MSNBC Realized in Minutes They Had to Apologize for Guest’s Jaw-Dropping Attack on Ted Cruz, Country Music

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, is now facing the reality that every word he says from now until he’s either president or a failed candidate will be picked apart by his critics — even to the point of absurdity. That's politics.

An MSNBC guest panelist delivered the latest example on Wednesday.

Cruz revealed in a recent interview on “CBS This Morning” that his music preferences changed after the deadly 9/11 terrorist attacks. He said the way country music “collectively” responded to the tragedy really “resonated” with him, so he’s been listening to country ever since 2001.

Ebony.com senior editor Jamilah Lemieux apparently thinks there’s a more insidious meaning behind Cruz’s taste in music.

“Nothing says let’s go kill some Muslims like country music,” Lemieux said. She then added sarcastically, “Fresh from Lynchburg, Virginia, so he obviously doesn’t want to be a polarizing candidate, he wants to bring people together. That’s absurd.”

No one else on the show, including “Now With Alex Wagner” fill-in host Ari Melber, Salon editor-at-large Joan Walsh and former RNC Chairman Michael Steele, immediately spoke up to challenge her for linking country music to killing Muslims -- in fact, Walsh and another person could be heard laughing.

Walsh went on to call Cruz an "idiot" for "pandering" to his audience.

However, later in the show, Melber issued an on-air apology, according to Mediaite.

“We have a programming note. A few minutes ago on this show, a guest made a comment about country music. That comment was not appropriate, and we want to be clear this network does not condone it,” he said.

(H/T: Right Scoop)

---