Joe Scarborough, the self-proclaimed guardian of Christian morality on his show, Morning Joe, has decided that a pastor’s support for Trump is a condemnable act of “depravity” and “blasphemy”. Why? Simply because the pastor dared to suggest that both Jesus and Trump have been persecuted. Scarborough’s religious interpretation is misguided at best, and damaging at worst.
Willie Geist, playing second fiddle to Scarborough, kept nodding along instead of critically evaluating his co-host’s statements. It’s telling that a word like “blasphemy”, with its serious implications, was flippantly tossed around the set without second thoughts.
Scarborough, stainlessly seated behind his desk, didn’t provide a specific consequence for the pastor, who he claimed was guilty of blasphemy. It serves to wonder: will he be inspired by historical accounts, perhaps recommending a Joan of Arc-style punishment for this pastor?
Meanwhile, Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post suggested that dropping out of the race would make America great. Presumptuous at best right? By the way, before Trump nabbed the nomination, polls indicated that other potential contenders stood a stronger chance against Biden. Early this year, CBS reported Nikki Haley surging ahead of Biden by nine points. In the same poll, Trump barely led Biden by two.
While Scarborough puts himself on a pedestal playing the role of theological judge, it’s essential to address the mistakes made on the show. Scarborough claimed Trump was convicted of 34 “different” felonies. This is untrue. According to CBS, Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of one felony. Each affiliated document or action associated with the crime was counted separately, inflating the number.
Additionally, we must consider Robinson’s comparing Trump and Biden. Trump’s conviction of 34 felonies placed against Biden’s achievement of living to 81. It’s unfair to employ age as an accomplishment where competence should rightfully fit. It’s clear that Biden’s tenure is not without dispute, but Robinson has conveniently glossed over the less flattering aspects of the President’s performance.
As the pomp and fanfare of today’s Morning Joe subside, we see misplaced urgency and a lack of factual diligence. Scarborough’s attempt to don the moral policeman’s hat not only reveals lack of understanding but also a peripheral interpretation of Christianity. Factual accuracy and objective reasoning must be the bedrock of journalistic reporting. It’s high time they stopped playing for the crowd and got down to the true essence of journalism: unbiased, rigorous, and fact-based debates.
