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Scarborough claimed Clinton used "code language" when saying "no matter where you worship or the color of your skin ... we are all equal in the voting booth"

March 20, 2008 3:27 pm ET

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SUMMARY: MSNBC's Joe Scarborough claimed that when Hillary Clinton said, "[N]o matter where you were born, or how much money you are born into, no matter where you worship, or the color of your skin, it is a bedrock American principle that we are all equal in the voting booth," she was using "code language." Scarborough made the "code" claim two more times on Morning Joe.

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On the March 20 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, discussing Sen. Hillary Clinton's comment during a March 19 speech in Michigan calling for a new primary election in that state, "no matter where you were born, or how much money you are born into, no matter where you worship, or the color of your skin, it is a bedrock American principle that we are all equal in the voting booth," host Joe Scarborough claimed Clinton was using "code language." After saying to co-host Mika Brzezinski, "I want you to hear code language" and "listen to what she slips into this statement," Scarborough aired a clip of Clinton's comments. He then asserted, "You know, it just so happened, for the first time ... she said 'no matter where you worship, or the color of your skin.' " Scarborough added: "Poof! Did you see the light bulbs go off in the back of -- on top of everybody's head?"

In her speech, Clinton said:

CLINTON: Every voice should have the chance to be heard and every vote counted. This goes way beyond this election and it goes way beyond who's running, because no matter where you were born, or how much money you were born into, no matter where you worship or the color of your skin, it is a bedrock American principle that we are all equal in the voting booth. For me, it has been a long struggle to get to the point where barriers were knocked down and doors opened and we still haven't completed that journey.

But it is the vote that has given voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless. It is through that vote that women, African American, Latinos and so many others have claimed their rights as full and equal citizens. We have made our laws more just and our society more fair. Each vote is a declaration of our dreams for our children and a reflection of our prayers for our nation's future. That is why generations of brave men and women marched and protested, risked and gave their lives for this right.

It is because of them that both Senator Obama and I stand before you as candidates for the Democratic nomination. It is because of all those who came before that we are both in this race today. We should carry on that legacy by saying clearly that we will protect and cherish the right to vote for all people.

In response to Scarborough's remark, guest co-host Tucker Carlson, former host of MSNBC's Tucker, commented, "'As far as I know,' in other words." Carlson added, "'Look, I don't think he's ever killed puppies, as far as I know.'" Carlson was referencing comments about Obama's religion Clinton made during an interview on the March 2 edition of CBS' 60 Minutes. But during that interview, when asked, "You don't believe that Senator Obama is a Muslim?" Clinton immediately responded, "Of course not," as Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented. Indeed, it was in her fourth separate response to Steve Kroft's repeated questions about Obama's religion that she asserted that Obama was not a Muslim "as far as I know," and Clinton followed that statement by noting that she, too, has been the victim of "ridiculous rumors" -- making clear that she knows the Obama rumors are false. Indeed, responding to Carlson's statement, Scarborough commented, "I think that was garbage," and co-host Mika Brzezinski added, "That was overblown."

Later in the program, Scarborough again referenced Clinton's March 19 comment, saying "Also, Hillary Clinton speaking in code. I love that. I love that. She is tough." Brzezinski replied, "Well, you think she's speaking in code," and later said, "I'm not sure she was speaking in code." In a third segment, discussing Obama's March 18 speech on race in America, Brzezinski asserted that "the question also is what do the other candidates do with this," adding, "Here's Hillary Clinton yesterday, some think she might have gone there." Scarborough commented, "a little code speech," to which Brzezinski replied, "Nah, maybe not." Brzezinski then aired Clinton's March 19 comment, about which Scarborough asked MSNBC contributor John Ridley, "Whether -- yeah, 'it doesn't matter what church you worship at, or the color of your skin.' Little jab there?" Ridley replied, "I think so." He later added, however, "[B]y the way, I'm not accusing her."

From the March 20 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:

SCARBOROUGH: We'll get to that in a second, but Hillary Clinton -- I want you to hear code language.

BRZEZINSKI: Oh, boy.

SCARBOROUGH: Listen, Hillary is talking --

BRZEZINSKI: Here we go.

SCARBOROUGH: -- about Michigan. But listen to what she slips in to this statement.

CLINTON [video clip]: This goes way beyond this election, and it goes way beyond who's running. Because no matter where you were born, or how much money you are born into, no matter where you worship, or the color of your skin, it is a bedrock American principle that we are all equal in the voting booth.

SCARBOROUGH: You know, it just so happened, for the first time --

BRZEZINSKI: That's good.

SCARBOROUGH: -- she said, "No matter where you worship, or the color of your skin." Poof! Did you see the light bulbs go off in the back of -- you know, on top of everybody's head?

CARLSON: "As far as I know," in other words.

BRZEZINSKI: Oh.

CARLSON and SCARBOROUGH: "As far as I know."

BRZEZINSKI: You guys are so cynical.

