ANNA PALMER, POLITICO. EDDIE GLAUD, A PRINCETON
UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONORPROFESSOR
UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONORPROFESSOR ANNA, TO YOU FIRST WHAT DO YOU
THINK OF THE SWEARING-IN
CEREMONY REALLY AS A POLITICAL
EVENT TO CALL OUT DEMOCRATS?
THIS HAS BEEN HIS STRATEGY OVER
THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF.
WHEN I CAN CALL FOR DECENCY AND
CIVILITY ALL DAY LONG, I’M NOT
THE PRESIDENT AND I’M NOT
RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
THIS TACTIC THAT THE PRESIDENT
USED OVER THE LAST WEEK DID
CHANGE THE TIDE FOR KAVANAUGH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO
SEE, WHAT WE SAW LAST NIGHT IS
WHAT YOU’LL SEE FOR THE NEXT 28
DAYS.
DAYS. THE PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO KEEP
THIS ANGER, THIS RESENTMENT, OUT
INTO THE PUBLIC AND SAY THIS IS
WHY YOU NEED TO VOTE.
THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO GET
EXCITED ABOUT THIS MIDTERM.
REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD A VERY,
VERY HARD TIME IN TERMS OF
GETTING VOTER ENTHUSIASM.
THIS IS THE ONE THING WHERE
THEY’VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A
BLIP ON THAT.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT’S GOING TO
TRY TO HARNESS ALL THAT ENERGY
FOR THE NEXT 28 DAYS.
WHICH IS GOING TO BE VERY TOUGH.
LISTEN, IT’S HARD IN THIS NEWS
ENVIRONMENT TO KEEP ENERGY AND
EXCITEMENT IN ONE ISSUE FOR 24
HOUR, 48 HOURS, MUCH LESS 28
DAYS.
DAYS. >> CONGRESSMAN, BRETT KAVANAUGH
SAID HE WANTS TO BE IMPARTIAL,
HE WANTS TO BE FAIR.
HE WANTS TO TURN THE PAGE.
LET’S ASSUME WE TAKE HIM AT HIS
WORD.
WORD. CAN HE DO THAT WITH THE
PRESIDENT HANGING ON TO THIS AND
NAME CHECKING KAVANAUGH AT EVERY
POSSIBLE RALLY FROM HERE TO
TIMBUKTU?
TIMBUKTU? >> I THINK JUSTICE KAVANAUGH CAN
DO THAT.
DO THAT. HE DOES HAVE A JUDICIAL RECORD
THAT DEMONSTRATES IMPAR SS IMPAR
I DON’T LIKE WHAT HE SAYS AND IT
GETS IN THE WAY OF THINGS HE
WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF
THE FACT THERE ARE SOME
REPUBLICANS THAT WISH HE WAS
SAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BUT HE’S NOT AT TIMES.
>> BUT HE’S NOT AT TIMES.
EDDIE, DOES IT WORK FOR HIM?
BECAUSE WHILE MODERATE
REPUBLICANS MIGHT BE FOCUSED ON
POLICIES AND WISH THAT THE
PRESIDENT WOULD SILENCE HIMSELF,
THAT NOISE HE MAKES FOR RALLIES
WORKS FOR HIS BASE.
IF YOU COMBINE THE TWO, THOSE
WHO LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT AT 3.7% OR
WHO FEEL THAT TOUGH TALK ON
TRADE IN THE LONG TERM WILL
HELP, THEY’RE WILLING TO SUPPORT
THE PRESIDENT AND SO WILL HIS
BASE.
BASE. THINK ABOUT YESTERDAY.
I WANT TO SHARE THE SOUND FROM
IT.
IT. NOW THAT THE PRESIDENT IS
PORTRAYING DEMOCRATS AND
PROTESTERS AS THE MOB.
>> IF WE LEGITIMIZE THIS
PROCESS, THE MOB RULE.
>> THE RESISTANCE THAT HAS
EXISTED SINCE THE DAY AFTER THE
NOVEMBER 2016 ELECTION IS
CENTERED RIGHT HERE ON CAPITOL
HILL.
HILL. THEY HAVE ENCOURAGED MOB RULE.
>> THE MOB DESCENDED ON CAPITOL
HILL AND TRIED TO INTIMIDATE OUR
MEMBERS.
MEMBERS. >> YOU DON’T HAND MATCHES TO AN
ARSONIST AND YOU DON’T GIVE
POWER TO AN ANGRY LEFT WING MOB
AND THAT’S WHAT THEY’VE BECOME.
