Scarborough Makes My Morning

Joe Scarborough, co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, is a former Congressman from Florida who is unfortunately moderate but has a good grasp of the issues of the day. This morning, he was debating (along with a number of other people) one Jonathan Capart, a Washington Post editorial writer. While I cannot find the clip, even at Morning Joe’s home page, I would like to share what especially impressed me with regards to how Scarborough and one other guest made Capart look like an absolute fool.

The debate was over whether probable terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) should be tried in New York City, and if he should be tried in a civilian court. Scarborough made the case that both moves by the Obama administration (the civilian trial over a military trial and trying KSM in NYC)  are being done for solely public image and symbolism-related goals. Capart immediately denied this, of course, and was subsequently asked by one of the other guests what would happen if KSM was found innocent. Capart immediately took the following tactics:

1. Blank, deer-in-the-headlights look, with eyes wide open in horror at the question and his lack of a convincing answer.

2. Fall back on the liberal mantra that his being found innocent would never happen.

3. Back up statement #2 by stating the government has too much evidence for KSM to ever be found innocent.

4. Avoid the actual question, as there is no good answer. Granted a civilian trial, KSM can be found innocent. Plain and simple. Despite his having been allegedly willing to plead guilty in a military trial, he may now be found innocent in a civilian court of law.

This followed White House Press Secretary Gibbs’ statement on Sunday that KSM would “meet his maker” after a trial goes through. Which leads, of course, to one of the other questions Scarborough asked Capart: if we are trying to be a symbol to the world of American decency and European-style liberalism and enlightenment, why utilize the death penalty? (Paraphrased, of course.)

To steal from Ed Morrissey, an exit question: Why are we still debating this? Whatever one thinks of waterboarding, long prison stays without a trial, etc. KSM is not an American citizen. Giving him a civilian trial not only gives him the right to walk free, but also throws the idea of treating enemy combatants differently from criminals (especially terrorist combatants) overboard. Talk about a bad precedent, and one that has no legal backing.