Scarborough to Brzezinski on Morning Joe: "[D]on't make me backhand you"
On the January 30 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough said to co-host Mika Brzezinski, "Mika, don't make me backhand you." Scarborough made the comment after telling CNBC chief political correspondent John Harwood: "I, actually -- I don't endorse anybody because, as you know, I'm a journalist," prompting Brzezinski to laugh. Brzezinski responded to Scarborough's "backhand" remark: "Oh, lord."
From the January 30 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:
HARWOOD: I think, Joe -- I know you were holding back, but I think that [Florida Gov.] Charlie Crist [R] endorsement might have had even more juice than a Scarborough endorsement. What do you think?
BRZEZINSKI: I think so.
SCARBOROUGH: I, actually -- I don't endorse anybody because, as you know, I'm a journalist. However, there's no doubt, there are two things --
BRZEZINSKI: [laughing]HARWOOD: I get it.
SCARBOROUGH: --that hurt -- Mika, don't make me backhand you. Mika is --
BRZEZINSKI: Oh, lord.
SCARBOROUGH: -- in a very bad way this morning because she's a big McCain fan, her brother works for McCain, so she's very excited.
BRZEZINSKI: Well, I'm happy for my brother.
Oh wait I think I got it!
Maybe Joe and Mika play tennis together frequently, and when they do, Joe gives her the courtesy of a handicapping himself by not using his wicked backhand! But with that remark from Mika, the gloves are off in their next match!
And this proves once and for all that Joe is an evil righty manifesting his agenda on his show.
</sarc>
MMFA is a Media Watchdog focusing on Rightwing misinformation.
In this instance, you have the spectacle of one Rightwing Media talking head claiming to be a "journalist" ...
...which makes his "partner" guffaw and snort in derision, since it was such a ridiculous claim (i.e. he is NOT considered to be a journalist by his partner) ...
... whereupon physical violence is advocated to "shut up" the partner ...
... and furthermore, NON-JOURNALIST ONE sets about discrediting NON-JOURNALIST TWO for her partisan familial ties (i.e. "YOU are not a journalist, either!")
That these people CLAIM to be "journalists" is a prospect so ludicrous that they cannot keep a straight face saying such nonsense (actually, a good sign).
These people have no business being in the positions of responsibility they hold, EACH pretending to be "journalists" when they are in fact partisan hacks and paid guns for the GOP.
THAT ... is the MISINFORMATION.
THOMP:
Yes. You're welcome.
The THREAT; Scarborough: “Mika, don't make me backhand you.”
The HISTORY:
“U.S. Representative Joe Scarborough (R-FL) resigned in May, 2001 … only six months after re-election amid rumors of marital infidelity.
“Lori Klausutis, 28, an aide to Scarborough, was found dead in the congressman's District Office in Fort Walton Beach, Florida on July 22, 2001. Mrs. Klausutis, who was a 5-mile a day marathon runner, suffered a fractured skull and a "contracoup" (whiplash) bruise on the opposite side of the brain.
“The “official” autopsy report stated Klausutis developed an irregular heartbeat walking across Scarborough’s office, fainted, fell and hit her head on the corner of the desk.
“Dr. Michael Berkland, the medical examiner (whose boss had contributed thousands of dollars to Scarborough’s political campaigns), had his license revoked in another state for the offense of falsifying autopsies.
THOMP:
Did I get any FACTS wrong? If so, kindly correct the record.
THOMP:
P.S. I've spent a LOT of time correcting the record concerning what Ken Starr, Ann Coulter, and Dick Morris have said and done over the years. Their "FACTS" are routinely untrue, and easily proven so.
If you wish to compare me to them, then you have work cut out for you correcting my mistakes. I welcome it (they don't!).
No Tex, I'm not at all disputing your facts, (even though I don't know where you got'em from.) All I'm saying is that you need more than that to build a persuasive case that Joe was responsible for that lady's death. I'm no doctor, but I've known and have heard of people dropping dead for all sorts of reasons. What's cited is just not enough in my book
THOMP:
I didn't state a conclusion. I posted Scarborough's THREAT, and his HISTORY ... factually. If there is a "circumstantial" case for something, that's up to the reader. You say nothing looks fishy to YOU, it seems on the up-and-up. Fine. Others may disagree.
