‘Morning Joe’ Cuts Off Rick Scott When He Refuses to Say If Trump Is Right that Islam Hates Us

BRZEZINSKI: “...now from Tallahassee, Florida’s Republican Governor Rick Scott. Very good to have you on the show, governor. So —“
SCOTT: “It’s all happening in Florida, Mika, everything is happening down here.” (Laughter)
BRZEZINSKI: “Yeah, it is. And that’s why I’m wondering —“
SCARBOROUGH: “Wonder it’s your endorsement?”
BRZEZINSKI: “Yeah, come on.”
SCARBOROUGH: “Is your endorsement of any candidate happening in Florida, governor?”
SCOTT: “No. I’m not endorsing before the Republican primary. I’m going to — Joe, remember my race back in 2010? They all wanted me — the establishment wanted to get me out of the race. None of them endorsed me. The voters decided, I trust the voters, they’ll make a good decision but it will be about jobs.”
SCARBOROUGH: “So, why would you —“
BRZEZINSKI: “So you’re a Trump guy.” [crosstalk]
SCOTT: “[indecipherable] vote based on jobs.
SCARBOROUGH: “Yeah, but why wouldn’t you endorse the sitting senator from the state of Florida? That seems like a pretty easy endorsement to me, I’m confused.”
SCOTT: “Marco is doing a very good job. We got elected together back in 2010. He’s done a good job as our senator. You know, Donald Trump is a friend. I’ve met Ted Cruz, I know John Kasich, he’s been governor while I’ve been governor, we’re elected the same time. But I rely on the voters, I relied on them back when I won in 2010 when everybody was against me, and when all the polls said I wouldn’t win. So I’m going to continue to trust the voters.”
SCARBOROUGH: “So you’re a friend of Donald Trump.” [crosstalk] 
SCOTT: “But I do like people who are spending their money down here.”
SCARBOROUGH: “Yeah, I bet you do. You’ve always talked about jobs, jobs, jobs, invest in Florida. So you’re a friend of Donald Trump. Would you tell your friend Donald Trump that he should walk back his statement that Muslims — that Islam hates America, that Islam hates us? Do you think Muslims in the state of Florida hate America?”
SCOTT: “Well, as you know, in Florida we’re the best melting pot in the world. We love everybody coming to our state. After the Paris bombings I did ask the federal government to not allow any more Syrian refugees to come in to Florida until we vetted them. I’m still concerned that the federal government’s not vetting them. But that’s what my concern is.”
SCARBOROUGH: “That could be a reasonable policy position if you wanted to debate that and we can debate that issue. I’m just asking generally, do you think that Muslims hate Americans? That Islam hates America, as Donald Trump said last night?”
SCOTT: “Well, I can tell you what’s going on in Florida. We have —“ [crosstalk]
BRZEZINSKI: “No, that’s not the question.”
SCARBOROUGH: “No, no, I don’t want to know what’s going on in Florida.”
SCOTT: “So, in our state we’re headed in the right direction.” (Laughter)
SCARBOROUGH: “I want to know what’s going on in your head, governor. We’re friends, I want you to answer the question. Do you personally think that Islam is a religion that hates America?”
SCOTT: “So, Joe, what I can tell you in our state is we have a lot of Muslims that live in our state —“
BRZEZINSKI: “Wrap it.”
SCARBOROUGH: “Right.”
SCOTT: “We’ve got a lot of Latin Americans living in our state. We all get along.”
SCARBOROUGH: “Right.”
SCOTT: “We love people moving to our state and coming here as tourists. We have — we’re a great melting pot. That’s what I can tell you about our state.”
BRZEZINSKI: “OK.”
SCOTT: “Donald Trump, he can talk about what — the things he wants to talk about. Marco Rubio can, Ted Cruz, John Kasich.”
BRZEZINSKI: “No. No. Uh-uh. That’s not answering any questions.” [crosstalk]
SCOTT: “But, I love the debates and I’m going to be there tonight. I love the debate that’s going to be in Miami.”
BRZEZINSKI: “Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick, I know you and Joe are friends and this is kind of awkward. But can you answer the question or should we scoot?”
SCOTT: “Well, I can tell you that, you know, I’m glad everybody’s in Florida. You know, we’re doing well here. The debate is going be fun tonight. I hope they talk about jobs, it’s the most important issue.”
BRZEZINSKI: “Governor Rick Scott, thanks for being on. We will move on now. Thanks.”