Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) made an appearance and took issue with show host Joe Scarborough for he and his guests’ criticisms of Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton apparently changing her views on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
McCaskill, a supporter of Clinton, went through a list of other presidential candidates that have changed their positions on certain issues, including Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) and Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.
“I’ve been listening to you guys this morning,” McCaskill said. “I think some of it has been unfair and not balanced and you look at Marco Rubio — you look at Jeb Bush and the changes in their position to twist and distort themselves to appeal to the same people who want to elect Donald Trump president. It’s something to see. And I just don’t hear enough talk about that.”
“I just don’t think to pick on her because she is now saying she doesn’t think this is going to meet her high bar for various protections that she thinks needs to be in place,” she continued. “She and I may disagree on it. I haven’t decided yet. I voted for TPA. I haven’t decided on TPP. But I really don’t think that this is an indication that she is somehow unprincipled or weak. I think that’s totally wrong.”
Scarborough vowed to be tough on other candidates when they appear on his show, but pointed out Clinton thus far has declined invitations to appear on their show.
“While you were supporting Barack Obama in 2008, we were the only people on this network who were fair to Hillary Clinton,” Scarborough said. “She knows we’ll be fair to her. We’re tough on everybody. My God, have you heard what we said about Kevin McCarthy this morning? Have you heard what we’ve been saying about Ben Carson?”
Scarborough’s co-host Mika Brzezinski also took issue with McCaskill’s assertion.
“What are you trying to say?” Brzezinski said. “No, I really want to hear. I want to know what you are trying to say, Claire. I think that sometimes you might misunderstand questions and take it as an attack. And I think that’s a political ploy. I think that’s a game that’s been played since the ’70s, and it’s getting old.”
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