Let's begin by answering Andrea Mitchell's question. "How would it have appeared" if Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake had called the Maryland governor to request National Guard troops just afer Freddie Gray's funeral? It would have appeared that she was doing her job, protecting people and property, rather than being overly concerned with photo-op politics.
On her MSNBC show today, Mitchell asked Rep. Elijah Cummings to explain why the mayor waited three hours after the rioting started to call the Governor for help. Good question. But when Cummings criticized "Tuesday morning quarterbacking" and mentioned that the Gray funeral had just ended, Mitchell backed off. She thanked Cummings for his "context." Andrea then apologetically added "you're right: how would it have appeared if she called up the National Guard as the funeral was taking place?"
ANDREA MITCHELL: One of the issues raised today is why the mayor waited three hours once the rioting start odd to call the Governor for help. That the police were not proactive enough when the CVS started being burned.ELIJAH CUMMINGS: I can tell you it's easy for people to sit back in their living rooms and do Tuesday morning quarterbacking, but the mayor had a difficult job. On one hand, she's got a police department that's distrusted by the public. That's number one. And she has a funeral that's just ended. On the other hand she's trying to make sure she does nothing to cause the problem to make it worse. They were walking a thin line. Again, it's easy for people to sit back and judge. I think she used her best judgment trying to make sure a situation did not get worse. Let me be clear. This is our town. Under Armor has a slogan, protect this house. I promise you we will protect this house.
MITCHELL: I wanted to show and I really appreciate your context because you're right. Of course you're right. The funeral was taking place. How would it have appeared if she had called up the National Guard as the funeral was taking place? The family had called for peace and calm.