I urge everybody to contact MSNBC at letters@msnbc.com and urge them to fire JOE immediately.
Please go after Olberman for his dismissing of the 1.8 million Democrats who voted in FL last night. I can't stand Joe Scarbrough but this offense pails in comparison to the misinformation about Hillary and Bill coming out of Olberman's mouth in the last week. I don't understand why he is off limits. He says he is not a liberal, he would never claim to be a conservative but the fact is he is throwing out misinformation, granted not from a conservative point of view but from an "Obama Girl" point of view.
This conservative misinformation is unmatched by anything I've ever seen before!
The misinformation is Joe Scarborough saying, "I'm a journalist."
Scarborough is a former Republican Congressman who ridiculed John Kerry as "French-looking" in 2004, and who recently took the stage with Mike Huckabee:
================
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reilly-center-for-media-and-public-affairs/msnbc-pundit-joe-scarboro_b_79138.html
After Chuck, Janet Huckabee took the stage and announced, "I can't wait to be your first lady, because it is going to be too cool." To show how cool a Huckabee White House would be, Mike retook the stage with the bass guitar that was conspicuously missing from the opening band. He announced a special guest on the rhythm guitar -- MSNBC pundit Joe Scarborough (I'm not making this up) -- and they launched into an excited version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama." And no, Watergate does not bother them.
================
I am not seriously arguing the validity of this topic thread, it is ridiculous.
Your sensibilities need a little thickening, they must be as thin as rice paper.
Violence, punishment and vengence is the Republican credo.
For example, to them, taxes and regulation are punishment, they are mollified by violent foreign policy and political payback is the end game of cronyism.
In their minds Joe was simply behaving the way a good Republican oughtta.
I hope you have an alarm on your monitor!
My monitor alarm goes off every time someone posts something stupid or useless. It rings non-stop for your posts, Tommy.
Tommy,
Somewhat off-topic, but what do you think of this guy:
http://colorado.mediamatters.org/items/200801230002
Its certainly a worse remark and he has (apparently) never used the term when referring to a male. To me, that's why his remark (similar and worse to this one) is somewhat (though not a serious) of a problem.
Fried,
Let's just say I wouldn't use that term over the public airwaves, it goes more to this guy's lack of class than any negative connotation toward the person he was talking about.
Tommy,
I hear ya. He was saying it was a gender-neutral term, but had never used it when relating to a male. To me, if its gender-neutral, he should use it that way. If not, he's making his own bed.
Did Keith turn you down at the high school dance?
Is that what all this nonsense is about ?
If not lemme see some FACTS!!!
"Olbermann"
Olbermann: the Kevin Bacon in Sue's World.
Violence is a conservative value, obviously. Try to keep up everybody.
Nice work, MMFA.
I've had my doubts about this site but it's really been coming on strong lately.
insert smily face above ;)
(sorry)
Tommy,
You are absolutely right. Women who have been slapped around will not find Scarborough's "humor" funny at all. If the "little woman" gets out of line just hit her until she knows her place.
Clearly a sexist comment. If Scarborough wasn't a sexist pig, he would've merely threatened to "shoot", "stab", "cut", or "punch" her.
.......
..
.
yep
I watch Morning Joe daily. Mika & Joe banter & joke like this. JOKE being the opperative word.
This is just petty nit-picking MMFA.
So I will also ask WITH??
The only conservative misinformation in this posting that I can see is an all too often heard statement: SCARBOROUGH: I, actually -- I don't endorse anybody because, as you know, I'm a journalist.
I just wish these info-tainment hacks would come clean and just call themselves prompter readers, news-readers, commentators, or pundits. Journalists and reporters they are not.
Exactly. Scarborough claims he's a journalist, but he has no background at all in journalism. He's a Republican politician turned tv show host. One who gets touchy when someone laughs at his "journalist" assertion.
I can see why some would choose to ignore all that.
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
Launched in May 2004, Media Matters for America put in place, for the first time, the means to systematically monitor a cross section of print, broadcast, cable, radio, and Internet media outlets for conservative misinformation — news or commentary that is not accurate, reliable, or credible and that forwards the conservative agenda — every day, in real time.
