Joe Scarborough mocks pro-Trump Sen Josh Hawley as the 'dumbest man in America' after US Capitol chaos
A book being penned by US senator Josh Hawley, who objected to President-elect Joe Biden’s win, has been cancelled by his publisher following riots at the US Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump supporters.
Simon & Schuster announced the termination of the contract in a statement, which a furious Hawley has called “Orwellian”.
He vowed to fight in court; a move that TV news show host Joe Scarborough has suggested makes him the ‘dumbest man in America’.
The statement from Simon & Schuster, released on Thursday, read: “After witnessing the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington, DC, Simon & Schuster has decided to cancel publication of Senator Josh Hawley’s forthcoming book, The Tyranny of Big Tech.
“We did not come to this decision lightly,” the publisher added.
“As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.”
The conspiracy of a rigged election that Hawley amplified with his public objection to the Electoral College certification appeared to be a prime motivator behind Wednesday’s insurrection on Capitol Hill by aggrieved Trump supporters.
Hawley swiftly bit back at his former publisher, saying: “Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. It’s a direct assault on the First Amendment… I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have.
“We’ll see you in court.”
Simon & Schuster promptly issued another statement in response.
The company was “confident” it was acting fully within its contractual rights to cancel the book, the statement read.
Joe Scarborough, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, said Hawley’s reaction to the company’s news proved that he “may well be the dumbest man in America”.
He keeps confusing the actions of private industry, of private enterprises, with the federal government. He keeps confusing the fact that if you are a profit-making center, you can do what the hell you want to do as far as publishing.
“Because the first amendment grants you that right. You can do what the hell you want to do with who you sign up to write a book.”
“That’s free enterprise at work.”
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