In continuing their series of interviews with the announced 2016 presidential candidates, Morning Joe welcomed independent Vermont senator and self-described Democratic-socialist Bernie Sanders to the program. Co-host Mika Brzezinski lauded the Sanders campaign for its early success and large campaign events.
The MSNBC personality asked Sanders how “the campaign trail [is] feeling” to him, and after the senator replied that it was going well, Brzezinski couldn’t help but laugh and note that it’s “looking pretty good too! Your crowds are humongous.” She then positively cited a piece from the Washington Post which suggested that the senator’s campaign – based on the crowd sizes – could indicate that a “growing movement” is brewing in America.
Later in the interview, regular Morning Joe contributor Mike Barnicle offered more positive spin regarding the democratic-socialist’s presidential campaign:
Senator Sanders, the issues that you highlight during your campaign stump speeches, I saw you in New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago, has people nodding their heads in complete agreement with you. So you're right when you say that you’re speaking to issues that really affect people outside of Washington.
Barnicle then questioned Sanders about his position on gun control. He seemed to argue that the socialist senator’s beliefs on the issue are not liberal enough, and he wondered why Sanders hasn’t attacked the NRA: “But you really haven't gotten in ring with the NRA. You've been – you didn't vote for the Brady bill and your position on guns is not exactly where really mainstream Democrats are. What’s your explanation for that.”
Not one of the Morning Joe panelists asked Sanders about his controversial rape fantasy essay, in which he asserted that women fantasize about being raped.
Portions of the transcript can be found below.
MSNBC
Morning Joe
June 24, 2015
8:33 a.m. EasternMIKA BRZEZINSKI: Joining us from Washington, independent senator from Vermont and candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Bernie Sanders. Welcome back to the show, sir.
BERNIE SANDERS: Great to be with you.
BRZEZINSKI: So, how is the campaign trail feeling to you?
SANDERS: It's feeling quite good.
BRZEZINSKI: (laughing) It's looking pretty good too! Your crowds are humongous. The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza writes this: 'Crowd size can function as a leading indicator of a growing movement, a sort of early warning system that something is brewing out in the country that hasn't made its way to the political class back in Washington, D.C.' Do you think those crowds can translate into votes and beating your opponents?
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Bernie, should they judge – Joe Scarborough here – should they judge Hillary Clinton's record with the free trade agreements that were passed during the Clinton era like NAFTA, GATT, WTO, and should they also judge her by her silence over the last several weeks on the trade pact that is just getting through Congress now?
SCARBOROUGH: Is it surprising to you that Hillary Clinton does not have a view on one of the most important trade issues of our time?
MIKE BARNICLE: Senator Sanders, the issues that you highlight during your campaign stump speeches, I saw you in New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago, has people nodding their heads in complete agreement with you. So you're right when you say that you’re speaking to issues that really affect people outside of Washington. But you really haven't gotten in ring with the NRA. You've been – you didn't vote for the Brady bill and your position on guns is not exactly where really mainstream Democrats are. What’s your explanation for that.
JOHN HEILEMANN: Senator Sanders, I’m curious, you know, you have made – so far – you have made a pretty clear distinction in terms of how you're dealing with Secretary Clinton, which is to say you're happy to contrast with her on the issues, you’re not taking her on personally, you’ve said you won't do that. There's a middle ground, right, which is [that] a lot of questions have been raised about the [Clinton] Foundation and some of her activity in the State department. Do you consider that a personal thing or do you consider that an issue?
SCARBOROUGH: Let's talk about income disparity, which you brought up before. The rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, the middle class getting squeezed, the working class falling behind every week. What does President Bernie Sanders do? What's the first thing he does to alleviate that discrepancy or at least reverse the tide?
BRZEZINSKI: I see you have six stops planned in New Hampshire for this weekend. You are a busy man. Senator Bernie Sanders, thank you very much for coming on show this morning.
