Mike Barnicle

Scarborough Rips Mika for Suggesting Schumer Controlled by Jewish Lobby
By Mark Finkelstein | September 10, 2015 | 9:10 AM EDT

The occasional dust-ups between Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski on the Morning Joe set seem largely made-for-TV. But there appeared to be some authentic antagonism on today's show on the issue of the motivations of those who oppose the Iran deal.

Joe passionately condemned supporters of the deal who cynically suggest that opponents are controlled by the Jewish lobby. "Why don't you guys talk about the Elders of Zion?" suggested Scarborough sarcastically at one point.  When Mika tried to shut Scarborough down, claiming "we get the point," Scarborough shot back "you're the last person on the face of the earth who appears to get the point."  Later, Mika walked right into it, saying that in opposing the deal, Chuck Schumer "did what he had to do, and it's perfect for him." Scarborough pounced: "there you go. There's the cynicism I talked about."

MSNBC Admits: If Inspiring Carson Was a Dem, 'Weepy' Reports Would Be Made on Him
By Scott Whitlock | September 9, 2015 | 12:05 PM EDT

You know it's bad when MSNBC admits liberal media bias. On Wednesday's Morning Joe, Willie Geist explained how different Ben Carson would be treated, were he a Democrat: "He's got an incredible personal story, too, that not enough people know about. I suspect if he were a Democrat, there long ago would have been long, weepy pieces written about him." 

Barnicle: I Want to Live As Far as Possible from Anti-Establishment GOP Voters
By Mark Finkelstein | August 31, 2015 | 6:57 PM EDT

When it comes to conservatives, liberal media types are lately really letting their snobbery show. On Monday, it was Mike Barnicle's turn to display his disdain. Guest-hosting Bloomberg's With All Due Respect, Barnicle, a regular on MSNBC's Morning Joe, declared: "I would want to live as far away as possible" from the 53 percent of Iowa Republican voters who favor anti-establishment candidates Trump, Carson, Fiorina and Cruz.

Eugene Robinson: GOP Has Moved ‘Way, Way, Way to the Right on Abortion’
By Connor Williams | August 11, 2015 | 10:24 AM EDT

On Tuesday's Morning Joe, the Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson attacked the Republican Party for “going way, way, way to the right on abortion.” The columnist based this opinion on Marco Rubio’s refusal to rule out voting for a bill that wouldn't have exceptions for cases of rape or incest. No word from Robinson about a move to the left in the Democratic Party despite a surge in the polls from self-avowed socialist Bernie Sanders.

Barnicle: You Would 'Have to Believe Iran is Suicidal' To Oppose Deal
By Mark Finkelstein | July 29, 2015 | 8:05 AM EDT

Questions for Mike Barnicle: does the phrase "suicide bomber" ring a bell? How about "martyrdom" in the name of Allah?

On today's Morning Joe, Barnicle's argument in favor of the Iran deal was that to oppose it, one would "have to believe Iran is suicidal." The former Boston Globe columnist reasoned that if Iran dropped an atomic bomb on Tel Aviv, "Tehran would be a combination of glass and sand and cement within 15 minutes."

Mike Barnicle Attacks ObamaCare Opponents: ‘Unbound from Reality’
By Connor Williams | July 28, 2015 | 3:05 PM EDT

Tuesday on Morning Joe, regular contributor Mike Barnicle slammed Republicans who want to continue the fight against ObamaCare. Barnicle was aghast that Mike Lee (R-UT) expressed frustration at Mitch McConnell for the Kentucky Senator’s refusal to put another ObamaCare repeal on the floor. Barnicle shouted: “What is wrong with these people? I mean, what is going on?...Are they so unbound from reality that they continue to do this?”

NBC's Engel: Very Possible Iran 'Gamble' Could Begin Mideast Arms Race
By Randy Hall | July 15, 2015 | 4:26 PM EDT

Soon after President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday morning that the government of Iran signed a nuclear arms treaty with the United States and a coalition of allies, Richard Engel -- NBC's chief foreign correspondent – stated on MSNBC's Morning Joe program that the deal was “a gamble” for the U.S. that “very possibly” could lead to a new arms buildup in the Middle East.

Later that day, Engel told Chris Matthews, the host of the weeknight Hardball program, that people were filling the streets of Tehran -- the capital of Iran -- because “they see this as a real moment to celebrate, a moment of renewal, of hope when they could maybe improve their lives, their freedoms, their financial freedoms, their ability to live a decent life.”

Barnicle Bemoaned Police Militarization, Now Calling for National Guard?
By Mark Finkelstein | July 10, 2015 | 7:58 AM EDT

What does it say about Mike Barnicle that, in a discussion of the surge in inner-city homicide, Al Sharpton sounded a lot more reasonable than the former Boston Globe columnist?

On today's Morning Joe, Sharpton almost echoed the NRA's famous "guns don't kill people, people kill people."  Said Sharpton: "people, because guns are there don't make you get up and shoot."  But there was the blathering Barnicle--who during the Ferguson debate had bemoaned the militarization of police--seeming to condemn the absence of the National Guard in the inner cities.

Morning Joe: Hillary Looked ‘Fearful’ ‘Annoyed’ During Interview
By Jeffrey Meyer | July 8, 2015 | 10:16 AM EDT

On Wednesday’s Morning Joe, two normally reliable liberal commentators did not hold back in their criticism of Hillary Clinton’s performance during her first national interview on CNN. 

Mika Heaps Praise on Bernie Sanders In Morning Joe Interview: 'Your Crowds are Humongous!'
By Connor Williams | June 24, 2015 | 11:32 AM EDT

In continuing their series of interviews with the announced 2016 presidential candidates, Morning Joe welcomed Bernie Sanders to the program. Co-host Mika Brzezinski lauded the Sanders campaign for its early success and large campaign events. Brzezinski gushed that it’s “looking pretty good too! Your crowds are humongous.” She then positively cited a piece from the Washington Post which suggested that the senator’s campaign – based on the crowd sizes – could indicate that a “growing movement” is brewing in America. 

Boo-Hoo: Barnicle Blames NY Post for Exposing De Blasio's Crime-Fighting Failure
By Mark Finkelstein | June 9, 2015 | 7:37 AM EDT

Talk about killing the messenger . . . Mike Barnicle has blamed the New York Post for the fact that New York City has become less safe under far-left Mayor Bill de Blasio.

On today's Morning Joe, Barnicle--holding up the front page of today's Post--whined that part of the problem is "the way crime is now covered in this city--especially in this paper, okay? If someone is shot in Times Square, or a guy with a hatchet in midtown is attacking people, it's on the front page." Boo-hoo. The fault, dear Barnicle, is not in the Post, but in de Blasio, and the way his reduction of stop-and-frisk and lax attitude have emboldened criminals and led to a jump in the crime rate.

Barnicle: Money Scandals Won't Hurt Hillary Much--Impossible to Quickly Describe
By Mark Finkelstein | May 6, 2015 | 8:24 AM EDT

Timer ready? Go!: foreign countries and rich people gave millions to the Clinton Foundation and/or paid Bill big bucks to give speeches. In return, Hillary's State Department pushed policies favorable to them.  And, stop!  I timed that at exactly eleven seconds.

On today's Morning Joe, Mike Barnicle made the absurd claim that the shady dealings described in Clinton Cash, officially out today, won't hurt Hillary much because they're too hard for Americans to understand.  "I challenge you to explain in one or two minutes to, you know, anyone, what is going on here with the Clintons and all this foundation money."