Scarborough, Axelrod Take Ebola Argument Into Second Round

Sunday's heated debate between "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough and Democratic strategist David Axelrod went into a second round on Monday over the government's handling of the Ebola virus.

Scarborough on Monday continued to insist that when it comes to the Ebola virus, he's just asking tough questions that need to be asked, while Axelrod maintained government health officials know how to handle the outbreak.

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The debate, while heated, wasn't a repeat of Sunday's argument while both men were panelists on NBC's "Meet the Press," during which Axelrod at one point called the "Morning Joe" host and former lawmaker "Dr. Scarborough" for questioning reports about the outbreak.

"We do have to ask tough questions even though David doesn't want tough questions ever to be asked," Scarborough complained Monday. "He wants to say snotty, snide things."

"I don't know how you got through those years in politics being so sensitive," Axelrod replied.

"I expect cheap shots from people in politics," said Scarborough, "I don't expect them from my friends."

He pointed out that Dr. Tom Frieden, who also appeared on Monday's show, said Ebola is an issue because officials didn't act on it fast enough.

"The World Health Organization missed every red light," said Scarborough. "We have to ask tough questions. I was quoting 'The Washington Post' yesterday and you come back with a snide remark. Maybe you should read the article and take the screwups seriously."

Axelrod said he did read the article, which talked about how the world was slow responding to the Ebola crisis, but insisted that health officials "have no other mission in life but to keep people safe."

Further, said Axelrod, "I don't want people to panic and I don't think we should provoke them to panic either. That's different than asking tough questions."

Further, Axelrod denied Scarborough's contention that there is a "boy who cried wolf" situation going on, in which people have quit believing the government, saying the United States is leading the fight against the disease.

"Joe, you're shifting goal posts," said Axelrod. "You said on the air that people shouldn't trust the CDC when they tell you how you can get Ebola and the CDC is trying to calm the American people and make them understand how Ebola is contracted. That's quite different than asking tough questions."

But Scarborough accused Axelrod of saying "nothing to worry about" every time a problem comes up.

"This isn't about politics," he said. "This is about public safety."

And even after the segment was over, Scarborough continued to talk about Axelrod.

"David jumped me, because I simply quoted the doctor who got Ebola and came back to the United States," said Scarborough, comparing Axelrod to the policeman on The Simpsons, "Chief Wiggum," for saying "nothing to see here."

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