MSNBC political analyst and former Obama administration Under Secretary of State Richard Stengel commented that Americans are so captivated with the British Royal Family because they have a "weakness" that yearns for a time of "hereditary privilege."
Stengel made his comments while on an MSNBC panel with Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson, hosted by MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace. The three had been discussing the all-encompassing news of the day, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
While discussing the Queen's death, the analyst revealed that he viewed American media coverage of the event in a negative light, claiming that it represents Americans yearning for that sort of monarchal authority.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, LONGEST-REIGNING BRITISH MONARCH, DEAD AT 96
He prompted his cynical idea, stating, "I have to say to your earlier question, why are news American news networks dedicating all of this time to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral? I think it’s a good question."
Stengel then declared, "I mean, you know, I think it’s something — there’s a weakness in the American character that still yearns for that era of hereditary privilege, which is the very thing that we escaped from."
Acknowledging that he had perhaps offered an unpopular opinion, Stengel added, "So there, I’ve made myself the skunk at the garden party."
Though the MSNBC host welcomed Stengel’s take, exclaiming, "No, I love it! We’re keeping it real."
Robinson, on the other hand, disagreed with the former Obama administration official. After remarking about how even British journalists, who "are trained to be objective," are having a hard time saying goodbye to the Queen, he claimed he’s "not sure" that Stengel’s assessment was correct.
"You know, and Rick, I’m not sure that we so ‘yearn’ for this hereditary privilege. I think we enjoy seeing watching all the pomp and circumstance and following the soap opera of the – of the Royal Family and the fairy tale aspect of it," Robinson explained.
He added, "But I don’t know that that’s something we have any sort of deep hankering for."
Other progressive media figures have made negative or deeply cynical remarks about the Queen’s passing just after it happened. A couple of them took their hatred of Great Britain’s colonial past out on the late British monarch.
SIGNIFICANCE OF PHOTO USED TO ANNOUNCE THE QUEEN’S DEATH
Huffington Post opinion writer Stephen Crockett Jr. tweeted, "The way I wish newspapers would write: ‘Colonizers lost one of their most beloved foot soldiers as Queen Elizabeth II, 96, mostly known for f---s--- and racism, has died.’"
The Atlantic writer Jemele Hill tweeted, "Journalists are tasked with putting legacies into full context, so it is entirely appropriate to examine the queen and her role in the devastating impact of continued colonialism."
