On MSNBC Live on Friday morning, anchor Hallie Jackson teed up a harsh and hyperbolic quote from Donald Trump Jr. to Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), who suggested he would have a "serious altercation" with the president's son if he said that in his presence.
Jackson: "The president's son....was on this morning and suggested, or said outright that Democrats are taking a pandemic seemingly hoping, I'm quoting, quote, it comes here and kills millions of people so it can end the president's streak of winning. He called that a new level of sickness. I want to give you an opportunity to respond to that comment from Don Junior."
What a softball pitch.
Garamendi replied: "He should not be near me when he says that." Jackson said "Why not?" Garamendi promised "There would be a serious altercation. That's totally outrageous. I can assure you there's not a Democrat or Republican in I can assure you there’s not a Democrat or Republican in Congress that wants anybody to be sick.”
After a few sentences, Garamendi repeated “Don Jr. better not get any place close to me. It would not be a healthy situation.”
What did Jackson say? Did she suggest this was a little too hot-tempered? No. She expressed her thanks, like this is just the sound of Democrat TV. "Congressman John Garamendi, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us this morning."
Don Junior's camp responded. “The outrageous remarks from Congressman Garamendi were beyond the pale and should be universally condemned by Republicans and Democrats alike,” spokesman Andrew Surabian said in a statement. “Almost as outrageous as the Congressman’s comments was the lack of pushback or condemnation from MSNBC host Hallie Jackson, whose silence about political violence aimed towards a member of the first family was truly deafening.”
He added: “By threatening Don Jr. with physical violence on national TV, Congressman Garamendi made clear to everyone watching that he is better suited to represent Antifa than the people of California’s 3rd Congressional district.”
Cliff Sims, who was briefly a hero to liberal cable networks when he wrote a Trump tell-all book, condemned his temporary friends at CNN for saving all their outrage for the president's son, and not Tough Talk Garamendi:
On Friday night's Hannity, Rep. Matt Gaetz told fill-on host Jason Chaffetz "I would give John Garamendi a little advice, not only would he not want a physical altercation with Donald Trump Jr. I think Donald Trump's girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle would make quick work of John Garamendi." Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, just called the Garamendi comments "really gross."