Some defender of mmfa please tell me how Joe's sarcastic remark is relevant to MM's "mission."
Yeah, the only furthering of a conservative agenda here is pretty abstract,Joe's claiming to be an impartial journalist , Mika's reaction to the lie (laughter), Joe's reaction to the ridiculing of his lie (facetious ,emotional violence-based threat).
I think it's good that the conservative media people are starting to vent through comedy and fantasized violence.Hopefully, as more Americans catch on, and the blabbers realize they're not being taken seriously, humor may be the best tool to keep them from promoting more wars to compensate for their own problems.Eventually, their responses to reality may become less hysterical.
I hope that I don't any longer hear the weak defense of "look at mmfa's mission statement" whenever I criticize their double standard. Let's face it, MM does not strictly adhere to its "mission." Rather, it'll take any opportunity to bash a conservative, regardless of whether there's "misinformation." I have no problem with that, but let's call it how it is.
Isn't a "journalist" supposed to be impartial?
Even the self professed kind.
An "impartial" journalist is quite an elusive concept these days. And in any event, that clearly was not what MM was focusing on when it posted this article. Had it been, I'm sure they would've highlighted, or at least mentioned something in that regard . . .
"Rather, [Media Matters will] take any opportunity to bash a conservative."
You see, folks: It's a "joke" when Scarborough says he'll backhand a woman.
But it's "bashing" Scarborough when Media Matters records Scarborough's "joke" and plays it back.
"I pity you if you seriously think Joe was not joking."
First off, I never said Scarborough was serious about striking his co-host.
What I find curious tho, and what the point of my post was, is that you make the accusation that MMfA was "bashing" Scarborough, tho all MMfA is guilty of is simply recording and reprinting Scarborough's own words. How that constitutes "bashing" is way beyond me.
Yet you let Scarborough, that eminent "journalist", totally off the hook for a so-called "joke". A joke that, altho no doubt absolutely hilarious to some, strikes me as an unfunny way of putting someone else in their place, and a bit of overreacting and lashing-out at the justifiable laughter over Scarborough's ridiculous claim of being a "journalist". That's indeed a laughable assertion on Scarborough's part, considering he isn't one. One that you and others dismiss as a joke, reserving your outrage that the "joke" was reprinted here.
I commend Joe for using the more politically correct term backhand rather than the more popular phrase b*tch slap.
As for journalists not endorsing candidates, Joe is not a journalist. He is a political commentator. But his remark in that regard reminds me of a recent comment by Rush Limbaugh to a listener that he has not endorsed any candidate. Ha...!
Irony,
Funny that you bring up "b!tch-slap" one of our Colorado guys is making himself the story over the use of that term:
http://colorado.mediamatters.org/items/200801230002
To me, this issue is simple, if Scarbourough would offhandedly tell a male co-host the same thing, no biggie. If he is only saying it because his co-host is female, slight issue and keep tuning in to see if his sexist banter continues.
To me, this issue is simple, if Scarbourough would offhandedly tell a male co-host the same thing, no biggie.
Exactly!
Since we are already OT, what is with all this outrage about why things are here? Does your computer navigate here against your will? Is this information taking up room on your servers? Just dicuss the topic or ignore it.
And to sum up the previous posts: WITH, it was a joke (liberals have no sense of humor), and don't forget the context.
"liberals have no sense of humor"
Really? then why do I find this so funny?
(sorry, I wanted to post this video somehow)
Sorry, I should have labeled that as snark ;)
I like to think I have a great sense of humor
Yuck!
That's not funny it's friggin gross.
But thanks for the insight into Liberal humor ;-)
DBEDEN,
That was really funny.
SCARBOROUGH: I, actually -- I don't endorse anybody because, as you know, I'm a journalist. However....
That remark just cracked me up! Joe should work at the Comedy Store as a Sit Down Comedian. "As We Know" he's a Pundit and a Journalist in his own mind and dreams.
SCARBOROUGH: I, actually -- I don't endorse anybody because, as you know, I'm a journalist. However....
Yeah Sure Joe!... That remark just cracked me up! Joe should work at the Comedy Store as a Sit Down Comedian. "As We Know" he's a Pundit and a Journalist in his own mind and dreams.
