MSNBC spliced Gore speech to remove context for “dogs and cats” comment, Morning Joe hosts then mocked

Written by Dianna Parker

Published

MSNBC's Morning Joe aired an excerpt from Al Gore's endorsement speech of Sen. Barack Obama, in which Gore said, “After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter.” Joe Scarborough then stated: "[H]e lost me with the dogs and cat thing." But MSNBC edited out the part of Gore's comments that provided the context for his “dogs and cats” remark.

On the June 17 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, MSNBC aired excerpts from former Vice President Al Gore's June 16 endorsement speech of Sen. Barack Obama, but removed the context for Gore's comment, “After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter.” Following the clip of Gore's “dogs and cats” statement, host Joe Scarborough stated, "[H]e lost me with the dogs and cat thing," later adding, “I think that was a shark-jump too far." But MSNBC edited out the part of Gore's comments that provided the context for his “dogs and cats” remark. Specifically, Gore said: “If you bought poisoned, lead-filled toys from China or adulterated medicine made in China, if you bought tainted pet food made in China, you know that elections matter," before adding, “After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter.”

From Gore's June 16 endorsement of Obama as aired live on that day's edition of CNN's Larry King Live:

GORE: In looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000. Take it from me -- elections matter. If you think the next appointments to our Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter. If you live in the city of New Orleans, you know that elections matter.

If you, or a member of your family, are serving in the active military, the National Guard or Reserves, you know that elections matter. If you're a wounded veteran, you know that elections matter. If you've lost your job, if you're struggling with your mortgage, you know that elections matter. If you care about a clean environment, if you want a government that protects you instead of special interests, you know that elections matter.

If you care about food safety, if you like a T on your BLT, you know that elections matter. If you bought poisoned, lead-filled toys from China or adulterated medicine made in China, if you bought tainted pet food made in China, you know that elections matter. After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter.

From the June 17 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:

SCARBOROUGH: But you know, last hour, Mika [Brzezinski, co-host] asked me how the world would have been different if Al Gore had been elected president. Al Gore talked about that last night in his endorsement of Barack Obama. Let's listen.

GORE [video clip]: In looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000. Take it from me -- elections matter. If you think the next appointments to our Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter. If you live in the city of New Orleans, you know that elections matter.

[...]

GORE [video clip]: If you've lost your job, if you're struggling with your mortgage, you know that elections matter.

[...]

GORE [video clip]: After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter.

WILLIE GEIST (co-host): Hmm. Yeah.

BRZEZINSKI: Wow.

SCARBOROUGH: Yeah, he lost me with the dogs and cat thing. I think that was --

BRZEZINSKI: But it was good.

SCARBOROUGH: -- a shark-jump too far.