Scarborough, "I’m embarrassed right now to be a Republican."

When Joe Scarborough distances himself from the Republican party you know the tide is turning. From MSNBC:

SCARBOROUGH: There is no—hold on one second, Katrina. I’ll let you talk in a second. I’ve just got to say this, thought, because I think you’ve touched on an important point, Karen.

The lack of leadership in Washington, D.C., is sickening. If you look at what Republicans did—promised to do in 1994, when they took control of Congress, and see, how they’ve been acting over the past three or four years, the biggest debt and deficit ever. They are irresponsible and reckless on so many levels. I’m embarrassed right now to be a Republican. It’s a disgrace because of the lack of leadership.

On a related note to my last post about Faith Hill and Tim McGraw critizing President Bush's handling of hurricane Katrina, Scarborough had on Republican strategist and shill Jack Burkman. Here's an excerpt of what he had to say about Hill's and McGraws comments:

JACK BURKMAN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: You know, Joe—I’ll tell you, I’m surprised. I’m somewhat surprised that everybody’s taking this so seriously.

I mean, if you look at those comments, and particularly Tim McGraw’s comments, they sound like somebody with a ninth grade education. I mean, he’s almost trying to play the race card, but he’s too inarticulate to even figure out what he wants to say.

I mean, these two, I think, are too stupid to figure out that if they have any interest in a political career, the Christian conservative base could be a natural ally.

To his credit, Joe Scarborough actually defended their criticism of the President:

SCARBOROUGH: You know what, Jack? You know what, Jack? They—hold on a second. Hold on a second, everybody.

Jack, if they had talked about Iraq, I might agree with you, but in the case of Katrina, they just went home. They went to Mississippi like I went to Mississippi. They went to Louisiana like I went to Louisiana. And if you go down there, you ask the question, what the hell has happened with our country? Why have these people been forgotten? And Jack, they have been forgotten.

SCARBOROUGH: We’re talking about the cleanup. Listen, I’ve been bashing Blanco and Nagin, but you know what? The buck stops at the White House.

Peter Cooper, a music critic was also on and he blasted Jack Burkman for his comments about Faith Hill and Tim McGraw being stupid:

COOPER: Well, and it’s the fastest selling tour of this year, period. First of all, to our buddy on the show here, I’m not sure that calling them dumb hillbillies is the way you want to win this argument.

BURKMAN: Well, they are. They are.

SCARBOROUGH: Peter...

Listen, I mean, Jack, I think that was way over the line. Peter, go ahead.

COOPER: OK. These are people—in the first place they are already selling tickets, as the Dixie Chicks had when they sold out the tour that happened after that furor.

No. 2, there’s a long history in country music of people speaking out for what they believe in. I talked to Willie Nelson tonight. He said that not only did Faith have a right to say that; she had an obligation. People who are in the spotlight and have a microphone and a voice can say things that the man on the street may not—doesn’t have a microphone to use. Willie thought it was an obligation. Now, he’s a country icon.

Johnny Cash spoke out. He’s a country icon. Merle Haggard has spoken out on both sides of the political fence, you know, at different times in his career. He’s a country icon.

It’s not like country music is a rock solid conservative, only people who vote Republican kind of thing. It’s music. We don’t pat our foot to politics, you know?

SCARBOROUGH: No doubt about it, Peter. Thank God for that. Thank you so much, Peter.

It was nice to see Jack Burkman smacked down.