If you think of MSNBC’s Morning Joe program as a hard-hitting news show then you’ll probably throw up in your mouth a little watching White House consigliere Valerie Jarrett go around the table this morning prior to her interview kissing and hugging the assembled reporters.
Jarrett’s first step is toward the BBC’s Katty Kay. “Hi, there,” Jarrett’s heard whispering as she leans in for a hug and kiss. Kay is “Anchor for BBC World News America in Washington.”
Then the senior White House adviser just as warmly greets Cokie Roberts, a National Public Radio contirbutor.
As the segment heads toward a commercial break, host Joe Scarborough can be heard saying, “Valerie, come give me a hug.”
You can’t blame Valerie Jarrett here. She’s working the refs. It’s her job. Consigliere’s are known for much tougher jobs than buttering up news reporters. I’d be more concerned if Jarrett was handing out checks.
But this doesn’t make Katty Kay, Cokie Roberts or Joe Scarborough look good for the obvious reason that people have a reasonable doubt that a reporter will ask tough questions immediately after being warmly embraced by the subject of their interview.
As one of the hosts of the program, Joe Scarborough is particularly dumb for going so far as to solicit affection that wasn’t immediately forthcoming. He might as well bend his knee to King Obama.
It’s rare that I agree with the Weekly Standard but they’re right to highlight this episode. If I differ at all, it’s just that this is Morning Joe and what the hell did you expect? It’s like the Today show for nerds.
I stopped watching it early late in 2013 in part to impose a near total political news blackout on myself for my own mental health (insanity is doing the same thing again and again an expecting a different results) but also because they talk over each other and interrupt constantly. The occasional good interview was not enough.
Perhaps they are worried about getting beat up in the ratings and are going for a kinder, gentler Morning Joe more akin to the traditional morning show a la Today and GMA. Hugs and kisses for all to brighten your day.
Or maybe they are trying to appeal to the countless who have come to see all politics as self serving, mean spirited, untruthful and partisan.
Perhaps they are worried about getting beat up in the ratings and are going for a kinder, gentler Morning Joe more akin to the traditional morning show a la Today and GMA.
Why was one of Gingrich’s boys hired at the supposed liberal network in the first place? And I find it hilarious, in a sad way, that those “reporters” let themselves get bamboozled like that.
On the other hand, it’s not as if they’re cozying up to an elected official. While she is a long time Obama insider, Jarrett is an appointed advisor to the administration. Probably not the best optics for Morning Joe though.
It’s never been more than a breezy news chat infotainment show. Occasionally every few years a guest appears and actually challenges the smug blowhard host. Max Blumenthal, Chris Matthews.
The show is unique for being three hours long and for its opening 20 minutes or so being absolutely commercial free. I’m pretty sure that network would never do that for a liberal host. Look for instance at the commercial-cluttered liberal-hosted weekend morning shows. Five minutes in, they have to take a comml break. Then every five minutes thereafter. No thanks.
Pretty damn sad commentary on the quality of our media-government complex that Cuppa Joe, his abused broadcast mate Mika, and the rest of their conventional wisdom-spouting crew appear to be appointed courtesans to Village royalty. This program often fails to rise to mediocrity, yet we’re supposed to gain the “hot take” on the national political scene by this lukewarm puddle of talkers.
It’s as if the Mourning Joe team re-reads the infamous Sally Quinn column “In Washington, That Letdown Feeling” every day right before broadcast so they can freshly regurgitate Quinn’s worldview all over us.