Joe Scarborough Says 'Defund Obamacare' Infighting Among Republicans Is Handing Victory to Obama

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said Tuesday that Republican infighting over the “Defund Obamacare” movement has done little more than cede political ground to President Barack Obama.

The “Morning Joe” host was referring specifically to an attack ad that has been launched again Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) who has declined to sign on with the “defund” plan:

After the anti-Flake ad was posted online, the Arizona senator replied with a simple shrug:

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/JeffFlake/status/372105417775517696"]

Scarborough argued that friendly fire attacks do nothing for the Republican Party and only profit the White House and its allies.

“John Boehner has had the House of Representatives cast how many votes, 30, 40 votes to overturn Obamacare?” Scarborough said. “To shut down the government and basically take the advantage out of Republicans’ and conservatives’ hands and give it to Barack Obama -- do they really love Barack Obama that much?”

Amused with the recent attacks on the Arizona senator, co-host Willie Geist asked if Jeff Flake “isn’t conservative enough” for the “Defund Obamacare” crowd.

“Jeff Flake’s a libertarian, practically,” Scarborough replied. “Oh, wait, John Cornyn is not conservative? And did you see [Ted] Cruz going towards John Cornyn? John Cornyn says thank you very much. And then you’ve got Scott Walker. I guess Scott Walker is not conservative enough.”

Scarborough became exasperated: “They’re painting themselves into a corner. And you know what? I am just enjoying it. I think we see where the excesses end here. They have painted themselves into a corner of a room where they will soon be alone in the political world.”

The Washington Post's David Ignatius weighed in on the issue:

In a way you can take a perverse pleasure if you think this is going to be destructive ultimately to the right, which I think it will be.

Talking to Republicans towards the center, especially in the House, who still have the ambition to formulate legislation, deal with things the House of Representatives should do—they’re despairing. They don’t know what to do with these people. You have to think that maybe we’re going to head for a blowout congressional election in which you’ll have a significant change.

You can watch the discussion here:

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(H/T: Mediaite). Featured image screen grab.

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