Bill Kristol: Melissa Harris-Perry, Joy Reid Are ‘Nuts’ for Linking Ebola, Race

During Saturday’s edition of Melissa Harris-Perry’s show on MSNBC, the host discussed with Joy Reid and others the possible racial underpinnings to the way the American public has reacted to the few Ebola cases in the United States. Speaking to Newsmax’s Steve Malzberg Monday, conservative commentator Bill Kristol called their comments “crazy” and “a little nuts.”
Harris-Perry remarked that the fact that the only person to die from Ebola in the U.S. so far is a black man from West Africa and that the two infected nurses are “women of color” may have some impact on the way Americans view the disease. Reid agreed, referencing the “urban myth” that Thomas Eric Duncan intentionally used his African body as some sort of weapon of mass destruction.
“That’s what passes for a talk show on MSNBC, ladies and gentlemen,” Malzberg said before introducing Kristol.
“That’s really crazy,” Kristol said of the clip. “Those commentators are a little nuts,” he added, saying he should not be labeled “racist” because he is concerned for the two nurses who have been infected. Later, Kristol noted that neighboring countries in Africa have cut off travel from the countries where the epidemic is occurring. “Are they motivated by racial motives? I kind of doubt it.”
“Well, MSNBC may find a way that they are,” Malzberg replied, laughing.
Watch video below, via Newsmax:
And watch the full segment from Melissa Harris-Perry below, via MSNBC:
[Photo via screengrab]
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