Joe Scarborough Likens Paul Krugman To 'Extremists' (VIDEO)

This morning, on Morning Joe, MSNBCs coffee-soaked klatsch of news mummers read aloud part of Paul Krugman's NYT op-ed -- NY1 STYLE! -- in which Krugman referenced the prescient DHS report that warned of an upsurge in right-wing extremist violence -- and of "lone wolf' attacks like the one recently visited upon the Holocaust museum. In his op-ed, Krugman said:

There is, however, one important thing that the D.H.S. report didn't say: Today, as in the early years of the Clinton administration but to an even greater extent, right-wing extremism is being systematically fed by the conservative media and political establishment.

Scarborough responded:

"We sort through a lot of hate mail, a lot of hate email, a lot of viciousness, and I must say, and I could print them out for people, Paul Krugman's name is attached to a lot of those emails ... they use Paul Krugman as their shill, for their left wing hate. This is because Paul Krugman, like a lot of extremists on the right, they only see their side, they have a close-minded world view, and so Paul Krugman uses this tragedy, uses this death, to try to knock down opponents on the right."

I have no doubt that Joe Scarborough gets a lot of emails that maybe reference Paul Krugman's writings before trailing off into a lot of semi-literate insults, because I get similar emails from people (they do not tend to reference Paul Krugman, though). But this is the first time I've heard anyone suggest that Krugman is an "extremist." It's possible that Krugman's support for a robust stimulus package might inspire a "lone wolf" attack, I suppose. But to be so inspired, you'd have to be hella crazy.

I know this, though: When I hear someone say, "a tragedy, exploited to knock down political opponents," the first things that comes to my mind are the numbers nine and eleven.

[WATCH]

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Comments

[capitaldysfunction]

The marketeers/plastic people know that people will watch because she's pretty and unopinionated and he is sort of the opposite. Also, he seems reasonable some of the time when he criticizes the Repubs. My thanks to the good people of his former congressional district who voted this say-nothing egotist and ideologue out of office. Just turn this crap off.

[DemocraticVoter]

This is why Scarborough has no credibility in serious discussions of policy. The logic of equating Paul Krugman, nobel laureate, with the likes of Rush, Newt, and O'Reilly is so ridiculous as to make one question any other argument this person tries to put forward.

[NoelGreco]

Al Gore is also a Nobel Laureate (please note capitalization.)

In a single stroke of the pen, the Nobel Foundation trivialized its prize for eternity.

You'll need to find another qualification to establish Krugman's legitimacy.

[derekc06]

Well, lucky for us, it's not you who designates which organization is reputable and which is not.

[elfNW]

Can`t wait to see what John Stewart has to say about this on the Daily Show.

[bustitbaby]

Scarborough the hypocrite would.

[OneLiberalLady]

Paul Krugman had many valid points in his ariticle. For starters, although he didn't mention it, Limbaugh and others are still repeating nonsense about Obama's birth certificate. He hopes Obama "fails" because he is a "socialist" and a "half white, half black human being with no experience," and has said U.S. is a "Muslim country (!)". This vitriol is heard by anyone who will listen including some who are no doubt fragile and borderline psychologically. For a person of that description, hearing that your president is a fraud can be a call to arms, especially coupled with all the other provocative things Limbaugh and his ilk spew. After all, he felt free to call women "Nazis." Abortionists are "murderers" instead of doctors performing legal procedures.
It's time for all extremists who broadcast over public airways to tone it down. And we should think twice about listening to people who we wouldn't want to associate with in our real lives.

[rsprags]

Think twice, I don't even watch Joe little low brain wave show!

[Iscarius]

Paul Krugman is a communist.

[TovSquirrel]

funny

[armadillo]

Now there's a well thought out and reasoned arguement.

[tommie2]

The best way to deal with Joe is to not watch MSNBC until after his show. He has had all these people on and his book is still not on the NYT list. I wonder why these seemingly intelligent people agree to be on his show?

[Mij13]

The most unlikable and unlikely TV host ever. I cannot understand why anyone would watch him. I always remember him walking off the set of David Gregory's old show when he couldn't match wits with Rachel Maddow. He's a ten year old boy in a grown-up's body.

[rsprags]

I watch the Today Show or Robin on HLN to keep from hearing that whiny, petty voice!