"I don't endorse anybody because, as you know, I'm a journalist. "
Scarborough studied law, ran for and held office, and was in a band. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see any journalism education or background.
Of course, anyone who says he's not a journalist would be subject to being backhanded, especially if he or she is of smaller build.
Maybe it's just me, but I thought journalists made points by using their intellect, not their fists.
Sometimes you need both don't you? Norman Mailer comes to mind as one. Possibly Hunter Thompson as another.
I'm on board with the "with" crowd on this one unfortunately. Can't colleagues joke around? That was clearly how this was meant, it wasn't cruel intentioned at all, and it wasn't really meant as he was really wanting to do it (backhand her). I say stuff like that to my friends and yes, colleagues all the time. Things like, "Girl you had better quiet down or you're gonna get a beat down.." and then everyone laughs.
Same case here? No?
I don't think his reaction is some kind of serious violation, and I am positive Scarborough wouldn't actually backhand her.
Still-I get the sense that it's a way of keeping his female co-host in "her place" (and it calls to mind Matthews' & other hosts' similar behavior towards women). It's on national television--not in some cubicle in an office--, it's supposed to be a serious political analysis show, and I don't feel Scarborough's remark was appropriate. It's his co-host, not Curly or Larry.
Adding here that I've been around far long enough to notice that nowadays, unfortunately (in my opinion), people have been conditioned to accept this sort of "morning zoo" approach to more than just drive-time radio. It's now permeated ostensibly serious shows like this one, to the point where people don't care anymore.
Show hosts have always kidded around with their colleagues. But even in those less-enlightened times, in the 50s and 60s, for example, those hosts showed a little more respect towards both their co-hosts and their audiences' intelligence.
Yeah, just not getting this one myself. I can understand how some might misinterpret this as misogynistic, but I have got to call this one for Joe. Seems like some in studio banter with his friend, and that's it. Would he say it to a man? I bet that he would.
Now as far as him being a journalist, which is where the misinformation really lies, that was a laughable quote by him.
I completely disagree. He's dismissive in tone and delivers the remark as an afterthought. It seems more like an display of power to me.
Did he at least try to semi- apologize to Mika?
I think Joe was just kidding with Mika on this one. She laughed it off. But people here might be right that Mika is the Colmes to Joe's Hannity.
If I remember right, didn't MMFA have post about Scarborough sitting BEHIND Bush in 2004 but didn't get in trouble because MSNBC said he had an opinion show and wasn't really a journalist?
I think all these cable shows (including Countdown w/ Keith O.) are hosted by COMMENTATORS, not journalists. They are more opinion than fact. And most of that opinion leans heavily RIGHT.
Dead from a head injury, no less.
Look it up.
How about the fact that he was having an extra-marital affair with 28-year-old aide Lori Klausutis, who was found dead in his office in July 2001, causing him to resign from Congress?
Joe was never questioned as a suspect and was in D.C. when she died in his Florida district office from an injury sustained in a fall. He announced that he was leaving Congress two months BEFORE she died. The Miami Herald did an interview with Klausutis' family about two years ago and they said they agreed that her death was an accident. There's no real evidence that Joe and Klausutis were having an affair. Don't believe everything you read on the internet. I'm sure if there were a story here, the media would be all over it. (Even respectable left-wing media like The Nation have ignored this one.)
I don't agree too much with Joe but this Klausutis conspiracy stuff reminds me of the smear campaign the right-wingers launched agains the Clintons in the 90's that they killed a bunch of people. We should be better than that.
Please, people. We have to get a handle on this.
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!
Even on a show he dominates, with a political operative of his own ilk, he could not claim journalistic credibility. The man signed the original "Contract for America" and had his head so far up Newt's butt you'd think they were a horse walking away.
A Florida Neo-Con in a position of a national political commentator in a News format gives him the assumption of a "unbias" journalist and source of news analysis.
This is little more than a blatant admission of a commentator's biased agenda being installed by the network to be portrayed as unbiased. A Republican Politician, and loyal operative installed as a "unbiased journalist" on a morning news/political talk show.
A free press that has entitled themselves to promote their own self serving propaganda in a National Presidential Campaign. Free Airways, Free Public Airways for their own corporate agenda.
This means the America is getting what out of this?
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady