'It's not like we're Sean Hannity': Joe Scarborough escalates mockery of Fox News host's Russia coverage
MSNBC
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough took another swing on Monday at Sean Hannity over the Fox News anchor's continued positive statements about Russia.
Scarborough said that after he read the intelligence community's report pointing to Russian involvement in the election-related hacking, he "started hearing from people" he respects who cautioned the facts might not match up to the sensational headlines.
At the same time, he distanced himself from observers like Hannity who have dismissed the intelligence outright.
"I saw the big headlines on Friday, but then I started hearing from people I respect, who know this better than anyone else saying: 'Wait a second. We're not sure the facts in this declassified report that actually match up to the headlines,'" Scarborough said.
He continued: "We should be asking these questions without drawing any conclusions that would be less damning. It's not like we're Sean Hannity going around being like 'God Bless Russia,' or whatever he did yesterday.'"
Scarborough was referring to Hannity's since-deleted tweet on Sunday in which he quoted a user who expressed hope that Trump would "make Russia great again."
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/818252470933667844
Hannity deletes tweet saying "Amen!!" to "Make Russia Great Again" https://t.co/TIvb32vkZE pic.twitter.com/0Fe31dNxS2
Scarborough's jab is the latest in a series of critical barbs the two hosts have exchanged over the past week.
Last week, Scarborough criticized Republicans for supporting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whom Hannity interviewed earlier this month.
"And now they're sitting there — like, Sean Hannity — there's a bromance there. It's repulsive," Scarborough said.
Hannity quickly shot back in a slew of tweets taking aim at Scarborough's television ratings and implying that the MSNBC host was seeking a job at Fox News.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/817428502463074304
Joe, what's really repulsive is the pathetically low ratings you have on network that colluded with @HillaryClinton. https://t.co/jQ6FEjH8gJ
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/817428800858419203
Joe if me asking @wikileaks questions is so repulsive why did you use that information on your low rated show? https://t.co/jQ6FEjH8gJ
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/817429068845031425
Joe, Is it a betrayal and repulsive that you keep asking Fox to hire you without telling your current employer? https://t.co/jQ6FEjH8gJ
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/817430096139190274
Joe, so did you go to @realDonaldTrump s New Year's Eve party or not? Is lying "repulsive"? https://t.co/jQ6FEjH8gJ
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/817431345840459777
Joe, you say you are a "real conservative"! Was NBC's coverage of the election last year "repulsive" to you? Are you proud of MSNBC? https://t.co/jQ6FEjH8gJ
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/817432314653315072
So Mr "repulsive Joe" why didn't NBC go interview @wikileaks? By the way at Fox (where u want to work) we let the audience decide!!! https://t.co/jQ6FEjH8gJ
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/817433038313455617
The only thing that is really "repulsive" is you calling yourself a "conservative". You are the poster child for "establishment". https://t.co/jQ6FEjH8gJ
Editor's note: This story has been updated to more accurately reflect the remarks MSNBC host Joe Scarborough made about the US intelligence report on Russian hacking.
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