I'm sure there's some of that sentiment from older Brits, but I think the biggest complaint is that the EU is too powerful and intrusive and not responsive enough to the concerns of the people it governs. It would piss most Americans off if some governing body that they had only nominal influence over and was located (for example) in Panama City was making a massive amount of law that was supreme over their own federal and state laws. It would make matters worse if the people running that body were arrogant and elitist.
It's an all or nothing strategy, because if those stupid predictions end up being wrong, it will give a huge boost to Euroskeptics all over Europe. Basically, the Remain advocates will lose all credibility.
However, I do think Musburger has a point. The fact that the UK is still on the Pound Sterling (which was a VERY smart decision by them) makes things a lot easier for them. Economically strong Eurozone countries (France, Germany, Netherlands, etc.) would have a tougher time but could probably do it if they really wanted to. However, if a country like Spain or Greece (economically weak Eurozone countries) tried to leave and restore their old, worthless currencies, it would be a much tougher transition.
The currency issue is one thing that sank the Scottish independence referendum. Britain was going to kick them off the Pound Sterling if they left, and they weren't going to be able to adopt the Euro for at least a few years. That means they would have had to bring back the Pound Scots for a while, which would have made the transition pretty painful.
I thought that was just disgusting during the Scottish referendum. They don't deserve independence.
He was undoubtedly taking marching orders from corporate interests and banks in the US, who benefit from European integration generally and from UK membership in the EU in particular. However, I agree. It was a dumb move. The position of the US should be that the the Brexit vote is an internal matter for the people of the UK to decide and that the US will support their decision and work with them as political, economic, and military allies either way.
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Last edited: Jun 15, 2016