Joe Scarborough Grows Exasperated, Claims "I'm Done" During Max Blumenthal Interview (VIDEO)

When Max Blumenthal was on "Morning Joe" last month, the interview ended with host Joe Scarborough saying, "I need to get you back, we need to get more time, because I want to debate you on the book."

That debate — on Blumenthal's book, Republican Gomorrah — occurred Wednesday morning, but it didn't end as civilly.

Blumenthal's book argues that the Republican party has been hijacked by right-wing evangelical Christians. Scarborough began pressing Blumenthal on why he feels that evangelical Christians have no right to participate in politics, but the conversation quickly shifted to a discussion on extremism.

"Max, this is becoming a cartoon," Scarborough said after Blumenthal provided examples of far right extremist statements. "My point to you was that we can both pick out extremes on both sides who are reckless and irresponsible. Isn't the bigger problem that the far left over the past eight years, the far right during the Clinton administation, and now the far right again during the Obama administration, are trying to de-legitimize Presidents?"

Blumenthal initially agreed with Scarborough, but then continued pressing against the far right and called Scarborough "a member of the movement that's taken over the [Republican] party."

"Max, just stop," Scarborough said as Blumenthal continued ranting about Sarah Palin and the Republican party. "You're being intolerant here."

Then, following a discussion on conservatism and the 1990s surplus, Scarborough said to Blumenthal, "Let me finish."

"Well, you don't let me finish," Blumenthal said. "I'm not gonna let you take over the airwaves. I'm a guest. You should welcome guests."

"I'm done," Scarborough said soon after.

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Comments

[jeannie35]

There is a Republican Party out there somewhere (obviously) that all Republicans NOW seem to claim to be a party of. That stuff we have seen for the last eight years - that was not THEM. THEIR party is much more noble and true to Republicans values. Do they really think people are going to guy this crap? I wonder how many mindless zombies out there will?

[nkd]

Well, Joe's guest list keeps getting smaller and smaller. Max won't be back because he was winning the debate. Maddow won't be back because she won the debate. I'm not sure if Ed Shultz was back on after he won a debate. Mica stay because she shuts up at the right times. The anly guy who gets back on is Mica dad because he is too important. I think Joe even said one time he was going to have be really prepared when Zbigniew came back on. He never is. Brzezinski always makes a fool out of him.

[PitBull6]

I saw this episode although I didn't see the first one. Blumenthal was incredibly rude and unprofessional. Now Joe, like many hosts, has been known to cut off guests (for sake of time, cutting to the point, or just to make his own point) but frequently apologizes or jokes about it afterward (Christia ???, Lawrence O'Donnel, and even David Shuster).

But this time he let Max speak and the guy was all over the place. Then he's going to lecture the host of the show on which he is a guest how he should conduct his interview??? I thought Joe was going to boot him off the set but he just let him keep talking.

[ginamarie101]

No comments for four hours. Really?

[Yurdelite]

And this is the GOP, Party of Nothing's last, best hope for the White House? Scarborough is like GWBush--don't disagree with him or he will shut you off. The only person who put Scarborough in his place was Mika's Dad. Also, Mark Halperin is so biased against President Obama he should not even consider himself a journalist--exactly why I stopped buying and reading Time magazine.

[Okieborn]

Joe just can't let go of George W. Bush !!
Shameful !!

[PitBull6]

Have you ever watched him? He's one of W's biggest critics when it comes to the budget.

[Okieborn]

Joe Scarborough needs to run for a political office as a Rethug. (which he is !!)
Then be defeated and go away far away !!!

[Rastaman1967]

Folks we see this time and time again, when guys like Joe & Sean gets someone who can challenge them, they resort to the their default position..well, I can show you someone on the left who is irresponsible also. The point is these guys have no substance, they cannot have a meaningful dialogue, because they fail to acknowledge the main objectives of the Republican party, which is to see the President fail.

To have a good dialogue, both sides has to be able to speak with facts that makes sense.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Joe bouced off his evangelicals topic like he's playing dodgeball when HE had no answer for Max, and it's one of his favorite tactics to try a keep guests off-balance when he's defending republican'ts and non-existent conservatism, to just change the subject. He even admits in this video his view is that the last eight years were somehow NOT 'his' republican't party, yet started off the debate claiming the party's NOT been hijacked.

Max exposes hypocrisy for a living, and Joe appears oblivious his 'having it both ways' ...is just that.

How typically republican't...

[SlappHappy]

"He even admits in this video his view is that the last eight years were somehow NOT 'his' republican't party, yet started off the debate claiming the party's NOT been hijacked."

Excellent point. He contradicted himself totally when he got flustered.

[icutrauma1]

I found Scarborough to be representative of what he is arguing doesn't exist. An entity of people that are not tolerant of discussion. It was amazing he called Blumenthal 'intolerant' when all his body language and behavior showed his disgust for the discussion. Very unprofessional and this is why i no longer watch him. I had enough of him in Florida & i got tired of Mika saying how cute he was.

I did find it odd that everyone stood on the sidelines & didn't contribute their observations. It reminded me of when i was in school and someone would yell, "Fight! Fight!" As if it was known Scarborough was going to go after this man.

[PitBull6]

What did you think of Blumenthal's actions?

[2centsplain]

Simple case of a guy (Joe) taking himself a BIT too seriously. Find a job, Joe.

[neesy08]

i saw this video at another blog. it appeared to me that scarborough kept trying to change the subject whenever Max struck a nerve

[endlessirony]

Joe is not used to people disagreeing with him, he likes his "liberals" like Mika docile and agreeable.

[spciii]

Are you guys actually proud of how Blumenthal behaved?

[Bogstomper]

He blew it. When Scarborough asked why the evangelicals should be kept out of politics, he should have brought up creationism. The religious right is still pushing it despite several court decisions telling them it violates the First Amendment. That refusal to accept the Constitution as the law of the land is what makes the religious right so dangerous.

[Freesia2]

Well said.

Because the problem with the religious right is not their personal beliefs - it's that they want the law to demand those beliefs of everyone else. And it's fascinating that they adhere to a party that is an endless cacophone of "less government" except for the part where they want the government to micromanage the country to reflect the religious right's views. They have taken over the Republican party (it's so Joe) and want to take over the country.

[ersf]

Joe is in denial. He wants to go after all the liberals from the 60s that are mostly retired or have passed, while the Conservative Right is right here in front of the cameras every day, and somehow completely denies their presence in the GOP.

Tolerance for the intolerant and the extreme right is not part of the package Joe. Civil Rights are afforded to those who cherish freedom for all, and uphold our institutions, including Democracy - our form of government that makes us free. If people want to be intolerant, racist, shut down discourse or use ad hominim attacks against all who oppose their opinion.

You can support the Tea Baggers and the Minutemen and the survivalists all you want, but don't pretend that they are reasonable. Shame.

[MorpheusXNYC]

Wow.. Is Joe Scarborough is way off on this one...

False equivalencies and false narratives abound in his arguments. It's sad..

[SMP]

NO..thats Joe

[BambooHarvester]

Hehehehehe­hehehehehe­heheehhe !
~ Go Max !