GOP Guest Slams Biden’s ‘Offensive’ Rhetoric as CNN Host Applauds It

Ana Cabrera (CNN host) argued Thursday afternoon in support of Democrats’ federal takeover elections. She was arguing with Charlie Dent, former Pennsylvania Republican Congressman on the topic.

Viewers got to see a rare time when the normally liberal Republican who has often argued against his own party since he joined the network a few years ago, actually argued against the Democratic push for a federal takeover.

Cabrera opened the segment by emphasizing the importance of such measures to stop alleged Republican bad behaviour.

Democrats believe that voting legislation at the federal level must be passed, especially when considering what is going on at the state and local levels. Let’s take a look. Let’s take a look. Last year 19 states, most of them controlled by Republicans, passed laws that made it more difficult to vote for minorities. This legislation, which Democrats want to pass now, would bypass these restrictions and essentially standardize the voting process in America.

Dent immediately argued against voters being allowed to vote on the same day they register and other ways Democrats want to tell states how to run the voting process. Cabrera later noted that Senator Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, the Senate Democratic Whip, had acknowledged that President Joe Biden’s speech on this subject was exaggerated, but that his strong language was valid.

Although I understand that you have reservations about the President’s rhetoric, you may think it too heated. But I can’t help thinking of all the outrageous and offensive statements President Trump made. Many Republican legislators ignored them or even supported them. But this is something else. It’s about the fundamental American right of every voter to vote, about equal and fair access for all eligible voters to vote. This passion was necessary if the game of nice did not get anyone to notice.

Later, Dent said that he supported Biden as President and that some of his statements were offensive to him. Dent also complained that the Jan 6th Capitol Riots were being used as an excuse for overreaction.

Cabrera persisted: “But let’s be real — wouldn’t it have made any difference what the President said? As the President tried to play nicely with Republicans, Republicans and Mitch McConnell would both say, “No. We are not going work with you about this.” Period.'”

This episode of CNN Newsroom with Ana Cabrera was sponsored in part by America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses. You can find their contact information here.

The following is a transcription:

CNN Newsroom

January 13, 2021

Eastern, 1:03 pm

ANA CABRERA: Now, Democrats say passing voting bills at the federal level is necessary when you consider what is happening at the state level. Let’s take a look. Let’s take a look. Last year 19 states, most of them controlled by Republicans, passed laws that made it more difficult to vote for minorities. This legislation, which Democrats want to pass now, would bypass these restrictions and essentially standardize the voting process in America. 

(…)

Eastern, 1:09 PM

CABRERA: Congressman, I know you take issue with the President’s rhetoric — you thought it was too hot — but I still can’t help but think of all of the truly outrageous and offensive things President Trump said that so many Republican lawmakers simply ignored or even defended. But this is something else. This issue is fundamental American rights to vote, about equal voting access. This passion was necessary if the game of nice did not get anyone to notice.

CHARLIE DENT CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR : He was just too hot and too partisan. It’s because someone disagrees with the President, United States, on issues such as same-day registration and publicly funded campaigns. That was part of the House legislation that passed. But that does not make you a Segregationist, or someone who sympathizes with Bull Connor.

I mean, I thought it was rather offensive, and I think that he needs to get — he had an opportunity in Atlanta, I thought, to talk about the John Lewis Voting Rights Act — how we could get a bipartisan agreement on that. It was a proud decision that I voted in favor of reauthorizing it in 2006. That could be done again with the Electoral Count Act of1877. This needs to be corrected. It was an opportunity for him to unite people.

They should. Democrats need to get rid of some other things that are really just wish lists for progressives. That’s all they do is use January 6th to justify it. You know what? The President really lost a great opportunity. It is understandable why so many Republicans would not agree with me.

CABRERA – But, let’s not be naive — what would the President have said? The President tried to make friends with Republicans. Republicans would straight up tell Mitch McConnell, “No. We’re not going work with you on that.” Period.”

DENT: Mitch McConnell said that he is willing to act on the Electoral Count Act of1877. Why not just take his word for it? You know what, the President said that he wanted to unify America. He promised to be bipartisan. I supported him. However, I didn’t like the way he approached it.

You know what? They’re upset at Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema because they both flipped on filibuster. The filibuster was something that all other Democrats flipped on — making statements about them, George Bush said it when he was president: “Boy! If we eliminated the filibuster…that would lead to extremeism and dictatorship.” That’s the way they said it back then. We are now here, and they say that we must get rid. “If we don’t, we will have a dictatorship & autocracy.”