Prayers Pour In For Popular GOP Senator — ‘Really Worried’

MS NOW’s Morning Joe took its criticism of Sen. Tim Scott to an unusual new level Thursday, with hosts and panelists joining hands for an on-air “prayer” after blasting the South Carolina Republican over his fiery speech at the GOP’s midterm convention.

The spectacle unfolded after the program aired footage of Scott rallying Republicans in Dallas, where he called for party unity behind President Donald Trump and warned that the upcoming elections represent a fight over the future direction of the country.

Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, used the high-profile appearance to make the case for Republican Senate candidates while delivering a forceful warning about Democrats.

“The only way to keep dangerous, radical, weird out of the Senate is a united Republican Party,” Scott told the crowd before urging Republicans to stand with Trump.

Scott described the midterm elections as “a battle for the heart of our nation,” before leveling an even sharper accusation at Democrats.

“They hate our culture. They hate what it means to be American,” Scott said before repeatedly declaring that Republicans would not back down.

Scott delivered the speech with considerable energy, raising his voice and, at one point, opening his jacket and pounding his chest as the crowd cheered.

That performance apparently struck a nerve with Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough.

After the program replayed Scott’s remarks Thursday morning, Scarborough immediately took aim at the Republican senator.

“Speaking of weird, that was really weird,” Scarborough said.

Scarborough objected not only to Scott’s animated delivery but also to his assertion that Democrats hate America and its culture.

But the segment took a far stranger turn when Scarborough brought Rev. Al Sharpton into the conversation and asked him to respond.

“First, we should all join hands and pray for him,” Sharpton responded.

And they did.

The panelists stretched their hands across the table and began holding hands on live television as Sharpton launched into the impromptu prayer.

“Bring him back in, Lord!” Sharpton said during the prayer.

Scarborough then invoked “baby Jesus,” adding an unmistakably joking element to the spectacle.

Co-host Mika Brzezinski pushed back on the idea that the entire exercise was a joke, saying she was genuinely praying. Sharpton similarly insisted that he was serious.

The criticism of Scott didn’t stop when the prayer ended.

Sharpton argued that Scott’s convention performance had crossed a line beyond ordinary political advocacy for Trump. He questioned why the senator would characterize Democrats in such sweeping terms and said that, despite his own frequent criticism of Republicans and Trump, he does not broadly accuse them of hating America.

Scarborough echoed that argument, saying that even when he vehemently disagrees with Republican policies, he doesn’t automatically conclude that Republicans “hate America.”

The unusual exchange quickly drew attention, particularly because the panel mixed political attacks, humor and religious imagery while targeting Scott, who has frequently and publicly spoken about the importance of his Christian faith.

Scott’s office didn’t respond with a lengthy statement.

Instead, spokesman Nathan Brand delivered a three-word answer to Fox News Digital:

“Bless their hearts.”

The Morning Joe controversy followed what was already one of the Republican convention’s most aggressive speeches.

As chairman of the NRSC, Scott is tasked with helping Republicans win Senate races across the country, and he used his Dallas appearance to put several Democratic candidates directly in his sights.

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was among them.

Scott went after Talarico over previous remarks involving God and gender, telling the convention that Talarico “believes God is non-binary.”

Talarico has previously acknowledged controversy surrounding some of those remarks, saying he “missed the mark.”

Scott also targeted Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, accusing him of associations with extremists.

But Scott’s broader message extended beyond individual candidates.

He portrayed the November Senate elections as a fundamental choice between Republicans aligned with Trump and Democratic candidates he argued are far outside America’s political mainstream.

And after a speech that triggered an extraordinary response on Morning Joe, Scott ended by returning to the themes of faith, family and freedom.

“We are one nation always under God,” Scott said. “We are always on the side of truth, family and freedom.”