Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski told fellow panelists Monday she thought that Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Republicans like him don't love the country because of their battles to defund Obamacare that she believes led to the government shutdown, drawing the ire of host Joe Scarborough.
"That shows just how much they hate him and don't love the country, and that's what's scary about this," she said. "If they actually go through with this, this is about something else."
"Are you saying they don't love the country?" Scarborough asked.
"Are you saying they do? Ted Cruz and his group loves the country?" she replied. "We disagree."
"I have never once suggested that even the craziest left-wing lunatic didn't love their country," Scarborough said.
The exchange continued:
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: I think he loves his prospects to develop a database more than he loves the country.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: I think Ted Cruz believes that Obamacare is dangerous, I think he believes it's devastating, I think he believes like I believe.
BRZEZINSKI: He's allowed to believe that.
SCARBOROUGH: Right. I think that he is willing to take extreme measures to stop it from happening.
BRZEZINSKI: But that's bad for the country.
SCARBOROUGH: Hold on one second. But you suggested some people may not love this country.
BRZEZINSKI: I am suggesting that.
SCARBOROUGH: People love this country but they believe we get to the best outcome in completely different ways.
BRZEZINSKI: You know what? Nobody has ever done this before.