Who is taking more glee from the current Republican turmoil over the selection of the next Speaker: Democrats or the MSM—or do I repeat myself?
Today's Morning Joe featured a clip from Andrea Mitchell's interview of Ben Carson in which she asked: "what does this just say about the Republican brand and the Republican party. Can it survive after this kind of chaos?" Wishful thinking, Andrea?
Carson assured Andrea that not only can the GOP survive, "it can thrive."
Her possible desire for the demise of the GOP aside, Andrea actually spoke respectfully of Carson in her comments to Morning Joe, saying that he's "quite the character," in what seemed to be a respectful sense. She added that he has a "different demeanor, I think he now has this sense of mission." She observed that he seemed "more briefed" on a variety of issues. Mark Halperin agreed.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Let's bring in right now from Washington, NBC's chief foreign affairs correspondent and host of Andrea Mitchell Reports, Andrea Mitchell. Andrea, tell us about your interview with Ben Carson.
. . .
ANDREA MITCHELL: I channelled my inner Donny Deutsch; I asked him about the Republican brand given what's happening on the Hill and asked him about the chaos on the Hill.
Cut to clip from interview.
MITCHELL: What does this say about just the Republican brand and the Republican party. Can it survive after this kind of chaos?
BEN CARSON: I think it can not only survive, it can thrive. I think it was a magnanimous gesture by Representative McCarthy to step aside, recognizing that there was a lot of turmoil, and open the process up.
Back to conversation with Morning Joe
MITCHELL: Listen, I've got to tell you, just letting him talk, about Rupert Murdoch and the tweet about African-American, being an African-American candidate, about Barack Obama, he's, he's quite the character.
MARK HALPERIN: Andrea, I'm wondering, given your long time coverng presidential candidates, what you read is on his demeanor. Does he seem like a guy who now sees the White House within view?
MITCHELL: Yes! Exactly. I've known him a long time, I should say, full disclosure, I knew him in a medical context when he was a surgeon operating at Hopkins on a very dear friend, and over the years have done profiles on him, you know, in the past, but not as a presidential candidate. And, yes, there is a different demanor here. I think he now has this sense of mission. He was very strong on Vladimir Putin, explaining what he means by I'll get in his face. Talked about Putin's background and what he's trying to do in the region, the other connections. He did seem more briefed: debt ceiling, some of the other issues. And didn't back off at all when I asked him about the Holocaust comments that are so controversial about if the Jews had been armed. He said that's what he's talking about, what happens in societies under totalitarian leaders, if people give up their arms, they then can be dominated. And that's why he believes so strongly in the Second Amendment, the way he interprets it.
HALPERIN: I totally agree: he's in a different place mentally now.
MITCHELL: Yeah.
JOE: All right: Andrea Mitchell, thank you so much for bringing that to us and we're going to be watching obviously the full interview with Ben Carson, it's going to be fascinating, on your show today at noon.