>> YOU DON’T HAND MATCHES TO
SOMEONE WITH A TRICKY TORCH BUT
I DIDN’T SEE SUCH AGGRESSIVE
TALK ABOUT THE PROTESTERS OR
EXCUSE ME THE RIOTERS WE SAW IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE A YEAR AGO.
BUT WHAT’S YOUR TAKE?
HOW DID DEMOCRATS HANDLE THIS?
BECAUSE IN THE LAST WEEK, THE
PRESIDENT IS MAKING HAY OUT OF
THIS.
THIS. >> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO
BE AGRESIVE IN RESPONDING TO
THIS.
THIS. >> WHAT DOES AGGRESSIVE LOOK
LIKE?
LIKE? >> SIMPLY A MONTAGE OF EVERY LIE
FROM THE STATE LEVEL TO THE
NATIONAL LEVEL.
NATIONAL LEVEL. JUST SHOW HOW THEY’RE LYING.
HERE, YOU HAVE THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY TALKING ABOUT THE RULE OF
LAW.
LAW. WHERE’S THE RULE OF LAW WITH
REGARDS TO THE MUELLER
INVESTIGATION?
INVESTIGATION? WHERE’S THE RULE OF LAW WITH
REGARD TO TRUMP GENERALLY?
THEN TO CALL THEM MOBS, AS IF WE
WEREN’T -- REMEMBER THE COVERAGE
OF THE TEA PARTY PROTEST AGAINST
OBAMACARE?
OBAMACARE? DID ANY OF THE SENATORS GET SPIT
ON?
ON? WAS ANYBODY -- WERE THE
PROTESTERS WALKING AROUND WITH
AR-15s?
AR-15s? WERE THERE POSTERS TALKING
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, McCONNELL
PRESENTING RACIST IMAGES OF
McCONNELL OR CORNYN OR CORKER OR
TRUMP?
TRUMP? SO THE IDEA OF FOLK ON THE LEFT
PROTESTING, EXERCISING THEIR
DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS, SOMEHOW BEING
AN EXAMPLE OF BREAKING THE RULE
OF LAW, WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO
ARE PROTESTING.
ARE PROTESTING. MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE
ASTROTURF PROTESTS AS WELL,
RIGHT.
RIGHT. PROTESTING BASKETBALL INGING OBA
AND THEN TO HAVE THESE VERY
DIFFERENT REACTIONS.
DIFFERENT REACTIONS. WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS BRAZEN
HYPOCRISY.
HYPOCRISY. WHAT THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO DO IS
CALL THEM WHAT THEY ARE, THEY’RE
HYPOCRITES.
HYPOCRITES. >> THE AVERAGE AMERICAN LOOKING
AT ALL OF THIS, DO THEY VIEW ALL
OF IT AS JUST HYPER ERPARTISANSH
OR ARE THEY ABLE TO FACTUALLY
DELINEATE THINGS?
DELINEATE THINGS? >> I DON’T BELIEVE THERE’S
FACTUAL DELINEATION GOING ON
BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES.
THE FRUSTRATION DURING THE
KAVANAUGH DEBATE WAS THERE WAS A
PRESUMPTION OF GUILT.
THAT’S WHERE I THINK THE RULE OF
LAW THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
SPEAKING ABOUT OVER THE PAST DAY
COMES FROM.
COMES FROM. AND I WOULD ALSO SAY SHOWING UP
AT ELECTED OFFICIAL’S HOUSES,
DEATH THREATS, NO MATTER WHETHER
YOU’RE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT,
IS JUST PLAIN WRONG.
SOME OF WHAT YOU SAID I THINK IS
VERY WELL TAKEN.
SOME OF IT, THOUGH, I DO THINK
IS A REFLECTION OF THE PRESIDENT
PUSHING BACK ON THE LEFT’S BASE,
WHICH JUST FUELS AND ENERGIZES
THE CONSERVATIVE BASE.
>> BUT CONGRESSMAN, WE COULD ALL
SAY SOME OF THESE PROTESTERS
HAVE TAKEN IT TOO FAR.
TO THESE PEOPLE’S HOMES OR
RESTAURANTS.
RESTAURANTS. BUT THE PRESIDENT IGNITES IT.
WHEN YOU SEE THE PRESIDENT
SAYING THINGS LIKE THIS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT JOHN CORNYN’S
TWEETS MAKING LIGHT OF BRETT
KAVANAUGH AND HIS DRINKING DAYS,
I WONDER WHY WOULD OUR LEADERS
SOUP TO SUCH A LEVEL?
>> IT WOULDN’T BE MY TWEET, BUT
A LOT OF REPUBLICANS FEEL THAT
LAST WEEK WAS DEMOCRATS ON THE
ATTACK AND REPUBLICANS HAD TO
SIT THERE AND DIDN’T SAY
ANYTHING.
