Morning Joe Opens With 15-Minute Host-Led Campaign Commercial Defending Joe Biden
Morning Joe opened Monday’s show with what amounted to a 15-minute long campaign advertisement for President Joe Biden that excused his presidential debate performance, dismissed the “chorus of Biden doubters,” and urged supporters to rally behind him.
A countering voice in the form of MSNBC co-host Joe Scarborough, who called on the president to step down on Friday’s show following his “terrible” performance at CNN’s presidential debate, was notably absent as viewers were abandoned to a prolonged and sentimental hyper-partisan party political salute by Biden family friend Mika Brzezinski.
The host opened with a look at the “mocking” and “sneering” headlines and opinion pieces that form part of the “global call” for Biden to step out of the presidential race before a look at Biden’s pre-debate schedule – crossing several time zones to attend different events in Europe and then California. She praised the “vintage spark” in his eyes, appearing re-energized at a North Carolina campaign rally on Friday.
Brzezinski then took viewers on a walk down memory lane through a career spanning decades to frame Biden as the comeback king who defied “political and personal setbacks” and has “repeatedly risen up from rock bottom.”
“It’s what we love about him. So many draw hope from his empathy and his ability to have perspective, even right now, and to persevere when he is completely counted out,” she said.
Brzezinski continued to recount how Biden secured the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, even citing the then-endorsement of co-host Scarborough in a Washington Post editorial as a kicker.
The host went on to run through Biden’s achievements as president and declared that his “legislative wins are unmatched this century” in domestic and foreign policy.
Finally admitting her personal bias for a moment, Brzezinski said: “My family and I, as you know, have known this man for decades, and his family, as well. Yes, I know them personally. And I still believe in Joe Biden. I’ve learned that counting him out is always a mistake, and doing that now could be catastrophic for our country.”
She said that voters need an “explanation from Joe Biden and reassurance that the other night was a one-time event and not part of a larger problem.”
Do there need to be changes? Yes, Brzezinski agreed, although not to the Democratic candidacy but “to those managing him” and “his schedule.”
“Changes maybe even to those around him,” she added.
It was at this stage that the host pivoted in a hit at the alternative in former President Donald Trump.
The host continued: “The choice is one terribly bad night versus a decade of destruction to our core beliefs, our democratic values, and, yes, our constitution. Someone who stumbled over his words for 90 minutes versus someone who lied to the American people over and over again. A man slowed down by a cold versus a man with a cold, vile, and merciless heart. I think in the days and weeks ahead as we move away from this debate, clarity will hopefully set in. For me, Joe Biden is still the man for this moment.”
Not everyone was sold by the patronizing quarter hour roundup. Minutes following the broadcast one cable executive contacted Mediaite, writing simply: “Morning Joe just washed away any semblance of credibility they had on Friday – Mika is full blown channeling Jill Biden and his staff demanding he stay in the race. Very obvious this was all done in concert w/ his campaign in a message to donors.”
Whether Brzezinski’s monologue alone can save Biden and swing the sentiment of voters remains to be seen.
Watch above on MSNBC.
This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