CARLSON: "Look, I don't think he's ever killed puppies, as far as I know."

BRZEZINSKI: Stop it.

SCARBOROUGH: Well, at least I think that was garbage.

BRZEZINSKI: That was overblown.

[...]

BRZEZINSKI: And we got to talk about Dick Cheney in that interview.

SCARBOROUGH: So?

BRZEZINSKI: Well, I'm just saying.

SCARBOROUGH: We're going to talk about Dick Cheney --

BRZEZINSKI: And John McCain.

SCARBOROUGH: He had quite an interview. John McCain getting confused in Iraq. It happens.

BRZEZINSKI: There's a lot going on.

SCARBOROUGH: It happens, there's a lot going on. Also, Hillary Clinton speaking in code. I love that. I love that. She is tough.

BRZEZINSKI: Well, you think she's speaking in code.

CARLSON: You like the code-talkers, huh?

SCARBOROUGH: I just love how tough she is.

BRZEZINSKI: Well, now. I'm not sure she was speaking in code.

CARLSON: She's the toughest person I have ever watched.

SCARBOROUGH: Has your opinion not changed of Hillary Clinton? Seriously, she's tough. I love tough. I respect tough. She's built Ford tough.

CARLSON: As long as she's not whining about being a woman or being discriminated against, I respect her toughness. She's tougher, she is emotionally tougher than any person I have ever watched.

BRZEZINSKI: OK.

SCARBOROUGH: I have never ever seen anybody in public service, seriously, that is emotionally as tough.

CARLSON: She's one hard chick, no doubt about that.

SCARBOROUGH: I will say this. You just drove it into the ditch, and now we're going to get all of these things said about us. You know who else is tough? Who else is a tough woman?

BRZEZINSKI: Oh, God.

CARLSON: Who?

SCARBOROUGH: Mika Brzezinski.

CARLSON: I agree. I admire that.

SCARBOROUGH: To put up with me every day.

CARLSON: I'm not saying that in a nasty way. I mean that with all sincerity. That's the one thing I really admire about Hillary.

BRZEZINSKI: I'm just crazy, is what I am, but OK.

SCARBOROUGH: She is tough. But Mika is tough to put up with me every day. That's what the emailers are saying.

[...]

BRZEZINSKI: Well, John, the question also is, what do the other candidates do with this? You think they'd just want to stay away, right? I mean, enough, why -- don't touch it. Here's Hillary Clinton yesterday. Some think that she might have gone there.

SCARBOROUGH: A little code speech here.

BRZEZINSKI: Nah, maybe not.

SCARBOROUGH: Listen to this.

BRZEZINSKI: Here.

CLINTON [video clip]: This goes way beyond this election, and it goes way beyond who's running. Because no matter where you were born, or how much money you are born into, no matter where you worship, or the color of your skin, it is a bedrock American principle that we are all equal in the voting booth.

SCARBOROUGH: Whether -- yeah, "it doesn't matter what church you worship at, or the color of your skin." Little jab there?

RIDLEY: I think so. I think it would be hard for Senator Clinton to go to the disenfranchised black voters in Florida and say that "your vote matters all the time." I think it would be hard for her to go to the folks who were hit by Hurricane Katrina and say, "Your government's always looking out for you." I would also say, look, I understand how Senator Clinton -- and by the way, I'm not accusing her. I understand how she could possibly get away with going toward Barack Obama with this in terms of the Democratic election. I think she has to.

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by nonbearing137 (March 20, 2008 3:30 pm ET)
         
      what's the code.  i don't have my deciphering ring anymore.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by dazedandconfused26 (March 20, 2008 3:36 pm ET)
           
        You need to go get some cracker jax so you can get a new secret decoder ring. I used mine and it turns out that Hillary is involved in a giant conspiracy with Jarrod in order to get Rush to go on the Subway Diet.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by snoopy (March 20, 2008 3:44 pm ET)
             

          When did the code ring change? I got a totally different message using the little orphan annie decoder ring that I got in a box of Ovaltine. When I broke the code it said:

          B-e-s-u-r-e-t-o-t-a-k-e-y-o-u-r-o-x-y-c-o-t-i-n!

          Report Abuse
          • Author by wzwriter (March 20, 2008 3:48 pm ET)
               

            When did the code ring change? I got a totally different message using the little orphan annie decoder ring that I got in a box of Ovaltine. When I broke the code it said:

            B-e-s-u-r-e-t-o-t-a-k-e-y-o-u-r-o-x-y-c-o-t-i-n!

            That must have been the Special Edition Ovaltine with the picture of Rush Limbaugh on the label.....  :-)

            Report Abuse
      • Author by wookie (March 20, 2008 4:06 pm ET)
           
        We can't tell you. You aren't part of Hillary's inner circle.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by dazedandconfused26 (March 20, 2008 3:33 pm ET)
         
      This is just getting ridiculous, it doesn't matter what hillary says these morons are just going to keep coming up with this crap.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by wzwriter (March 20, 2008 3:41 pm ET)
         

      Joe Scarborough is too stupid to comprehend plain English, so he thinks it's "code language".

