Judd Gregg Goes Ballistic During MSNBC Appearance

By: Charles Cooper
Topics: In The News

Judd Gregg (R-NH) blew up at a couple of MSNBC news anchors earlier today after they asked him to offer specific budgetary items he would cut to reduce the deficit.

After stating that the country must "control the rate of growth of government," Gregg accused the network's Contessa Brewer and Melissa of being "irresponsible" and "duplicitous" when they pressed him to elaborate.

When Francis said his position sounded "good in theory," Gregg got hot. Really hot.

"That's not theory. Don't tell me that's good in theory," he said.

Check out the video below to watch the entire exchange. It's not everyday that a United States Senator loses it on prime time TV.

Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.

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by jgg000101 February 3, 2010 10:02 PM EST: I don't understand how you people think he didn't answer the question when he answered it explicitly, and accurately. And he was also correct when he said that "government does not create jobs."; Reply to this comment


by noloyalisti January 30, 2010 9:27 PM EST: The Republicans have no plans for anything except to help the big corporations and the rich. At least the Democrats have some sense and some brains. We the People must tweak them to take the country back from the big corporations who are the real enemy.

So it is time for the CONS to wise up and unite with us against their elected reps who are COMPLETELY pwned by their corporate masters.; Reply to this comment

by Seejaneopine January 29, 2010 7:42 PM EST

OK, so I saw Contessa Brewer and Melissa Francis with their tempest in a teapot. They sounded shrill and stupid. The point that THEY made was, "So, Mr. Gregg, what would YOU cut from the budget?" Mr. Gregg was polite by answering, some things needed to be cut from the DEFICIT-spending budget that the Obama Administration is promulgating. They acted as if they work for Obama's administration and got their thongs in a bunch! Are they NOT supposed to be journalists? Where is MSNBC's sense of impartiality? But, no matter, let me add something Mr. Gregg didn't say: cut EVERYTHING you twits!!! This country is bankrupt and you Liberals think that bailouts and pork politics will save us? It won't. We are not in a recession, we are in a DEPRESSION! Get with it! By the way, can I ask YOU a question? Are you for REAL? I think I'll at least listen to NPR. THEY do a pretty good job of vetting there on-air "talent". And Keith UBERMAN? You are a twit, too! By the way, the title to the video on MSNBC is Sen. Greg's Hissy Fit... ah, who the hell edits your show COOP or should it be Co-Op? The name is spelled G-R-E-G-G! Stop douching with the bleached ladies and quit polluting the airwaves with the tripe you call NEWS!

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by tensai13 January 30, 2010 10:55 AM EST: You're having a hissy fit aren't you?


by noloyalisti January 30, 2010 9:29 PM EST: HE NEVER ANSWERED THE QUESTION because he is a republican with no plan, just mindless bullet points. Who in their right mind would support these ridiculous children?


by markamichaud January 29, 2010 6:09 PM EST: Republican morin; Reply to this comment

by noloyalisti January 29, 2010 3:07 PM EST

What do you expect from a "free" market nut job like Judd the Republican. Even after the private corporate sector has turned America into a 3rd world country. Typical shallow brained Republican. Ignorant and reactionary to the end.

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by 91786 January 29, 2010 4:04 PM EST: PS 3rd world countrys are socialist.


by Leaderless January 29, 2010 2:33 PM EST: I'm surprised he lasted that long talking to these 2 msnbc idiots...; Reply to this comment


by Harden_Tar January 29, 2010 2:30 PM EST: I don't blame MSNBC. The guy should have been more prepared. He knew who he was talking to goin in and should have known they would press him.; Reply to this comment

by Xamkr January 29, 2010 12:24 PM EST

I'm not a fan of growing the government just for the sake of growing the government, but bigger government does result in more jobs. A larger government leads to more governmental employees and contractors who spend their paychecks in their communities, which leads to even more jobs and paychecks and consumer spending, which stimulates the economy.

They could do much to cut budget by not rehiring retired government employees as contractors who collect both a paycheck and retirement benefits for doing a similar job. If those people are doing essentially the same work, then they shouldn't count as retired. When they use retired-plus-contractor employees, it appears as if they are rewarding someone for a shady deal in the past or complicity in an ongoing misappropriation of government money.

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by 91786 January 29, 2010 4:05 PM EST: The government relies on private sector taxes to pay an average of 70k year to the govt employees.


by jackp32 January 29, 2010 12:06 PM EST: I like Judd but one would think that he could quickly cite a couple of areas where the budget could be slashed or reduced. Why not suggest a 2% cut across the board? I will admit that those interviewers are a couple of bozos and he should have been able to handle them with ease.; Reply to this comment

by lakota2012 January 29, 2010 11:08 AM EST

by Schooner131:
Are you for real? Judd Gregg is not going 'ballistic.'
--------------------------------

HA!...HA!...HA!...HA!...HA!...Too funny!!!

Only a FAUX NoNooz syccophant could possibly watch that video and then have the gall to say greg was not 'ballistic' and the interviewers were at fault! You people really do live in a parallel universe, where 'UP' is 'DOWN,' and 'DOWN' is 'UP.'

No wonder the FAUX NoNooz propagandists and conspiracy theorists have you syccophants believing that federal income taxes have gone up in the past year under President Obama, when actually that is a huge LIE, and payroll taxes have actually gone DOWN for 95% of Americans!

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by 91786 January 29, 2010 4:06 PM EST: I make 40k year and my taxes went up. Remember the scam where they took less out but you repay it at tax time?