Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” is upset with former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s less-than-ringing endorsement of assured nominee Mitt Romney. And the former Florida GOP congressman thinks Santorum should be denied a speaking slot at the convention in response.
"If somebody gave me this type of endorsement, and it were my convention coming up, I would tell them they would have a speaking role but it would be in that cage where the protesters are gonna be 11 blocks away,” Scarborough said on the air,
The Hill reports.
Santorum endorsed Romney not publicly, but in an e-mail to his supporters. The actual endorsement doesn’t come until the 13th paragraph of a 16-paragraph note and is offered in the context of defeating President Barack Obama.
The paragraph reads: “Above all else, we both agree that President Obama must be defeated. The task will not be easy. It will require all hands on deck if our nominee is to be victorious. Governor Romney will be that nominee, and he has my endorsement and support to win the most critical election of our lifetime.”
As for Scarborough’s take, “I wouldn't let a guy like this anywhere near the stage, and I would let him know that right now,” he said. “Say, 'You just screwed yourself, buddy. Now you've got a couple of months if you want to play ball, but if you don't, that's fine. You want to be a rebel-rouser, go ahead, but it's my party now.'"
Santorum’s endorsement is “bush league,” Scarborough said. “If you don't want to endorse him, don't endorse him. That's fine. People will respect him for not endorsing him. Again, this is like Obama on gay marriage. Don't try to have it both ways. Don't endorse in the 13th paragraph. Be a man.”
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