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Brzezinski Slams Ellison, Democrats Over Lack of Message

June 21, 2017

MSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski on Wednesday grilled Democratic National Committee vice chair Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.) for the Democratic Party's lack of message.

Co-host Joe Scarborough criticized Democrats for prioritizing marches and rallies over knocking on doors and talking to people who have differing views.

Brzezinski and Scarborough's commentary was in reaction to the Democratic candidate for Georgia's sixth congressional district, Jon Ossoff,  losing on Tuesday night to Republican Karen Handel.

"I've been saying all along, if you need to do that, if it makes you feel good, then do that, but understand if you want to change America and you want to change the world, you're much better off going into districts campaigning for somebody," Scarborough said.

He went on to say that Democrats need to be "knocking on doors, handing them flyers, getting into phone banks, picking up the phones, calling people, finding people, [and] recruiting candidates."

Brzezinski agreed with Scarborough and talked about a conversation she had with a friend who participated in the Women's March.

"They are great, but you're shouting in the street. You're chanting. You're singing with people who agree with you, so going out and knocking on doors as you talked about gets you listening," Brzezinski said.

She then talked about one of Ellison's previous appearances on the show when she recalled him downplaying issues in the Democratic Party.

"[Ellison] just seemed to be going off and spouting, 'Come on man, we're good. We're going to be good.' No, what's the message? What is going to bring people in?" Brzezinski said.

She continued by saying that Democrats made the mistake of thinking that President Donald Trump's 36 percent approval rating would automatically bring Republicans to their side.

"No, we're not inevitable. This isn't ours. We have to work for it. That's what Democrats need to say to themselves," Brzezinski said.