With President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee announcement, the liberal media rushed to label Judge Merrick Garland a moderate and hammer Senate Republicans as obstructionists. It was no different on Thursday’s Morning Joe. “From the get-go, the Republicans have been saying no before they even knew what it was the President was going to put out.” Said co-host Mika Brzezinski clearly agitated. “You see it know with the Supreme Court nominee. Again.”
Brzezinski was also put off by Senator Mitch McConnell sticking to his tactic of refusing to even meet with Garland. “They’re still doing it. They’re still doing it!” Co-host Joe Scarborough also had his own criticisms of Senate Republicans saying:
“I’m just curious. Has nobody in Washington, D.C., on the Republican side, ever heard of the slow roll? [In an old southern accent] “Yes, yeah let me check my calendar, and I'll call you back and we will get you before judiciary committee sometime this summer, sir.””
MSNBC host Chris Jansing was on hand as a panelist and didn’t waste time praising Garland’s record. “He tutors third, fourth, and fifth graders. I mean, from his judicial expertise to the quotes Republicans have said about him over the years.” She also she also took the time to tout the White House’s pick as a way to stick it to Republicans and help drive home the obstructionist narrative. “This was completely designed by the White House to give Republicans agita, to sort of re-punctuate the point that Washington is broken and it's the Republicans who have made it broken.”
Later in the show, Georgetown University law professor Jonathan Turley did put a dent in the narrative being pedaled by the MSNBC hosts. Even though Turley called Garland a moderate he did point out a major sticking point for conservatives. “There are a few issues, however, that would be a concern. One is that he voted to reconsider the case that became [District of Columbia vs.]"Heller." And "Heller" is the case where the Supreme Court said there is an individual right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.” Turley reminded the panel. “Heller is gospel for conservatives and he's viewed as a non-believer and that's a big ticket item for these members.”
Partial transcript below:
MSNBC
Morning Joe
March 17, 2016
6:33:46 – 6:34:39 AM EasternMIKA BRZEZINSKI: From the get-go, the Republicans have been saying no before they even knew what it was the President was going to put out. You see it know with the Supreme Court nominee. Again. Did you See Senator Kelly Ayotte? “I’ll meet with him. But we’re just going to, you know, I’m going to make it very clear to him that we don’t think he should nominate someone.”
They’re still doing it. They’re still doing it!
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Well, Mitch McConnell I guess-- I guess Mitch McConnell called him and said “we’re not going to have a vote on ya.”
BRZEZINSKI: What’s wrong with them?
SCARBOROUGH: I’m just curious. Has nobody in Washington, D.C., on the Republican side, ever heard of the slow roll? [In an old southern accent] “Yes, yeah let me check my calendar, and I'll call you back and we will get you before judiciary committee sometime this summer, sir.”
BRZEZINSKI: Rude!
SCARBOROUGH: I mean. Instead they’re like, no we’re not. Why? Why? Are they so scared of their base that they can't at least play this out?
MARK HALPERIN: Yes.
…
6:36:09 – 6:36:43 AM Eastern
CHRIS JANSING: As they often do, the White House did one of these calls yesterday and the mood was -- I don't want to call it gleeful but they started going through his resume. And, he’s-- he tutors third, fourth, and fifth graders. I mean, from his judicial expertise to the quotes Republicans have said about him over the years, they feel like they've got -- look, this was completely designed by the White House to give Republicans agita, to sort of re-punctuate the point that Washington is broken and it's the Republicans who have made it broken.
