MSNBC Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough managed to parody himself on Tuesday’s show when he suggested to Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist that the two of them are both more conservative than Gov. Ron DeSantis, who allegedly seeks to centralize power in himself and is against the free market.
Trying desperately to make Conservatives for Crist a thing, Scarborough declared, “You're a former Republican, now Democrat. I'm a former Republican and independent. But we both believe in the free market. So, I’m going to talk to you about the free market for a little bit. And you brought it up last night. I'm glad you did because as a conservative, I'm still a conservative, as a conservative I'm really scared when a centralized state tells businesses what they can and can't do.”
Apparently Scarborough failed high school civics because Florida, as a sub-national entity, is by definition, not a centralized state. Still, he continued, “I'm really scared when a centralized state tells, oh, I don't know, people that run cruise liners in the middle of a pandemic that they can't take steps to keep their own people safe and to make money.”
Scarborough also apparently believes that the state government setting curriculum standards for government-run schools is the epitome of big government, “I'm really concerned when he does it to local businesses as he did. I'm really concerned when he steps in and tells local school districts in a state that has 67 counties you must do everything exactly as I tell you how to do it.”
Finally getting around to a question, Scarborough lobbed the softest of softballs Crist’s way, “I mean, you said this guy is a bully, but more than that, it seems like he's playing this strongman routine. How dangerous is that not just for Democrats but for conservatives like me in the state of Florida?”
For his part, Crist responded, “Well, it's remarkably dangerous, Joe, and I'm glad you brought it up. I mean, I believe in free enterprise, not unfree enterprise and it seems like Governor DeSantis wants to dictate to everybody, including Walt Disney World, the cruise industry in our state, and it goes on and on, about how they should comport themselves and do their business.”
He further suggested that being a true believer in the free market and of free speech requires Florida to treat Disney as its own city-state, “That's the opposite of free enterprise. I believe in free commerce, I believe in making sure that small businesses and large businesses have the opportunity to do their business in the way they feel is appropriate and Governor DeSantis went after Disney World. Who in the world goals after Mickey Mouse, for crying out loud? In Florida? I mean, this is a revered icon in our state, Disney World, and he attacks them, and for what? For exercising their right to free speech?”
Crist then claimed that action was unconstitutional and predicted it will get struck down in court. At the same time, it is not unreasonable to believe that the Crist campaign will get struck down by the voters.
This segment was sponsored by Best Western.
Here is a transcript for the October 25 show:
MSNBC Morning Joe
10/25/2022
9:15 AM ET
JOE SCARBOROUGH: You're a former Republican, now Democrat. I'm a former Republican and independent. But we both believe in the free market. So, I’m going to talk to you about the free market for a little bit. And you brought it up last night. I'm glad you did because as a conservative, I'm still a conservative, as a conservative I'm really scared when a centralized state tells businesses what they can and can't do.
I'm really scared when a centralized state tells, oh, I don't know, people that run cruise liners in the middle of a pandemic that they can't take steps to keep their own people safe and to make money. I'm really concerned when he does it to local businesses as he did. I'm really concerned when he steps in and tells local school districts in a state that has 67 counties you must do everything exactly as I tell you how to do it.
I mean, you said this guy is a bully, but more than that, it seems like he's playing this strongman routine. How dangerous is that not just for Democrats but for conservatives like me in the state of Florida?
CHARLIE CRIST: Well, it's remarkably dangerous, Joe, and I'm glad you brought it up. I mean, I believe in free enterprise, not unfree enterprise and it seems like Governor DeSantis wants to dictate to everybody, including Walt Disney World, the cruise industry in our state, and it goes on and on, about how they should comport themselves and do their business.
That's the opposite of free enterprise. I believe in free commerce, I believe in making sure that small businesses and large businesses have the opportunity to do their business in the way they feel is appropriate and Governor DeSantis went after Disney World. Who in the world goals after Mickey Mouse, for crying out loud? In Florida? I mean, this is a revered icon in our state, Disney World, and he attacks them, and for what? For exercising their right to free speech?
I mean, the guy went to Harvard and he doesn't understand the Constitution. Look, I went to Florida State and Cumberland Law School and I get it. I don't know why he doesn't understand it. But what he's doing is wrong. It will get thrown out of court. It's clearly unconstitutional.
He's just not doing the right thing for people and focused on property, insurance and unaffordability, the price of gas, the price of utility bills in our state have skyrocketed under Governor DeSantis. It's wrong. He's taken his eye off the ball as I said last night, and he's focused on running for president and won't even admit it. It’s unbelievable.
