Florida Governor Rick Scott’s interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” was only two questions and less than four minutes long before co-anchor Mika Brzezinski prematurely ended the interview and then ripped into Scott for not giving satisfactory and direct answers.
The tension began when co-anchor and Scott’s friend Joe Scarborough asked Scott if he was going to endorse a Republican nominee ahead of the Florida primary on March 15.
Scott refused to endorse a candidate and deflected saying he was leaving it up to the people. This frustrated Scarborough:
“Why wouldn’t you endorse the sitting senator from the state of Florida? That seems like a pretty easy endorsement, to me,” Scarborough said, adding. “I’m confused.”
As Scott continued to explain his refusal to endorse, Scarborough moved on to a question about Donald Trump’s statement about whether or not “Islam hates America.” Again, Scott refused to answer the question:
“Well, as you know, in Florida we’re the best melting pot in the world. We love everybody coming to our state,” Scott said.
Both anchors were by this point visibly frustrated, and Brzezinski threatened to end the interview early:
“That’s not answering any questions. Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick, I know you and Joe are friends and this is kind of awkward, but can you answer the question or should we scoot?” she asked.
The governor didn’t answer so they ended the interview.
“That was weak sniveling political wavering,” Brzezinski told Scarborough after Scott’s feed from Florida was taken down. “I doubt his endorsement would have any impact anyway. Sorry.”
Scarborough noted that the questions posed to Scott “were very easy” and that Donald Trump gave similar frustrating answers to questions concerning the proposed Muslim ban. Brzezinski agreed, calling the governor “pathetic.”
“He could not answer the question as to whether or not it’s OK to say that Islam hates America. He couldn’t do it. He was pathetic. He chose not to answer it. He chose to be weak. And so we had him leave the show, because we’re not doing that.”
Friends Read Free