MSNBC Host, Analyst Agree Biden Docs a ‘Fiasco’ That Will ‘Blow Up in Their Face’ — For Republicans

During MSNBC Reports on Saturday, host Cori Coffin and MSNBC analyst Fernand Amandi were in agreement that it’s Republicans who are hurt by the classified documents discovered in President Joe Biden’s possession, not the president or the Democrats.

It was revealed Saturday that additional classified documents were discovered at Biden’s Delaware residence, two days after the announcement of a special counsel to investigate the situation first reported Monday of this week.

Coffin had Amandi on to discuss the politics around the situation, and asked him whether Republicans — who she said are “predictably” on TV “trying to convince Americans” that the discovery of classified documents improperly stored at Biden’s private residence is similar to the classified documents discovered in Donald Trump’s possession — will have any success in making an issue of it.

“How damaging overall could this be for Biden and the Democrats?” Coffin asked, implying the answer with her question.

Amandi, delivering on that implication, said it isn’t bad for Democrats at all, but will hurt Republicans.

“I don’t see any damage for Biden and the Democrats. I do, however, see a continuing problem for the non-base Republican voter who looks at this Republican Party who talked for the last two years about what they would do when given the reins of power in American government,” he said. He argued that Republicans are expected to deliver on issues they’ve campaigned on, “And yet, they’re engaged in the weaponization of the rule of law against political opponents.”

“I think it’s a fiasco for them,” he said. “And I think, again, any American voter who is a non-MAGA base voter will see this for what it is.”

COFFIN: Predictably, Republicans are working the airwaves trying to convince Americans that Biden and Trump cases are one in(sic) the same. Now, I guess the question could be will their base buy it? It doesn’t matter, they’ll be voting Republican anyway. So the real question is, how damaging overall could this be for Biden and the Democrats and any voters who are maybe on the fence?

AMANDI: Oh, I don’t see any damage for Biden and the Democrats. I do, however, see a continuing problem for the non-base Republican voter who looks at this Republican Party who talked for the last two years about what they would do when given the reins of power in American government. Like the Republican majority in Congress now has to actually do things to try and fix a certain situation that they think needed remedied, whether it be around the economy, whether it be around gas prices, any of these elements. And yet, they’re engaged in the weaponization of the rule of law against political opponents.

I think it’s a fiasco for them. And I think, again, any American voter who is a non-MAGA base voter will see this for what it is. And the more they draw this contrast and try and create what is clearly a false equivalency, Cori I think it is going to blow up in their face.

I mean, if you want a quick metaphor, this, with the classified documents and Vice President Biden, it’s the equivalent of, you know, driving on a country rural road. You maybe take your eyes off the car in front of you for a second to hit the car and then you pull over. Nobody’s watching. You call the police, you call the insurance, you report it, you fill out the paperwork and you move on in your life. By comparison, what Trump has done is the equivalent of someone with ten DUIs driving in the middle of downtown without a, without a driver’s license, crashing into the police station lobby, and then walking away from the scene of the crime saying that your rights are being impeded on.

It’s absurd. And this is why the Republican embrace of Trump continues to be problematic. Had they distanced themselves from him after the January 6 insurrection, which coincidentally was led by President Trump, they might have the moral authority now to go after Biden with this optical problem.

Since that doesn’t exist, it only draws a contrast, which I don’t think Republicans in Congress are going to benefit from. When you have Donald Trump on the other side of what is being held up for someone to follow the rule of law, that’s always going to be a problem.

Watch the clip above, via MSNBC.