MSNBC’s Donny Deutsch said that in his “heart of hearts,” he didn’t see “see anybody” onstage during the first night of the Democratic presidential debates who would beat President Trump, prompting stiff pushback from fellow host Lawrence O’Donnell.
“When you can label somebody a socialist, 57 percent of this country thinks that word is un-American,” Deutsch explained during the network’s post-debate coverage from Miami. “I’m not saying it’s fair. When [Trump] can blanket Elizabeth Warren as a socialist and he’s onstage with her, the Democrats lose.”
{mosads}”I think she’s delightful, I think she’s wonderful. I’m a big fan,” Deutsch continued, referring to the Massachusetts senator. “I just don’t think she has what it takes to beat this president. The same way, at least, an idealized version of Joe Biden is. Don’t shoot the messenger. It’s just facts. We’ve got to get Trump out.”
“Donny, you’re in a safe space here. You don’t have to keep telling us,” MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace replied. “Can I just follow up on that, Donny? Who could beat Trump? Did you see anyone onstage tonight that could beat Trump?”
“I’m still sticking with an idealized version of … the Joe Biden we want,” he replied, referring to the former vice president. “The Joe Biden we want and then you pair him with the right candidate, yes. I still in my heart of hearts don’t see anybody on that stage tonight that would beat Trump.”
O’Donnell disagreed with Deutsch while arguing his analysis was “pure guesswork” and “zero value.”
“Let’s just identify this for what it is: pure guesswork a year and a half away,” O’Donnell said. “And so it has, and Donny I say this respectfully, zero value.”
“Don’t tell me it has zero value,” Deutsch retorted. “It’s understanding human behavior. And I guarantee you 90 percent of our audience agrees with me.”
“It’s a wild guess, there’s no science in it, there’s nothing in it,” O’Donnell continued. “You can put any name you want in the wild guess you just made and it doesn’t make it true.”
“I’m understanding Donald Trump — the way he’s connecting with this country and the strength he exudes,” Deutsch insisted. “We need to exude a stronger strength. It’s not a policy discussion.”
The next Democratic debate featuring Biden, the front-runner, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), along with six other hopefuls for the party nomination, is Thursday night from Miami at 9 p.m.