Ballmer played into this critique in Thursday's press conference, calling the notion of breaking up Microsoft reckless and irresponsible and dismissing speculation about such a plan as ludicrous.
Ballmer supported the notion of breaking up Microsoft wholeheartedly. 
mnli hypothesis: Ballmer supported the notion of breaking up Microsoft wholeheartedly.  premise: Ballmer played into this critique in Thursday's press conference, calling the notion of breaking up Microsoft reckless and irresponsible and dismissing speculation about such a plan as ludicrous.