In a surprising turn of events, “Morning Joe” took aim at Democratic Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) after his performance in the only vice-presidential debate of the 2024 election, where he faced off against Republican Sen. JD Vance (R-OH). The debate, which covered key issues like economic policy, immigration, gun control, and school shootings, left many pundits and viewers disappointed with Walz’s performance, particularly on the popular liberal MSNBC program.
Jonathan Lemire kicked off the critique, pointing out Walz’s missed opportunities during the debate. “I was struck that Governor Walz took a pass on what could have been some pretty devastating attacks,” Lemire said, noting Walz’s failure to address key issues like Ukraine and Vance’s stance on support for Kyiv. Lemire also pointed out that Walz only briefly mentioned Project 2025, a major talking point for Democrats in the current election cycle.
Elise Jordan, another panelist, expressed her disappointment with Walz’s overall debate demeanor, feeling that his typically charismatic and down-to-earth personality didn’t shine through. “I felt like the reasons Kamala Harris chose Governor Walz didn’t really come out last night,” Jordan said. “He was trying to be someone he wasn’t, and it allowed JD Vance to skate through.” She also brought up a damaging moment from the debate when Walz struggled to explain a past claim that he had been present at the Tiananmen Square protests. “He could have easily said, ‘I misspoke, I’m sorry,’ but instead, he almost made it worse,” Jordan added.
Mika Brzezinski echoed Jordan’s disappointment, specifically in regard to Walz’s handling of the Tiananmen Square incident. She believed that Walz missed a prime opportunity to address Vance’s well-documented lies and misstatements, particularly about immigration and the 2020 election. “These guys lie for a living,” Brzezinski said, referencing Vance and former President Donald Trump. “Walz could have easily contrasted his mistake with Vance’s continuous deception.”
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Despite the Morning Joe crew’s harsh words, Brzezinski acknowledged that the debate’s viral clips on social media could still play in Walz’s favor. “It’s all about the clips and what gets put out there,” she explained, suggesting that Walz’s strong closing statement about January 6th might be enough to salvage his performance in the eyes of the public.
A bombshell report released by CNN before the debate exposed Walz for falsely claiming that he was in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989. Walz did not travel to China until August 1989, three months after the massacre. Walz had previously referenced being in Hong Kong during the event in various interviews and speeches, but this claim was debunked. The controversy raised questions about Walz’s credibility, and the GOP-led House Oversight Committee is also investigating potential ties between Walz and the Chinese Communist Party, which could have significant political consequences.
Joe Scarborough, the show’s host, weighed in on the overall impact of the debate. While he conceded that Walz may have technically won the debate based on some poll numbers, he noted that Vance’s favorability ratings increased significantly. “In terms of favorability, Vance’s numbers went up.”
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