To some Democrats running for office in 2014 President Obama is like the character Voldemort from the Harry Potter books, "He who cannot be named." On Wednesday's Morning Joe, after the hosts tried unsuccessfully to get DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to address why Democrats won't talk about Barack Obama's successes, they just cut her off and mocked the Democratic party.
The segment began with a discussion of possibility of the Democrats taking over the House after the midterms. Schultz preferred to say there was possibility of her party picking up seats in the midterms and if the GOP didn't pick up 29 house seats in 2014, they will have failed.
Then the hosts turned to the Senate races and the abandonment of the President:
Brzezinski: Moving to the Senate, because we've got so many different candidates, Democrats who are giving at best wishy-washy answers as it pertains to their relationship with President Obama, their support of President Obama. You've said the President is not on the ballot, we’re gonna hold the Senate. Aren't Democrats playing into exactly the very negative antics the Republican Party has put on the silver platter for you all, instead of looking at the President's record and running on it? You just named three issues he's on the forefront of. I feel like you are all falling for the easiest trick in the book.
Schultz: No, not at all. Look, we are running an environment where we've had 55 straight months of job growth in the private sector: the longest sustained period of job growth in American history. Americans have seen that under Democratic leadership, we have moved forward. We pulled ourselves out, thanks to his leadership and the Democrats' leadership, out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We have a good economic story to tell and that's why our candidates are talking about the issues most important to their constituents, creating jobs, helping to make sure there’s more opportunities for young people to go to college and the Republicans have thrown obstacle after obstacle in their way. And because they know they’re wrong about those issues that are important to Americans, they're trying to make it about anything but their terrible record.
Brzezinski: Under his leadership---how about President Obama’s leadership, why can’t Democratic candidates say it? My 16-year-old daughter, at dinner when I said what do you think President Obama will be remembered for? She said, well, health care and saving the auto industry. She said it very, I mean, it came out. It wasn't that hard. I don't understand that.
Schultz: Mika, the Republicans are trying--- Well here let me help you understand, because what the Republicans are trying to do is distract from their record of putting issues that aren't important to Americans that they oppose at the top of the agenda. They want to make it anything but that terrible reported. And Democrats are focused on the issues. When I travel the country are most important to Americans. Over the next 13 days, our voters will be asking themselves one question, who has my back? Who is on my side? Who is talking about the issues that matter to me---
Scarborough: So should voters know if they go out and vote for a Democratic candidate, they will be voting for a continuation of Barack Obama’s policies?
Schultz: Voters should know when they go out and vote for a Democratic candidate, that they are voting for someone who has their back, who's gonna focus on strengthening their economy.
Scarborough: Right but I'm asking as it pertains to Barack Obama. This is a question a lot of people are asked.
Schultz: Joe, Barack Obama was on the ballot if 2012 and 2008. The candidates on the ballot are Democratic and Republican candidates for Congress, the U.S. Senate.
Scarborough: But my question is, and is a legitimate question, and there is not a wrong answer and.
Schultz: Joe, no, no, it's a legitimate question but---
Scarborough: If you vote for Democrats, are you voting for a continuation of Barack Obama’s policies? He said, yes, you are, do you agree with the President?
Schultz: If you vote for Democrats, you are voting for candidates who are focused on creating jobs, getting the economy turned around and continuing to move us forward, creating more opportunities for people to succeed. If you vote for a Republican, you are voting for someone embraced the tea party agenda, who would double down on obstruction and double down --
Scarborough: (cutting her off mid-talking point) All right, Congresswoman, Thank you very much, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Turning away from the Schultz feed, the two hosts continued the conversation:
Scarborough: It's not hard. Let say if I were running in 1986 and Ronald Reagan was the president and somebody asked me, is this a continuation, if I vote for you, will there be a continuation of Ronald Reagan’s policy? I'd say, yep, you know, I don't agree with him 100% of the time. But you are darn right, I am a Reagan Republican and I’m gonna push that agenda. If the Republicans are as horrible and as extreme and vicious, this that, the other as we just heard.
Brzezinski: Well, I think they are but I think we are playing into it.
Scarborough: But then again, they're going to control the House of Representatives. It looks like that will pick up the Senate. So why can't you just say, not you, but why can't you just say, yes, Barack Obama has done a great job for six years. I look forward to being his partner another six years.
Brzezinski: And there are certain policies he has pushed forward that we want to continue. We want to make happen. We thank him for opening the door, but we need to continue working on, increasing the minimum wage, equal pay for women, do you want me to make a list?
Scarborough: It is so ridiculous. You have people that voted with the President 95, 96, 97, 98% of the time.
Brzezinski: Who can't say his name.
Scarborough: Who can’t say his name. It’s like you send me up there, I will be a pain in his back side. It's a joke, it’s a clown show.
