Snap your fingers. That’s how quickly Democrats tried to tie Paul Pelosi’s attack to Republicans. The immediate narrative was formed that violent right-wing rhetoric inspired the attack. David DePape, a 42 year old mentally ill nudist activist, attacked the Pelosi household. Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” went after Minnesota’s Tom Emmer, chairman of the NRCC. Emmer put Brennan in her place.
Republicans prevent violence
Republicans are more likely to understand and use the Second Amendment. This keeps violence down. A couple days before the attack Emmer had tweeted a video of him firing a rifle at a shooting range. The caption was, “Enjoyed exercising my Second Amendment rights with @KellyCooperAZ & General @JackBergman_MI1. … 13 days to make history. Let’s #FirePelosi.”
Brennan was clearly upset and adversarial and asked Emmer straight away if he would denounce any kind of attack on the Pelosi family. Emmer responded, “Absolutely. There should be no attacks, period. There should be no violence in our society. Again, whether it’s political or otherwise, there’s no place for it in a civilized society.”
Republicans are suspicious about the election
A CBS poll was done that Brennan brought up. The poll said many Republicans didn’t trust that elections were above board anymore.
“A big majority of Republicans support the idea of private citizens challenging election officials as they process and report vote counts on election night. We’re seeing that on the screen now. Two-thirds of Republicans support the idea of private citizens patrolling around ballot drop boxes and polling places. This is just Republicans. We don’t see this with Democrats. We do not see this with independents. Would you urge private citizens not to patrol polling places?”
Emmer spoke to that,
“Well, you picked the words, Margaret. I would say that it is Republicans, Democrats, independents, all American citizens are very acutely aware … about our election process. I think this is going to be a very good election because people are awake. They’re paying attention. They should volunteer as poll watchers. It’s a state-based system. Whatever your state requires and allows, you should definitely be involved. And I think it’s going to help the process.”
Enjoyed exercising my Second Amendment rights with @KellyCooperAZ & General @JackBergman_MI1.
13 days to make history. Let’s #FirePelosi. pic.twitter.com/QgSpjkApIz
— Tom Emmer (@tomemmer) October 26, 2022
Brennan pressed on voter intimidation
She asked several different ways. She said it’s different from poll watching which is unlawful. Emmer agreed with her that, “Nobody should be intimidated when they’re exercising their most precious right to vote.”
Brennan told Emmer he was on a list of “307 Republicans running for office who have raised doubts about the integrity of the election.” She asked, “Do you regret sowing doubts yourself?” She then wouldn’t let Emmer answer.
Republicans might deny the election
Emmer started out with, “What you’re referring to. I’ve never sowed doubts about the election. I have definitely raised questions –“
Brennan started with, “You signed onto this Texas amicus brief –”
“Absolutely, let’s talk about that –”
Again, Brennan interjected, “– that went to the Supreme Court to overturn it.”
“What it said was, Margaret, what that said, that amicus brief, is that a lot of people, governors, attorneys general, secretaries of state, took unilateral action during COVID changing –” (Interruption.) “– changing the election laws themselves –” (Interruption.)
Emmer patiently tried, “Again, if I can finish, changing election laws themselves to try and make sure that we were safe while we exercised our right to vote. That particular amicus brief, all it said was that we need to reaffirm that state legislatures and legislatures alone make their election laws. So as we go forward, once we’re out of COVID, we have to go back to that.”
“So to be clearr, you don’t consider yourself an election denier?”
“Absolutely not.”
One answer wasn’t enough. Brennan asked Emmer three more times to be sure.