GOOD EVENING FROM NEW YORK, I
AM CHRIS HAYES.
ON THE SHOW WE HAVE BEEN
HIGHLIGHTING A DISTURBING NEW
TREND ON THE RIGHT WHERE
REPUBLICANS AND THEIR ALLIES
PLAY FOOTSIE WITH FRENCH
CONSPIRACY THEORISTS BY
ATTEMPTING TO SMEAR DEMOCRATS
AS SYMPATHETIC CHILD ABUSE.
IT IS A DOG WHISTLE TO QANON
SUPPORTERS WHO BELIEVE THAT THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS MADE UP OF
THE SATAN WORSHIP-ING
PEDOPHILES WHO RUN A CHILD SEX
TRAFFICKING RING.
THAT IS THEIR BELIEF.
NOT TO BE OUT DONE, LAST NIGHT
REPUBLICAN STAR MARJORIE TAYLOR
GREENE OF GEORGIA WHO HAS HER
FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THE
REPUBLICAN BASE AS WELL AS
ANYONE TOOK THE RHETORIC A STEP
FURTHER DOING AWAY WITH ANY
PRETENSE, AND JUST EXPLICITLY
CALLING HER POLITICAL OPPONENTS
PEDOPHILES.
>> THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE PARTY
OF PEDOPHILES.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE PARTY OF
PRINCESS PREDATORS FROM DISNEY.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE PARTY OF
TEACHERS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
TEACHERS, TRYING TO TRANSITION
THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED
CHILDREN AND CONVINCE THEM THEY
ARE A DIFFERENT GENDER.
THIS IS THE PARTY OF THEIR
IDENTITY, AND THEIR IDENTITY IS
THE MOST DISGUSTING, EVIL,
HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPENING IN
OUR COUNTRY.
AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO SAY
IT.
>> NOW, GREEN MAYBE THE MOST
EXTREME REPUBLICAN IN TERMS OF
THAT RHETORIC, BUT SHE IS FAR
FROM THE ONLY ONE PUSHING THAT
EXACT LINE OF ATTACK.
IN FACT, IT HAS BECOME
MAINSTREAM.
IT WAS THE ENTIRE BASIS OF THE
REPUBLICAN SMEARS AGAINST JUDGE
KETANJI BROWN-JACKSON.
SOON TO BE THE FIRST BLACK
WOMAN TO SIT ON THE SUPREME
COURT IN THIS NATION'S HISTORY.
WITH THE VOTE FOR HER
CONFIRMATION COMING AS EARLY AS
TOMORROW.
ONE OF THE PROLIFIC SMEAR
PEDDLERS WAS REPUBLICAN SENATOR MARSHALL BLACKBURN OF TENNESSEE.
MARSHALL BLACKBURN OF TENNESSEE.
>> I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
ISSUE ABOUT THE CHILD
PREDATORS.
DO YOU BELIEVE CHILD PREDATORS
ARE MISUNDERSTOOD?
SO, IS IT YOUR POSITION THAT
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENDERS ARE
NOT PEDOPHILES?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IT MATTERS
TO THE CHILDREN AND THEIR
PARENTS WHO SUFFER ABUSE, WHAT
MOTIVATION THOSE ABUSERS HAD?
I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE
PROTECT CHILDREN, AND THAT WE
CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST EFFORT
TO PROTECT CHILDREN.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN
THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
JUDGES ON THE FEDERAL BENCH,
AND JUSTICES THAT ARE GOING TO
PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS OF
CHILDREN.
>> AGAIN, THE CONTEXT HEAR IS
CLEAR.
THAT IS JUST A FEW DEGREES MORE
CENTRAL THAN MARJORIE TAYLOR
GREENE, BUT THEY ARE DOING THE
SAME THING.
NOW, IF SENATOR BLACKBURN IS
ACTING IN GOOD, FAITH WHICH
SEEMS DOUBTFUL TO ME, BUT IF
SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT, AS I
KEEP SAYING, THE VERY, VERY
REAL ISSUE OF CHILD SEXUAL
ABUSE, THEN IT IS ODD THAT SHE
DOES NOT AT LEAST APPEAR
PUBLICLY TO BE USING HER POWER
TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT A VERY
DISTURBING SITUATION THAT HAS
BEEN HAPPENING IN HER HOME
STATE HOUSE.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN
TENNESSEE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
A BILL KNOWN AS HB233.
IT IS BASICALLY AN ANTI-GAY
MARRIAGE BILL.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE STATE TO
MAKE AN ADDITIONAL MARRIAGE
CATEGORY ONLY ELIGIBLE TO
OPPOSITE SEX COUPLES WHO DO NOT
WANT TO BE PART OF THE SAME
INSTITUTION THAT ALLOWS GAY
PEOPLE TO TIE THE KNOT.
