Scarborough's Sop to Hillary: 'You've Opened Your Heart Even More'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Even as the words were leaving his mouth, Joe Scarborough acknowledged that he was going to get "killed by conservative bloggers." And being the obliging sorts we are here at NewsBusters . . .

Joe's interview of Hillary Clinton on today's "Morning Joe" was one long paean to her greatness coupled with a mea culpa for the wrongs that he and other Republicans visited on her during the '90s.

View video here.

Excerpts:

• When you talk about "two Americas," and John Edwards has been talking about two Americas, two Americas, and my Republican friends say, "oh, it's class warfare," I always say tell them: take your kid to an emergency room anywhere in America at 11 o'clock at night, and then tell me there aren't two Americas.
• How much worse has it gotten since you started fighting for health care reform in 1993?
• Because I've got a son who's a diabetic, what you were just saying hits home all the time. Where you get denied for prevention, but if you were to go in and get an amputation, or have to have a heart surgery, then they pay for that. It's just false economy.
• How do you pass health care reform this time, when you failed in 1993, 1994 when [self-deprecating laugh] people like myself ran for Congress talking about socialized medicine, socializing 1/7th of the economy, single-payer health care system. Obviously you've listened, you've learned, we've all learned a lot from just the horrible political wars of the 1990s. What have you learned that's going to help you make this dream of yours a reality in the 21st century?
• You, dear Senator, are the person who everybody is saying "she's grown, she's learned so much." I hope I've grown a lot, because again, the traumas of the 1990s, which were so horrible for you and your husband, and I would say for America. Talk about how your different person today. Cause, God, I think that everybody who went through that has to be a better person if they inspect what we went through.
• Some people get angry and embittered. And from talking to you personally and talking to friends who have worked with you in the United States Senate, you seem to have gone in the opposite direction. Instead of becoming angry from all the attacks launched against you in the 1990s, you've actually opened your heart even more. And boy, am I going to get killed by conservative bloggers for saying that. But it's the truth. You seem to be a much different person now than you were in 1993 or 1994.
• Thank you for having the courage to tackle this battle once again. And we'll see what happens. I think it's gonna have a much happier ending this time than it did in 1994. Good luck.

In return for his adulation, Hillary graced Joe with numerous patronizing head pats of the "great question" and "oh, Joe, I think that's incredibly true" variety.

Clinton even had the audacity to claim that the hardships she's suffered have "made me a little less quick to jump to conclusions, perhaps a little more open to making sure that all sides are heard," and later that "it's kind of hard to be pointing fingers. Instead we should be rolling up our sleeves and getting to work together."

This from the woman who just last week, with her "willing suspension of disbelief" line, effectively called the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq a liar to his face. Joe naturally didn't jeopardize the good vibes by raising that.

[afnamvet]

The little yellow guy would be me after reading this....uhhh.....thread. ; )

[BallyBill]

Scarboro and Olbermann must pay Newsbusters for all the PR.

I would have no idea what happens on either of their shows if I didn't check NB a few times a day.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

As the author of the article [Finkelstein = governs] I can assure you that NewsBusters receives no subsidy from MSNBC. I do acknowledge that there is something of an odd symbiotic relationship, though. Even as we criticize, we are also publicizing their programs. That’s the price we pay for exposing their liberal bias.

[PGalt]

Thanks for your work, Mark. GRRRREAT FReeper comments BUMP!

[okkev68]

There are actually 3 Americas:

The hard working, just trying to make a better life without being interfered with by the government - America; The worthless, “beaten down by the man”, somebody owes me - America; and the “hate America” fairy land that most far left liberals and Hollywood/media elites live in.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks, PG. This one was a definite red-meat special!

[AdvisorB]

Everytime I see Scarborough, I get a queasy stomach.

In trying to curry favor with the hard left at MESSNBC, he constantly takes cheap shots at Conservative Republicans. When he isn't busy sliming Republican's in Washington DC, he's poking fun at the salt-of-the-earth people in the Panhandle of Florida by refering to the area as the "Redneck Riviera," and by extension reinforcing the leftist critique that the Panhandle folks are a bunch of ignorant hayseeds.

He is beyond despicable.

[TomGuy]

Few politicians from either party, few reporters, few business people, etc., will overtly confront or cross Hillary.

They don’t want to be on the receiving end of her retribution should she actually win the 2008 election.

They would rather softball question now than potentially face her wrath after January 20, 2009.

[Plains Drifter]

Does the name Lori Klaustis ring a bell. I can’t stand to watch Him anymore.

[popdonnelly]

People like Scarborough are a disgrace. He knows he has to suck up to the Left to keep his job at MSNBC.

[umgud]

Yup, there are two Americas. Every time I’ve been to an ER room, the Latin Americans outnumbered the USA Americans.

[NeoCaveman]

Was that the name of the dead girl found in his office?

May she rest in peace.

[Inwoodian]

Just look at any of the cable ER shows such as “Trauma: Life in the ER” or “Code Blue”. Virtually all intentional trauma is black on black. Virtually all hospital doctors and nurses are white. And everyone is treated alike.

[Larry Lucido]

When and how exactly did his balls get cut off? Must have been quite an accident.

[Polyxene]

Sounds like Joey had quite a Rodhasm.

[traditional1]

" granted the medical attention wasn't free"

Obviously, you are not an illegal alien, I presume?

[afnamvet]

He is a RINO at best and a liberal dem licker at worst. Best thing we can do is change channels.

[Plains Drifter]

NeoCaveman - Governsleastgovernsbest,

Yup that was the name of the dead woman found in Joe’s office (Lori Klaustis). Supposedly this was a married woman Joey was boinking. Hillary has Vince Foster and Joe has Lori Klaustis.

[TomGuy]

Did I just miss the 11 o'clock shift change, or is this clown just making stuff up to whine about?

She wouldn't make stuff up!

Chelsea really was jogging around the WTC on 9-11-01, but Poor Thang was just too tramatized to remember it, even though she managed to find a payphone, call Hillary, and complain that Bush's tax cuts caused the WTC attack.

lol