In what amounted to a televised strategy session with Democratic National Committee senior advisor Cedric Richmond Wednesday night, CNN’s Don Lemon promoted the party’s new election strategy of doubling down on the last failed cycle. “[The] idea about calling Republicans extremists, is that the way to go?” the Don Lemon Tonight host wondered.
“Absolutely. Because we have to call it for what it is and they are extreme,” Richmond unashamedly answered.
Both Lemon and Richmond align with the Democratic Party game plan that is quick to claim the current GOP is “not your father’s Republican party.” This stems from Biden’s declaration in late April in which he claimed the party had shifted to a MAGA (Make America Great Again) or even “Ultra-MAGA” stance.
Circling back to the talk on Wednesday night, Richmond stated, “This Republican Party is extreme. Anyone who speaks the truth and calls out President Obama is abandoned.[ed],” referring to the January 6 witnesses and their testimony.
Therefore, calling them extremeists is their only choice. Don Lemon of NewsBusters stated in a recent blog that journalist’s goal is to make Republicans accountable. He suggested there was an “intermingling and fusion between extremists and the GOP, and I really see the GOP as an extremist entity now.”
Jeff Zucker’s network was founded on the principle of fairness. This is a strong legacy.
Whether you can agree or not, the labeling is ridiculous, especially when these ‘journalists’ claim to be speaking the truth. Then again, Lemon claimed in the same blog that if the media is fair to the GOP, then journalists aren’t going to do their jobs.
As Richmond continued with his smears against the GOP, Lemon probed at his passion for the cause, “Cedric, where has this fire been?” Going so far as to say, “you weren’t this fiery when you were working at the White House, it’s good to see you unleashed at least.”
Fueling this fire of disunity and name-calling, Lemon proclaimed, “There needs to be more people with fire like you.”
Richmond stated that the President’s goal is to keep moving in the right direction and to continue working with those who will work with him. He stated, “we continue to call people extreme, we’re going to work with the people that are willing to do it.”
CNN Politics released a story earlier Wednesday with the headline, “Democrats fear a wipeout and try to unite around a simple message from the midterms: Republicans are extremists.’”
Are these all tricks to hide the fact that they are afraid of losing their power? While Richmond held that this “premature expectation that Republicans can win is just absolutely wrong,” why does he still feel the need for the name-calling?
Southwest and Starbucks sponsor this segment. You can find their contact information here.
For a complete transcript click on “expand”.
CNN’s Don Lemon Tonight
07/27/22
Eastern, 10:33:37
CEDRIC RICHMOND (DNC senior advisor): And come November of this year I think that you will see Americans make a choice between one extreme party and another party that’s actually looking to make corporations pay their fair share, reduce the deficit and help families. This is number 1. The President isn’t running to be against the great and powerful; he is running against what’s best.
The alternative to this party is very extreme. This party will run on a number of issues that Congress won’t allow us to achieve through executive order or legislation like the infrastructure bill. By the way, where we are going to eliminate contaminated drinking water from 10,000,000 homes across this country and 400,000 schools, daycares, etc.
We will bring broadband internet to the rural America, and we are going to make community violence intervention investments like none before. A comprehensive model which empowers everyone to realize their dreams. This is a record I believe we can set every day.
LEMON: I think you sound like your still working for the White House. It’s obvious that you are at the DNC. You mentioned extremes. Right? Some strategists believe that Democrats will win the midterm elections by calling out Republicans and calling them extremists.
This sounds almost identical to Biden’s recent activities. We’ll listen and discuss.
(…)
Eastern, 10:35:40
LEMON: The idea of calling Republicans extremists is a good one.
RICHMOND: Absolutely. Because it’s extreme. You start to talk about turning it upside down Roe V. Wade 50 years. Then you attack women’s reproductive liberty. It’s all about choice. You’re attacking voting rights. All of this is contrary to your beliefs.
By the way they like to say that they are pro-law enforcement, and they love law. All of them won’t mention the President or the lawless acts committed on January 6th. I was there. It was not an ordinary tourist destination. It was an uprising. The insurrection was violent and carried out by President Trump.
Therefore, I feel that the more that we are able to point out how far this party has moved, the better it is for us.
When we speak about Trump’s extreme Republican Party, which is led by former President Trump. People get it. People are able to see the direction that they would like this country go.
LEMON: I believe most people would agree with me on this main point. There are some Republicans. There are a few Republicans. They are difficult to understand. The President is being called out by them. They say that it was not a violent rebellion, which shouldn’t have happened.
RICHMOND, Well they are paying for it. Because they’re honest, the Republican Party exiles them.
LEMON: You’re right on. Keep going.
RICHMOND – into claiming the President lost the election, and that he sparked this rebellion. When we speak about the Republican Party, the President said that it is not the Republican Party of your father. The Republican Party of America is extremist. Anyone who speaks the truth and calls out President Obama is ignored or ostracized
LEMON: However, it shouldn’t
RICHMOND — You can see it happening.
LEMON: President Biden should have known that from day one people were telling him, “You said this,” and that this was not his father’s Republican Party. Even when he was vice president, people have told him that it isn’t the Republican Party.
He suddenly realizes this isn’t the Republican Party of his father. This has been going on for many years. Are he suddenly in tune with the Presidency, while he was out of sync for years?
RICHMOND, Absolutely. Let me tell you, even though the Republican Party can be extreme, we still find ways to cooperate with the people who care about America’s best interests and put America first. So, we passed the infrastructure bill. So, we can replace the lead pipes and bridges that are deteriorating and also levies to protect homeowners. With willing partners, we will continue this work.
LEMON: Right.
RICHMOND – And we’ll do what we can by executive order, like the George Floyd justice and Policing or voting rights executive orders.
LEMON: Okay.
RICHMOND – And, I think the President of America, not just the Democrats has the ultimate goal to keep the ball moving and collaborate with all who will.
LEMON: Cedric!
RICHMOND — To work with him. We’ll work with those who will do the same, even though we still call some people extremists.
LEMON: Cedric! Where has the fire gone? Although it wasn’t, you weren’t as fiery at work at the White House when you did that job, it is good to have you back at your best. Although I felt that you had a bit of a stifling presence at the White House when you arrived, it was refreshing to witness the Cedric Richmond I remember from New Orleans.
RICHMOND : That’s not true, Don. The fire was always there. But…
LEMON: Okay. You are the one who needs more people to light fire.
RICHMOND – What I’d just like to say with Don is that my children and my child will be fine at the end. Although many of our children are fine and would feel safe, we all know there is more to life than we realize. It is our responsibility to not lose sight of the task at hand and continue working hard.
LEMON: OK.
RICHMOND : That’s exactly what the President has been doing. Now that I’m out of the White House, I have more fire as our goal is to win midterms. If you don’t win, it’s impossible to govern. This is a false assumption that Republicans will win.
LEMON: Cedric, I’m sorry. Thank you for coming back. I appreciate your candor. Thanks. Thank you.
This post was last modified on July 29, 2022 6:11 am
This website uses cookies.