Joe Scarborough Calls Out Fox News for Delivering ‘Talking Points of Vladimir Putin’
Joe Scarborough made a point to not name any names, but he clearly called out Fox News coverage of Tuesday’s call between President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman joined the set of Morning Joe to assess the secure call between the two, and provide the expertise that only a former Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council can.
Vindman said that Putin is looking to exploit any opportunity to regain some sphere of control in Ukraine, “An opportunity is perceived weakness in the United States.” He then clarified that the opportunity “Really doesn’t have that much to do with Joe Biden. He’s testing Joe Biden to see if President Biden is actually going to stick to his guns and be firm and resolved and pushing back on Russian aggression.”
He continued to note that Putin is looking at the “underlying conditions,” at the current state of American politics. “He’s looking at insurrection. If we didn’t have an insurrection on January 6th this past year, I don’t think Vladimir Putin would see the same opportunities and same kind of weakness. He sees gaps between the US and Europe.”
“I’m not going to name any names, you know, but there is a cable news channel that supports Vladimir Putin, that has become… delivers the talking points of Vladimir Putin,” Scarborough followed, making clear reference to Fox News. “That’s exactly right,” Vindman concurred before saying Putin’s current aggression is a continuation of the build-up in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea during the Obama administration.
What talking points is Scarborough talking about? It’s difficult to assess, but anyone who watched, say Fox & Friends Tuesday before the scheduled call could clearly see clearly conservative opinionated messaging of how weak Biden is as a leader, compared to the strong man Putin, an image that the Russian leader is eager to curry.
A better example might be how Tucker Carlson called out “bloodthirsty” Republican Senators who had the temerity to go on Fox News and support of US military aid to defend Ukraine from Putin’s aggression.
Fox News presents a remarkably patriotic message, and their on-air graphics are almost always draped in American flags so viewers really know where they stand. But lamenting the weakness of a sitting US president in advance of a call with the leader of your adversary? Well, some might argue what side you are truly pulling for. Or, at least, that seems to be the clear critique made by Scarborough here.
Watch above via MSNBC.
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