong about the two corporate jets but I understand that he might be frustrated by that. It was a very tough time and we had to make some tough calls to save 80,000 jobs. I think, I don't take umbrage with him, I don't even take umbrage with Mrs. Clinton. I do take umbrage with the clear double standard that exists in the media. I mean, if this had happened with a conservative candidate, the liberal media would be all over us to correct him to apologize and all the rest of it.
MIKA: All right, Mark Halperin, talk about that response to what she said. But also, what is the status in terms of your reporting of Carly Fiorina's campaign. She did well at the debate.
MARK HALPERIN: I think she's exactly right regarding the media double standard on that point. I don't think there's any ambiguity about that, and I give her points also for not blaming Secretary Clinton but talking about the media because I think her view is what the guy said is just kind of metaphorical and not a problem.