[Daw8it]

Right-wing tactic:
Trying to compare a right-wing extremist who shot another man with a liberal who just goes on talk show and discusses how bad the right wing media, is absurd

Hmmm ... by that tactic .... that means Joe Scarryboy is the same has the man who shot the army recruiter.

[Ladyrantsalot]

Ha ha. It has just been pointed out to me that I must have meant Colmes: i.e. is Mika the new Colmes? I told you I didn't watch much TV!

[BigJim716]

I believe this guy Joe probably has a few e-mails, maybe not a lot.

Cannot see how Paul Krugman would cause anything simply because he supported the stimulus plan.

I think we should face facts that the stimulus is a failure. Friday, here in Orlando was an absolute bloodbath with the layoffs. No end in sight for me finding work. Obama said the stimulus would keep unemployment below 8%. He oviously was wrong as one of Obama's cabinet memebers admitted they were maybe overly optimistic.

Hopefully they consider repealing the remainder of the stimulus before we go through job-less inflation. I doubt it though.

[FernandoRuiz]

The stimulus has only been in effect for 4 months. How can you possibly make a judgment on it already? And when did Obama claim the stimulus would keep unemployment under 8 percent? Can you point to the specific instance where he said that?

[hlhicks]

Is Mika's purpose on the show to nod approvingly at everything Joe says? If so, job well done. At some point MSNBC should add someone to that show who is able to articulate a point of view that is counter to Scarborough's. He spouts drivel for three hours and the other panelists stupidly grin and agree with his blatant falsehoods. Thank goodness we live in the computer age and we can cut through his lies using his own words.

[Okieborn]

Hey Joe !!
Paul Krugman won a Nobel Piece Prize !!
The End of this story !!
Blah Blah Blah Blah !!!

[purplefishies]

Try economics. Krugman has been debating these clowns (like Scarborough ) for ages but they are do cowardly to take them on.

Thats the difference. These right wingers want to sit in their bully pullpit without even the barest semblance of a challenge.

[jimrs6]

Krugman did not win the Peace Prize genius

[rsprags]

He won a Pulitzer; so what jimrs6? JS can't even win a good cup of coffee; however, he won 365 days of over prized Star Buck's coffee. Think about buying JS and MIKA and CO a cup every time you step in the place....I THINK NOT!
Krugman is not an extremist just a professor who wrote a great article about some of Joe's best friends!

[freelyb]

Well, I guess Scarborough has the right to try to defend himself even if he is absolutely guilty as charged.

[waynesmyer]

But! But !I had nothing to do with the death of Lori Klasutis, Mourning Joe
CHECK IT OUT! Keyword: Lori Klasutis(check medical exam report: clue: rebound brain trauma)

[scottymac11]

'It's sad in the fact that this thing is being exploited" says Joe as he exploits the tragedy himself. What a hypocrite.

[chriss0114]

According Joe the, it is not expoiting when Reischtaggers do it just like the coffee plugging and interviewing and sucking up to the head of Starbucks was all sarcasm

[pauldeman]

Let me get this straight, Krugman is an extremist but Rush is a "great thinker" (Mika's words). The liberal media was just hateful and vicious toward Palin but somehow calling Michelle "trash in the white house" (radio host) is okay. Bashing Pelosi for weeks on end and having the GOP run an ad comparing her to a 007 femme fatal is just politics but Palin is off limits. Turning the show into a long infomercial for Joe's book is not unprofessional or exploitative but a necessary debate. Having grown men call Mika "mommy" is not a warped fetish but endearing. Having Joe berate Chrystia Freeland time and time again while giving Liz Cheney a group hug is just objective journalism. Sanford (the gov who was sued by a high school kid over the stimulus bill) and Ryan (he of the Hoover-esque tax cut) are great conservative leaders but Obama (due to his lack of executive experience) is, in Joe's words, unqualified. Oh, let's also not forget that Obama made us less safe by Jan 21. Perhaps Joe will remind us of this when Mika stops plugging his book.

[kesiac]

Great post. You nailed their show, spot on.

[maggienash65]

Thank you for your post.

[Jacqattack]

Well said.

[mdcolli]

I also thank you!!!!

[ObserverinVancouver]

Great analysis. Agree with the other people who replied to your comment.