Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” representative-elect Dan Crenshaw calmly exposed the bankruptcy of wild and never-ending claims that President Trump is a threat to democracy, enemy of the press, fascist dictator, yadda yadda yadda.
Another incoming representative, Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), claimed on the show that, “Some of our democratic freedoms and the principles that we live by have been under attack for the better part of two years.”
“What democratic freedoms have been undermined?” Crenshaw (R-Texas) responded. “We just had an election where we switched power in the House, democracy is at work, people are voting in record numbers.” Crenshaw said whenever people make “this broad-brush criticism that the president is somehow undermining democracy,” he wants to hear examples of what they mean.
The entire panel erupted. Incoming freshman Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.) listed off “judiciary, CIA, FBI, the voting process” and “undermining the free press,” which Neguse echoed.
“How has he done that?” Crenshaw asked. “The Obama administration had many press members under investigation, Trump has not, so what is the difference here?”
Neguse then mentioned the White House’s revocation of Jim Acosta’s press credentials after Acosta swatted away a White House intern trying to retrieve his mic. He characterized it as CNN “having to go to court to essentially regain access to the [White House] press room.”
"This broad brush criticism that the president is somehow undermining our democracy, I always wonder like, what exactly are we talking about?" @DanCrenshawTX tells @margbrennan @FaceTheNation https://t.co/ac7ve4LCfw pic.twitter.com/u9QPUmwMMl
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 18, 2018
“That was one reporter, not the whole organization,” Crenshaw pointed out. “… Because he was disruptive.”
“I would argue that our president is consistently disruptive in those very same press conferences,” Houlahan interjected, “And I would argue that he treats them with disrespect.”
“But how is that an attack on the press though?” Crenshaw asked.
“Because it’s literally an attack on the press –” Houlahan began. Crenshaw interrupted: “I’ve been literally attacked, so let’s choose our words carefully.”
“His language is an attack,” said Houlahan.
“Okay, so why is he not allowed to use his own language and freedom of speech?” Crenshaw asked.
“Because it’s important that we lead by example, that we lead from the top,” responded Houlahan.
“I agree with you there. Style is one thing. If you want to criticize style, I’m with you,” Crenshaw said. “But to say it’s an attack on the freedom of the press, that is a very bold statement.”