ANYTHING. I’M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT THE
FEELING IS.
FEELING IS. >> BUT WOMEN WALKING THE HALLS
OF CONGRESS TELLING THEIR
STORIES ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT IS
AN ATTACK?
AN ATTACK? RIGHT?
RIGHT? OR, I’M SORRY, CONGRESSMAN,
DONALD TRUMP IN CHICAGO URGING
STOP AND FRISK, WHICH DOESN’T
SOUND LIKE DUE PROCESS TO ME.
IT’S A REALTORHETORICAL MOVE.
AS SOON AS THEY ARE CALLED TO
THE CARPET, SUDDENLY YOU CLUTCH
YOUR PEARLS AND CRY VICTORY.
>> IS THAT A WINNING POLITICAL
STRATEGY?
STRATEGY? >> THE BASE -- THE REPUBLICAN
BASE IS ANIMATED RIGHT NOW.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT’S
SUSTAINED.
SUSTAINED. THE NOTION THAT SOMEHOW THE LEFT
NEEDS TO GET MORE ENERGIZED, I
THINK WE’RE ALREADY -- WE’VE
ALREADY GONE OVER THE
THERMOMETERS.
THERMOMETERS. GOING THROUGH THE HALLS OF
COPPING AND LETTING FOLKS KNOW
THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU,
TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
SCREAMING AND YELLING AND
BANGING ON DOORS AND SOME OF THE
OTHER STUFF THAT WENT ON WAS
OVER THE TOP.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS USING
THAT FOR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.
>> THE LEFT NEED NOT ENERGIZE.
MAYBE THE LEFT SHOULD SPEND MORE
TIME STRATEGIZE.
TIME STRATEGIZE. DO YOU BELIEVE THE KAVANAUGH
CONFIRMATION ENERGIZES ONE SIDE
MORE THAN THE OTHER?
IT’S CLEAR BOTH SIDES WERE
PRETTY FIRED UP.
>> THAT IS VERY TRUE.
I THINK THE ONE THING TO REALLY
WATCH THOUGH IS GOING TO BE
WOMEN.
WOMEN. REPUBLICANS WERE ALREADY VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT PARTICULARLY
WHITE SUBURBAN WOMEN AND A LOT
OF THESE HOUSE DISTRICTS THAT
ARE LOOKING NOT VERY GOOD FOR
THEM RIGHT NOW.
THAT REPUBLICANS FEEL LIKE THEY
COULD LOSE THE HOUSE.
AND IS THIS GOING TO BE AN
ISSUE.
ISSUE. IS THE PRESIDENT BRINGING UP
KAVANAUGH AND TOTALLY
DISREGARDING WHAT A LOT OF
VICTIMS AND WOMEN THAT HAVE
FACED SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THEIR
LIFE FEEL LIKE THEY AREN’T TO BE
BELIEVED EVER?
BELIEVED EVER? IS THAT GOING TO BE AN ANIMATED
FORCE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND
AMONG SUBURBAN WHITE WOMEN?
IF IT IS, I THINK REPUBLICANS
COULD BE IN TROUBLE.
>> WE ALSO LEARNED IN THE LAST
ELECTION, WOMEN DON’T VOTE IN A
BLOC.
BLOC. 52% OF WHITE WOMEN DID SUPPORT
PRESIDENT TRUMP AFTER THE ACCESS
HOLLYWOOD TAPE, AFTER, YOU KNOW,
HE BEHAVED AS HE ALWAYS DOES.
SO ARE WE NAIVE IN THINKING
WOMEN AIRPORT GOING TO STAND FOR
IT?
IT? THEY DIDN’T JUST NOT STAND FOR
IT LAST TIME AROUND.
A LOT OF THEM VOTED FOR IT.
>> YES, LISTEN, I THINK ALL OF
THESE, YOU KNOW, ANY BLOC,
WHETHER ANY ETHNICITY, WHETHER
ANY REGIONAL, YOU CAN’T LOOK AT
IT EXACTLY LIKE THAT.
WE TALK ABOUT IT IN THOSE TERM
BECAUSE IT’S EASIER TO EXPLAIN
THINGS.
THINGS. CLEARLY I THINK WHAT YOU’RE
SEEING NOW IS DEMOCRATS TRYING
TO REALLY WORK VERY HARD TO GET
WOMEN IN PARTICULAR -- THERE IS
THIS MOVEMENT, THE ME TOO
MOVEMENT, THAT IS KIND OF
BROADER THAN JUST THE EAST AND
THE WEST COAST.
THAT IT DOES ALSO IMPACT THE
MIDDLE OF COUNTRY IN SOME OF