Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (I use the term ‘gentleman’ loosely) is back in the news. Earlier this week, we brought you the latest report from The Daily Mail about his “sexist” and “misogynistic” behavior while working at a top law firm in Los Angeles (you can watch it here). The accusations were fresh on the heels of the bombshell reporting about an ex-girlfriend who he allegedly slapped in the face in public.
So far, all he has issued is a vague denial. When he appeared on The Bulwark with Tim Miller, the topic didn’t come up. And now Joe Scarborough over on MSNBC’s Morning Joe has landed a sit-down with Doug Emhoff that is going to air on Monday. All we have seen so far is a two-minute tease, but it is making news for what it doesn’t say.
The Preview
In the preview clip that was released Friday, Scarborough asks Emhoff whether Donald Trump should submit to more debates with Kamala Harris and then moves on to whether the couple is “pissed off” that the GOP nominee keeps pointing out “tabloid stories about your personal life.” Watch:
That is an infuriating piece of tape. First, Doug Emhoff sets himself up like, ‘I got Kamala’s back. She kicked his ass.’ Oh, you are so supportive of your wife. You are such a “wife guy,” as Jen Psaki said. But of course, that is exactly what Joe Scarborough wanted to hear.
And then they go into these evil tabloids that are reporting things about him. At first I thought we might actually get something on the record from Emhoff telling us whether he denies the report that he abused a former partner in 2012; that he openly smacked her in public so hard that she was spun around and fled to get away from him, only to have him then force himself into her taxi cab. She was scared enough to call a male friend back in New York to be on the phone with her in his presence because she did not know what he was capable of. The guy has got a hair trigger, reports The Daily Mail.
So, great. Let’s get a denial. Let’s get a comment. Let’s make some news. Instead, the landing Scarborough chooses is: “I’d be pissed off. How do you stay centered and not go off?” Joe Scarborough knows perfectly well this guy might be a woman abuser and he doesn’t care at all.
Ask Not
Why is that? It is an honest question. Is it because he is a hack? Sure, that could be it. Is it because he has his own questionable past and just rushes to the defense of any man accused? I don’t know what happened between him and the intern who died in his office in 2001. His story is that she was young, it was tragic, and it has no reflection on him. That is what the fact-checkers say as well.
But you tell me why Joe Scarborough – when given the first big opportunity on a major news channel – did not ask the question? When they air this entire interview on Monday, he better have asked him the question.
And Mika Brzezinski, how about you? If he didn’t ask, will you call him out? Will you say American women are owed an answer about whether we are about to elevate an abuser of women into the Oval Office as the first gentleman? Are you going to go and smile gladly with this guy at the Easter Egg hunt and pretend there isn’t really a question about what he is like behind closed doors, potentially with our commander in chief? Because I, for one, would really like to know.
I am just going by what MSNBC put out as a tease, but it is outrageous the way he asked that question. I am guessing that if he were tougher on Doug Emhoff, we would have seen it in the promo. It is not there, and he does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. What I have seen so far is disgusting.
Believe All Women?
I have standing to raise this objection. I have questioned people on both sides – Republican and Democrat – about problematic histories with women and the abuse of women. I understand that many on the Republican side don’t like these questions and their knee-jerk reaction is to defend men against allegations. I am not like that, and I have a history that proves it.
What about you, Joe Scarborough? It is your side that says “believe all women.” You and Kamala Harris have said that. So, let’s do that. Let’s believe the Doug Emhoff accuser. And when you sit down with him, you ask him about it. These accusations are from 2012, this was the relationship right before Kamala, and you don’t ask him about whether he abuses women? Shame on you.
Where are the women of MSNBC saying these are serious allegations, three independent witnesses say that they support her, he so far has only given a bland denial through a campaign spokesperson? Get in there. Stand up. Say something.
It is just such an example of the media bias and what Trump is up against. If Melania Trump had some alleged history of physically abusing people, you don’t think they would ask her? You don’t think they would want to make that a story?
You can check out Megyn’s full analysis by tuning in to episode 914 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.