NOW, THAT IS BIGOTED AND BAD ON
ITS OWN, RIGHT?
IT IS AN INDICATION, THAT
SHOULD BE VERY, CLEAR OF JUST
HOW MUCH RIGHT WING FORCES
RIGHT NOW ARE GATHERING
THEMSELVES AND ROLLING BACK
MARRIAGE EQUALITY.
THAT IS COMING.
BUT THAT IS NOT EVEN THE WORST
PART OF THAT PARTICULAR PIECE
OF LEGISLATION.
THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BILL
AS IT WAS INTRODUCED DIDN'T
INCLUDE AN AGE MINIMUM.
YEAH.
IT MEANS IT COULD PAVE THE WAY
TO LEGALIZED CHILD MARRIAGE.
LIKE CHILD BRIDES.
AGAIN, I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS NOT TRUE
WHEN I FIRST READ THE STORY.
BUT LISTEN TO THE SPONSOR OF
THE BILL, REPUBLICAN STATE
REPRESENTATIVE TOM LEATHER
WOULD.
>> ALL THIS BILL DOES IS GIVE
AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF MARRIAGE
FOR THOSE PASTORS AND OTHER
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A
CONSCIOUS JUST OBJECTION TO THE
CURRENT PATHWAY OF MARRIAGE.
>> IS THERE NO AGE LIMIT TO
THIS BILL?
>> AGAIN, WITH MY UNDERSTANDING,
I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE 18,
IT IS THE WAY THIS WOULD BE
CONSTRUED.
>> BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR, JUST WHAT THE TESTIMONY
IS.
THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT?
OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
--
>> MY CONCERN.
>> NO.
THERE IS NOT AN EXPLICIT AGE
LIMIT.
>> I WATCHED SEVERAL TIMES.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU UP HERE,
LEATHERWOOD?
YOU KNOW THERE IS AN EXPLICIT
AGE LIMIT IN THE LAW AT THE
TIME AS THE OTHER
REPRESENTATIVE NOTES, BUT THERE
IS NO AGE LIMIT HERE.
NOW, ON THE OTHER MEN YOU HEARD
TALKING THERE IS DEMOCRAT MIKE
STORED.
HE CALLED THE BILL, GET OUT OF
JAIL FREE CARD FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE BASICALLY COMMITTING
STATUTORY RAPE.
AGAIN, SOUNDS BAD TO ME.
ALSO, WHAT?
AGAIN, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS
IS NOT AN ABSTRACT CONCERN.
THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH
FRINGE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WHO
WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH A
LOOPHOLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS THE STORY,
SOMEONE INFAMOUS, A RELIGIOUS
FANATIC, PRESIDENT OF THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ALLOTTED
A SAINT, NOT TO BE CONFUSED
WITH THE IRREGULAR MORGAN
MORMON CHURCH.
HE IS ACCUSED OF HAVING WIVES
WHO ARE UNDER AGE.
BACK IN 2007, HE WAS CHARGED,
AND CONVICTED ON CHARGES OF
FACILITATING THE MARRIAGE OF A
14 YEAR OLD TO A 19 YEAR OLD
COUSIN.
AGAIN, THAT SOUNDS DISGUSTING
AND WRONG TO ME.
THAT ALONE IS PRETTY
HORRIFYING.
BUT WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT,
TUCKER CARLSON, ONE OF THE MOST
VOCAL CHAMPIONS OF THE
DEMOCRATS DID NOT SEE IT THAT
WAY.
IT THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
IN FACT, BACK IN 2009, HE WENT
OUT OF HIS WAY TO DEFEND HIM.
>> WELL ACTUALLY HE IS NOT IN
PERSON FOR THAT.
HE DIDN'T, HE DIDN'T MARRY
UNDERAGE GIRLS.
>> HE'S IN PRISON FOR
FACILITATION OF CHILD RAPE.
>> WHATEVER THAT MEANS.
HE IS IN PRISON BECAUSE HE IS
WEIRD AND UNPOPULAR, AND HE HAS
A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE THAT
OTHER PEOPLE FIND CREEPY.
>> NO, HE IS AN ACCESSORY TO
THE RAPE OF CHILDREN.
THAT IS A FELONY, AND THE
SERIOUS ONE AT THAT.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN AN
ACCESSORY?
HE'S LIKE, GOT SOME WEIRD
RELIGIOUS CULT WHERE HE THINKS
IT'S OKAY TO, YOU KNOW,
MARRIOTT UNDERAGE GIRLS.
BUT HE DIDN'T DO IT.
