On Thursday’s Morning Joe, Hillary Clinton superdelegate Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) accused hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough of fostering an environment that keeps Hillary Clinton from appearing on their show. Brzezinski immediately fired back at McCaskill, saying that she has been nothing but transparent and often asks follow-up questions.
Brzezinski and Scarborough said they have invited Clinton to come on the show and that they would be fair in her questions. Politico reported that MSNBC’s only positively performing show would not allow surrogates or spokespeople without the candidate first appearing on the show.
Earlier in the segment, McCaskill asked Scarborough whether he was going to ask her about Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush’s change of stance on immigration reform. Scarborough said that they would question him on it the next time that he was on. McCaskill replied that Clinton would also appear on the show soon, but it would be "like going into the lion’s den."
Scarborough recounted that in 2008, when McCaskill was supporting Obama, that the morning show was fair to Clinton when she came on and that they were tough on everyone. Brzezinski took issue with McCaskill’s implication that the show was anything but fair.
"Hold on. I want to hear what you have to say, Claire. I think sometimes you might misunderstand questions and take it as like an attack, and I think that's a political ploy. I think that's a game that's been played since the 70s and it's getting old," Brzezinski said.
McCaskill said that she was looking for balance and again accused the hosts of attacking Steve Rattner earlier in the show.
McCaskill’s comment was met by laughter from Scarborough, and Brzezinski proceeded to take her to task on the types of questions she asks candidates and guests on the show.