MSNBC's Joe Scarborough is continuing to hammer Democrats for criticizing former President Barack Obama's policies during this week's presidential debates, and now, he's got a new nightly ritual to suggest.
Numerous Obama policies, including the Affordable Care Act, came under fire during the debates, and Scarborough previously slammed 2020 Democrats for seemingly spending more time attacking the popular former president than President Trump himself.
On Friday's Morning Joe, Scarborough continued to drive this point home, going after the 2020 candidates who are arguing over "what Barack Obama did wrong" when Trump is doing things that are "straight out of a fascist playbook."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"They need to wake up," Scarborough said. "...I will say it to Democratic candidates again: Focus on Donald Trump! Repeat after me: 'I will not attack Barack Obama. I will focus on Donald Trump and the dangers his presidency brings.'"
Scarborough feels so strongly about this message that he suggested Democrats "read it slowly five times before you go to bed every night," joking he may even put together a mindfulness tape with "the sound of babbling brooks in the background" for them. For now, though, Scarborough concluded that these Democrats targeting Obama are "letting the country down."
The unexpected heat Obama took during the debate has been subject to plenty of discussion, and although Obama has remained on the sidelines of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, CNN reported on Thursday that he and his allies "question the wisdom in assailing the record of a popular ex-president." Brendan Morrow
-
Why are American conservatives clashing with Pope Leo?Talking Points Comments on immigration and abortion draw backlash
-
9 haunted hotels where things definitely go bump in the nightThe Week Recommends Don’t fear these spirited spots. Embrace them.
-
Saudi comedy fest exposes free speech schism in stand-upIN THE SPOTLIGHT The decision by some of stand-up’s biggest names to attend a festival in a nation infamous for its censorship has the comedy world picking sides and settling old scores
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denialSpeed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartelsspeed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feudSpeed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protestersSpeed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoffSpeed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsionSpeed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot
-
Oregon sues to stop Trump military deploymentSpeed Read The president wants to send the National Guard into Portland
