CNN: ‘Even After These Tragedies,’ Republicans ‘Cling’ To Their Guns

Rachael Bade, Politico joined CNN NewsroomJim Sciutto of the NBC News on Monday was interviewed about a segment that focused nominally on Rep. Thomas Massie tweeting an image of Christmas family photos with each member holding a firearm. The duo condemned not only the photo, but also lamented that Republicans “even after these tragedies” do not embrace gun control.

Sciutto opened his first speech by declaring, “Okay. So.” this tweet you’re familiar with it, it’s sparking a lot of reaction this week and understandable. One, why a Republican member of Congress would consider this Christmas appropriate, we can show this image on screen, but also coming days after a school shooting in Oxford, Michigan.”

 

 

After condemning Massie for posing with or something resembling an M60, Sciutto asked “What does this is a about the current state of guns in politics in this country? Because, he clearly, this was not accidental. This was deliberate and I imagine he’s probably fundraising off of that now.”

Bade did her best Barack Obama impression and agreed, “Absolutely. I mean, politically, incredibly insensitive to the moment we’re in right now. Look, the reality is that Republicans when it comes to guns and Second Amendment even after these tragedies, you know, they more so cling to their right to bear arms and so you have a lot of Republicans for years who have used images of them holding guns, standing in front of guns.”

After Sciutto interrupted to add “It’s almost required now,” Bade continued: 

Yeah, exactly to win primaries, to raise money, but specifically coming after this shooting where a 15-year-old was given, gifted a gun for Christmas, and went and shot up his school and killed a bunch of people is, it’s just, it’s outrageous but outrage unfortunately in this time makes money and makes people popular and so in the Republican Party right now you have someone like Thomas Massie who I wouldn’t be surprised is going to take, sort of, the criticism of this tweet and rebukes of the tweet and actually try to raise more money from it. 

CNN might have been more concerned about Massie funding if they had not acted quickly. However, outrage is a way for CNN to make money.

Sciutto switched gears, and asked whether anyone else, besides Sen. Chris Murphy had the drive to pass gun-control legislation.

A solemn Bade lamented, “Yeah, Chris Murphy was on TV talking about it yesterday. It’s not a real topic. Concluding her thoughts, Bade claimed this is “sort of the sad reality, we saw this a few years ago in Sandy Hook where a bunch of elementary school kids were gunned down and nothing was done in Washington and so, you know, I wouldn’t expect anything to change in the next few weeks and months.” 

Sciutto wrapped up the segment by blaming the lack of gun control for dead children, “Meanwhile, you keep seeing pictures of young kids who lost their lives in schools.”

This segment was sponsored and produced by Zales

This transcript is for the show on December 6.

CNN Newsroom with PoppyHarlow and Jim Sciutto

9:35 am ET

JIM SCIUTTO: Okay, so this tweet you’re familiar with it, it’s sparking a lot of reaction this week and understandable. One, why a Republican member of Congress would consider this Christmas appropriate, we can show this image on screen, but also coming days after a school shooting in Oxford, Michigan. Let’s take a look at that image. So this is his family, “Santa, please bring ammo,” he says. I just want to draw attention to the weapon Thomas Massie himself is holding, that is either an M60 or a weapon modified to look like an M60, which is a, fires a very high velocity, large round. In the Vietnam War it was used to defend hillsides and he was holding it in the Christmas photo here. What does this is a about the current state of guns in politics in this country? Because, he clearly, this was not accidental. This was deliberate and I imagine he’s probably fundraising off of that now. 

RACHAEL BOADE: Yes. I mean, politically, incredibly insensitive to the moment we’re in right now. Look, the reality is that Republicans when it comes to guns and Second Amendment even after these tragedies, you know, they more so cling to their right to bear arms and so you have a lot of Republicans for years who have used images of them holding guns, standing in front of guns. 

SCIUTTO: It’s almost required now. 

BADE: Yeah, exactly to win primaries, to raise money, but specifically coming after this shooting where a 15-year-old was given, gifted a gun for Christmas, and went and shot up his school and killed a bunch of people is, it’s just, it’s outrageous but outrage unfortunately in this time makes money and makes people popular and so in the Republican Party right now you have someone like Thomas Massie who I wouldn’t be surprised is going to take, sort of, the criticism of this tweet and rebukes of the tweet and actually try to raise more money from it. 

SCIUTTO: Democrats have the White House, the House, and the Senate, granted by small margins but they have it. Is there any appetite or momentum among Democratic leaders to push gun control legislation? 

BADE: Yeah. 

SCIUTTO: Chris Murphy or not? 

BADE: Yeah, Chris Murphy was on TV talking about it yesterday. It’s not a real topic. 

SCIUTTO: No. 

BADE: I mean, it’s sort of the sad reality, we saw this a few years ago in Sandy Hook where a bunch of elementary school kids were gunned down and nothing was done in Washington and so, you know, I wouldn’t expect anything to change in the next few weeks and months. 

SCIUTTO: Meanwhile, you keep seeing pictures of young kids who lost their lives in schools. Rachael, thank you.

About Post Author

Follow Us