      But then again, the people in his district were stupid enough to elect him to Congress - four times.....

      Report Abuse
      • Author by snoopy (March 20, 2008 3:47 pm ET)
           
        I'm pretty sure ripper and fact finder can provide excellent examples of code language...
        Report Abuse
        • Author by wzwriter (March 20, 2008 5:29 pm ET)
             

          I'm pretty sure ripper and fact finder can provide excellent examples of code language...

          I'm guessing both of them will be back later.  Sean Hannity's radio pikefest is on right now, and they're probably both listening in to get more "facts" to present here.....

          Report Abuse
    • Author by achrispage6992 (March 20, 2008 3:48 pm ET)
         

      I don't know if Hillary is speaking code or if she is somehow infusing a "jab" but it seems obvious given the recent issue with Obama's church/pastor that her statement "no matter where you worship, or the color of your skin" is a some type of reference to the Obama issue. Perhaps she used these words just because the issue of church and race has been in the news to help get her point across. I don't see anything sinister on her part here but the issue in and of itself may have fueled her using those specific words. Perhaps.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by dazedandconfused26 (March 20, 2008 3:51 pm ET)
           

        Of course thats why she used those words, but her statement basically said that Obama's church should not be an issue. I dont see the code in that. She is wisely taking the high road, of course she doesn't have to go low because Old Morning Joe and the good old boy news networks will do that for her.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (March 20, 2008 3:55 pm ET)
             
          Well done, Dazed. **psssst --The Frost is on the grass and the goose flies high in the winter*** flag this post to delete after reading***
          Report Abuse
        • Author by achrispage6992 (March 20, 2008 4:54 pm ET)
             
          I agree I don't think there is anything sinister in these statements.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by mefirst (March 20, 2008 7:10 pm ET)
               
            except you said that you didn't know if she was "speaking code or somehow infusing a jab".  are you withdrawing that?
            Report Abuse
        • Author by fromthesouthland (March 21, 2008 9:01 am ET)
             
          Dazed and Confused - nothing confusing about your comments.  I agree 100% and we should take it up with MSNBC.  They are struggling hard to compete even if it means stooping to the likes of Hannity and Limbaugh.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by eweston8542983 (March 20, 2008 4:34 pm ET)
         

      Password: Hey Joe! Who won the seconda world war, you so schmart!

      Counter sign: Not responsible! Park and Lock IT!

      We'll always have swordfish keede.

       

      Report Abuse
    • Author by mefirst (March 20, 2008 7:02 pm ET)
         

      obama's supporters are still not telling the truth about hillary.  his chief strategist, david axelrod,  said a few days ago that she had an "inexplicable unwillingness" to say that obama was not a muslim.  and last sunday on meet the press, obama supporter bill bradley said this of hillary:  "if you say, as far as you know, he might be a muslim".  see link.  there is no way that you can possibly twist what she said into that statement.   double standard.

      http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23658548/page/2/

      Report Abuse
      • Author by carlileb5935 (March 21, 2008 2:27 am ET)
           

        yeah, and that's the best they can do.

        Speaking of coded langauge, Obama was doing that for months, constantly using terms like "our movement" and "our struggle." Those were sayings right out of the 60's civil rights movement.

        Fortunately, he has ceased the practice.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by mefirst (March 21, 2008 7:10 am ET)
             
          those terms really don't bother me, and i haven't had any problems with his church being "black oriented".  it's what happens when you're a minority.  what i did see this morning is a photo of wright shaking hands with bill clinton.  and my question is so what?   he's not sitting there in a pew.  it was a prayer breakfast with many ministers at the white house.  and the today show noted that the obama campaign released the photo. 
          Report Abuse
    • Author by pearlene_scott1602 (March 20, 2008 8:48 pm ET)
         

      Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is adding a quick trip to Detroit to her Wednesday campaign schedule

      Let's see quick unexpected trip to Michigan. Obama's having pastor issues and Hillary just happens to give a speech using church, worship and race. Nah, I'm sure those weren't code words. I'm sure that speech was one of many she planned to give if they had allowed her to campaign for the Michigan primary.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by carlileb5935 (March 21, 2008 2:28 am ET)
           
        You really hate the Clintons, don't you? Why?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by pearlene_scott1602 (March 21, 2008 6:16 pm ET)
             
          Nah, I don't hate anyone, life's to short to spend time hating anyone, however I will not vote for Hillary. Is that clear enough for you. 
          Report Abuse
    • Author by rangerphil (March 21, 2008 11:57 am ET)
         

      Hey Joe----

      "The loons have escaped from the nuthouse."

      I repeat: "The loons have escaped from the nuthouse."

      Okay? (wink wink)

      You know what to do now.

      MUST SILENCE JASON BOURNE!!! 

      Report Abuse

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