WHY WOULDN'T THE GUY WHO
ACTUALLY DID IT, WHO HAD SEX
WITH AN UNDERAGE GIRL, HE
SHOULD BE THE ONE DOING LIFE.
THE RAPIST IN THIS CASE HAS
MADE A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO
LIVE AND TAKE CARE OF THE
PERSON, SO IT IS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT.
LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT.
>> NOW, I MEAN, I AM JUST A
HUMBLE CABLE NEWS HOST TRYING
TO GET MY ARMS AROUND THIS.
IF YOU THINGS, MARY, HE DID
MARRY THEM.
NOT DOESN'T NOT AS AND HE
MARRIED THEM, BUT HE MARRIED
THEM.
--
WHICH INCLUDE CHILD BRIDES.
SO A 14 YEAR OLD, AND ALSO THE
RAPIST PLEDGED TO TAKE CARE OF
THE 14 YEAR OLD, SO THAT IS
FINE.
AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE IN JAIL
FOR FACILITATING THE INCESTUOUS
MARRIAGE OF A 14 YEAR OLD.
WHICH AGAIN, THAT IS A VIEW YOU
CAN HAVE.
I THINK IT IS REALLY WEIRD, AND
UNNERVING.
JUST ME.
IN A WAY, TUCKER GOT HIS WISH.
IN 2010, JUST CONVICTION WAS
ACTUALLY OVERTURNED.
SO, HE WAS AHEAD OF THE CURVE
THERE.
BUT THEN, UNFORTUNATELY, ONE
YEAR LATER HE WAS SENTENCED TO
LIFE IN PRISON AFTER A JURY
FOUND HIM GUILTY OF RAPING A 15 YEAR OLD, AND A 12 YEAR OLD.
YEAR OLD, AND A 12 YEAR OLD.
SO, I THINK PEOPLE ARE RIGHTLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LEGALIZE
CHILD MARRIAGE.
I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT BEING SUCH
A GREAT DEFENDER OF CHILDREN
THAT SENATOR MARSHALL BLACKBURN
OF TENNESSEE OF ALL PEOPLE,
AFTER THAT BIG STAR TURN IN
THOSE HEARINGS, IN THE VERY
STAGE WHERE THIS IS BEING
PROPOSED WOULD BE LOSING HER
MIND ABOUT THIS BILL WHEN IT IS
SO GLARING AND OBVIOUS.
GIVEN OF COURSE THE WAY SHE
LOST HER MIND DURING THOSE
JACKSON HEARINGS.
BUT, AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL,
NOTHING IN PUBLIC.
WE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO HER
OFFICE TODAY TO GET HER
THOUGHTS ON THE PROSPECTIVE
BILL AND WHEN SHE THOUGHT ABOUT
CHILD MARRIAGE.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK.
WE ARE, YOU WOULD TAKE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HIT THAT
SOFTBALL, DON'T YOU THINK?
BUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
REPORTING ABOUT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IN TENNESSEE.
IN FACT, IT HAS GENERATED SOME
PRETTY NEGATIVE HEADLINES FOR
OBVIOUS REASONS.
I MEAN, THE CHILD BRIDE BILL
DOES NOT SOUND GREAT, DOES?
IT JUST TODAY, TWO WEEKS AFTER
THE TENNESSEE REPUBLICANS
ADMITTED THE BILL HAVE NO
EXPLICIT AGE REQUIREMENTS, THEY
PASSED AN UNMANNED MEANT TO THE
BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE BOTH
PARTIES TO BE 18 OR OLDER
BEFORE GETTING MARRIED.
WELL, GOOD.
IT TOOK A BIT OF WORK, RIGHT?
EVEN THOUGH IT IS ITS SPONSOR,
LEATHERWOOD, THOUGHT IT WAS NOT
VERY NECESSARY.
>> MY POSITION IS THAT THE BILL
WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED MINORS
TO BE ABLE TO GET MARRIED
BECAUSE OF CONTRACT AND SO
FORTH, BUT I CAN SEE AND
UNDERSTAND HOW THAT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD.
>> AGAIN, ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
TO BE CLEAR, IT IS A GOOD
THING.
IT IS GOOD TENNESSEE
REPUBLICANS ARE NOT LEGALIZING
CHILD MARRIAGE.
IT IS BAD THAT IT BASICALLY
TOOK WEEKS AND PUBLIC OUTCRY
FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT.
AGAIN, THE VERY PARTY THAT
CLAIMS TO BE VERY CONCERNED
WITH PROTECTING CHILDREN RIGHT
NOW, THAT IS ACCUSING THEIR
ENEMIES OF BEING LITERAL
PEDOPHILES WROTE A BILL THAT
APPARENTLY WOULD HAVE ALLOWED
CHILDREN TO GET MARRIED, AND