On Wednesday's Morning Joe, MSNBC was again showing itself to be the news network where the conservatives talk like liberals while the liberals also talk like liberals as host Joe Scarborough went on a rant against gun makers supposedly "getting richer" after mass shootings because the talk of gun control drives a temporary spike in gun purchases.
As Scarborough bizarrely snubbed one prominent figure in the gun industry by repeatedly asking what the man's name was, even though he was repeatedly told by guest Brian Sullivan of CNBC, the supposedly right-leaning MSNBC host sounded like a liberal caricature as he excoriated Steven Feinberg as someone who "gets richer" when "children get slaughtered."
It all began near the end of the show shortly before 9:00 a.m. as Sullivan and Scarborough spoke of the recent increases in stock prices that occurred after the Las Vegas shooting massacre. Sullivan introduced Feinberg into the conversation, with Scarborough immediately having difficulty taking in his name:
BRIAN SULLIVAN, CNBC: But the majority of the gun industry is controlled by a private equity firm called Cerberus -- a guy named Steven Feinberg -- who is very secretive -- but he is basically bought all the companies -- Bushmaster, Remington -- rolled them up into a company called the Freedom --
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Steven Feinberg.
SULLIVAN: The Freedom Group. And it is run by Cerberus which is a private equities firm.
SCARBOROUGH: Tell us about Steven Steinberg -- is that his name?
SULLIVAN: Feinberg, Feinberg.
SCARBOROUGH: Feinberg.
After Sullivan recalled a few personal details about Feinberg, Scarborough began his anti-gun maker rant that would make liberals proud as he repeatedly asked what Feinberg's name was even after being told over and over again:
SCARBOROUGH: So let me just ask you -- so when children get slaughtered in Sandy Hook, stock prices go up, and Steven -- what's his name?
SULLIVAN: Feinberg.
SCARBOROUGH: Steven Feinberg gets richer, right? So -- and when people get slaughtered going to a country music concert, then what you're telling me is that he and his company get richer. Every time Americans are slaughtered by these weapons, Steven -- what's his name again?
SULLIVAN: Steven Feinberg.
SCARBOROUGH: Stiven -- Steven Feinberg gets richer every time Americans are slaughtered by these weapons that he makes money off of -- is that what you're saying?
A bit later, MSNBC regular Mike Barnicle condescendingly suggested that people who purchase guns after a mass shooting are less knowledgeable than people like himself:
And a huge percentage of people who rush out the door after situations like Las Vegas to buy more guns clearly don't know what we know, that the Congress will do nothing. They run out to buy the guns because they're afraid that someone will come to take the guns that they have.
Sullivan then tried to feign neutrality on the gun issue, and even cited his father's NRA membership, as he introduced an argument into the conversation that might be used to try to enact more gun laws:
People say that you're anti-gun, pro-gun. My father is in the NRA -- I'll say this. Here's the thing: If you get six speeding tickets, you lose your driver's license. But you can own 50 assault rifles.
Out-of-the-closet liberal co-host Mika Brzezinski could be heard agreeing: "Right. Yeah. Weapons of war."
It was left to MSNBC regular Willie Geist to modestly insert the right-leaning point of view:
WILLIE GEIST: Well, they would say, "If you're speeding, you're breaking the law. And owning a gun is not breaking the law."
SULLIVAN: Correct.
GEIST: It's a constitutional right.
SULLIVAN: Correct. Yes, they have said it. And they will.
Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Wednesday, October 4, Morning Joe on MSNBC:
BRIAN SULLIVAN, CNBC: But the majority of the gun industry is controlled by a private equity firm called Cerberus -- a guy named Steven Feinberg -- who is very secretive -- but he is basically bought all the companies -- Bushmaster, Remington -- rolled them up into a company called the Freedom --
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Steven Feinberg.
SULLIVAN: The Freedom Group. And it is run by Cerberus which is a private equities firm.
SCARBOROUGH: Tell us about Steven Steinberg -- is that his name?
SULLIVAN: Feinberg, Feinberg.
SCARBOROUGH: Feinberg.
SULLIVAN: Well, he's a reclusive guy. Apparently doesn't even use email. He's a multi-billionaire, went to Princeton, lives in New Jersey, drives a pickup truck. Cerberus -- they were best known as part of the Chrysler bailout. I mean, that's where your audience might remember them from, but that's the situation. People go out and buy more guns. Just quickly, one quick anecdote and what we're up against --
SCARBOROUGH: So let me just ask you -- so when children get slaughtered in Sandy Hook, stock prices go up, and Steven -- what's his name?
SULLIVAN: Feinberg.
SCARBOROUGH: Steven Feinberg gets richer, right? So -- and when people get slaughtered going to a country music concert, then what you're telling me is that he and his company get richer. Every time Americans are slaughtered by these weapons, Steven -- what's his name again?
SULLIVAN: Steven Feinberg.
SCARBOROUGH: Stiven -- Steven Feinberg gets richer every time Americans are slaughtered by these weapons that he makes money off of -- is that what you're saying?
SULLIVAN: Ostensibly, if sales go up, they're going to get a slice of that.
(...)
MIKE BARNICLE: And a huge percentage of people who rush out the door after situations like Las Vegas to buy more guns clearly don't know what we know, that the Congress will do nothing. They run out to buy the guns because they're afraid that someone will come to take the guns that they have.
SULLIVAN: People say that you're anti-gun, pro-gun. My father is in the NRA -- I'll say this. Here's the thing: If you get six speeding tickets, you lose your driver's license.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Right.
SULLIVAN: But you can own 50 assault rifles.
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah. Weapons of war.
WILLIE GEIST: Well, they would say, "If you're speeding, you're breaking the law. And owning a gun is not breaking the law."
SULLIVAN: Correct.
GEIST: It's a constitutional right.
SULLIVAN: Correct. Yes, they have said it. And they will.
