Senator Tom Cotton (R.A.) finally stopped Tuesday’s CBS Mornings attempts to blame conservatives or Republicans for the brutal attack against Paul Pelosi. The attack was carried out by a drug-addict, mentally ill and former Green Party-supporting Nudist. Cotton calmly rebutted Tony Dokoupil’s repeated accusations during the six-plus minute interview to promote his book. He cited the left’s double standard in crime and political violence.
Dokoupil began his inquiry by asking what was his “reaction” to the alleged crime, seeing as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is “a fellow elected official.” Cotton quickly identified the problem and stated that “it’s an awful crime against Paul Pelosi.” He also said that he “wishes him the very best and a full recuperation” and called for “the [n ]…at] the assailant.”
Cotton stated that the suspect is reportedly illegally in the U.S. Cotton also said that “throw[ing] away” violent criminals should be the norm, regardless of whether it’s Mr. Pelosi or “any common criminal attacking someone”, regardless of their status.
Dokoupil tried to pin Cotton down but insisted that crimes against ordinary citizens (i.e. those without means to recover after such an attack) needed to be “separate[d] out” from “what seems to be politically-motivated crime.”
The junior senator from Arkansas was then asked “if the temperature in the nation is just too high, that the information is just to much and that we’re going see more, rather than less political violence going forward.”
Cotton was not having it and impliedly took aim at those suggesting that the early 2010s Tea Party caused it. He pointed out that Nancy Pelosi had passed ObamaCare and Kevin McCarthy, and that she also passed trillions of dollars worth of spending that caused inflation that led to this…apparent nudist activist entering their home.”
“Getting tough on crime is the best way to stop crimes such as these.” Cotton said that it is not possible to stop campaigning seven days before an election on legitimate public concerns.
Dokoupil insists that “[p]eople should continue campaigning on issues of public concern” and that there was “no discussion there”.
Dokoupil tried again to see if he would blame the GOP. Cotton didn’t take it personally and called out Senator Chuck Schumer, D-NY, for his violent rhetoric regarding Kavanaugh. He also said that if the same rules were applied as here, then he should be held accountable (click “expand”).
DOKOUPIL: Yes. It is important that people continue to campaign on public issues. There is no debate. To be clear, I don’t see any connection between the things said in this nation, in particular the denial of the results of the 2020 elections and the motivations, as you call them, of this mad man in Paul Pelosi’s house with the intent to attack the speaker. What is the connection between the political rhetoric of this individual and their actions?
COTTON: Tony, there is no connection. Chuck Schumer went to the Supreme Court and said that Brett Kavanaugh wouldn’t know what hit them if he issued rulings with which Chuck Schumer disagreed. What do you have? A left-wing hitman shows up at Brett Kavanaugh’s house to assassinate the victim. All of these crimes can be solved by getting tough on crime and throwing the book at criminals.
The interview lasted the second half of the interview and covered the book and Cotton’s possible presidential campaign in 2024. Cotton explained that Only the Strong: Reversing the Left’s Plot to Sabotage American Power was necessary because “[a]t worst, these progressives are ambivalent about America, and they’re openly hostile toward American power.”
Cotton also argued that 2024 is just like the 50-meter and 300 meter targets in rifle firing, the first represents the midterms in seven day and should be of immediate concern. The one further down can wait.
Advertisers like Jeep and The Hartford made it possible for CBS to continue to blame conservatives on the behavior of a mentally disturbed former Green Party member. Follow these links to view their contact information on the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back Page.
Click “expand” to see the relevant CBS transcripts from November 1.
CBS Mornings
November 1, 2022
8:00 a.m. Eastern (TEASE)
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Senator Tom Cotton]
GAYLE KING: Republican Senator Tom Cotton will discuss the heated rhetoric leading up to the midterms as well as his new book, which argues for conservatives.
(….)
Eastern, 8:02 a.m.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE] America Decides Campaign ’22, March to the Midterms; Senator Tom Cotton on Key Midterm Races and New Book “Only the Strong.”
TONY DOKOUPIL – We’ll start this hour by talking a bit more about the midterm elections. They are exactly one week away. We’re going to have an hour with Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who has been supporting his party’s nominees on the campaign trail. This includes Senator candidates Hershel in Georgia and Dr. Mehmet in Pennsylvania. Senator Cotton has a new book. It’s called Only the Strong, Reversing the Left’s Plot to Sabotage American Power. Cotton examines decades of U.S. History and argues that progressives and then Democrats have weakened America and done so deliberately. Senator Cotton joins us now. Senator, good morning. Congratulations on launching a book into the world. It was not an easy task. I want to read the book. But, I want to start with this news from Paul Pelosi, the Speaker of Congress, one of your fellow elected officials. Her husband was attacked and her home was broken into. According to authorities, the perpetrator wanted her to possibly break her kneecaps. She was wheeled into Congress to show that. What was your reaction to all this?
SENATOR TOM COTTON, R-AR: Tony, thank you for having me here. It’s a horrible crime against Paul Pelosi. I wish him all the best and a full healing. We should also throw the book at this assailant. I would also point out that he was in the country illegally. If we had stopped him from entering the country illegally and kicked out those with expired visas, he wouldn’t have been able to commit this crime. This is just one example of what we should do with violent criminals. We should do the exact same thing to the person who attempted to assassinate Brett Kavanaugh. All those protestors who are demonstrating in violation of federal law and outside the homes of justices should be treated the same. Not only speakers of the Supreme Court justices or members of the House, but also any common criminal who attacks, rapes, or murders someone should be dealt with. We must crack down on this crime and take tough action against it in the country.
DOKOUPIL: Senator —
COTTON: This is the solution to all these horrible crimes.
DOKOUPIL: — senator, for the moment I want to separate out everyday crime and what seems to be politically-motivated crime and get your thoughts on whether the temperature in the country is just too high, the information is just too much, and that we’re going to see more, not less political violence going forward. That’s the problem. That concern has been voiced by members of your party.
COTTON: You’ve seen insane lunatics attack both Democrats AND Republicans. I don’t believe John Boehner 12 year ago pointed out that Nancy Pelosi had passed ObamaCare, or Kevin McCarthy now pointing to the fact that she had passed trillions of dollars worth of spending that caused inflation that led to this, you may remember, nudist activist breaking into their homes. It is best to get tough on crime to stop such crimes. It is not possible to stop campaigning seven days before an election on legitimate public concerns.
DOKOUPIL: Yes. It is important that people continue to campaign on public issues. There is no debate. To be clear, I don’t see any connection between the things said in this nation, in particular the denial of the results of the 2020 elections and the motivations, as you call them, of this mad man in Paul Pelosi’s house with the intent to attack the speaker. What is the connection between the political rhetoric of this individual and their actions?
COTTON: Tony, there is no connection. Chuck Schumer went to the Supreme Court and said that Brett Kavanaugh wouldn’t know what hit them if he issued rulings with which Chuck Schumer disagreed. What do you have? A left-wing hitman shows up at Brett Kavanaugh’s house to assassinate the victim. All of these crimes can be solved by getting tough on crime and throwing the book at criminals.
DOKOUPIL: Senator, let’s get to the book, Only the Strong. This book argues that Democrats are not making the same mistakes as Republicans, but are plotting against America and trying to weaken America. It is a design, a decline by design. Why would you want to publish this book right now?
COTTON: After the Afghanistan fiasco last yea, Tony, so many Arkansans questioned me: How — how did this happen? How could we lose to a medieval group of savages from Afghanistan? I wanted to explain why progressive left seems to be weakening the country by going back to the origins and Woodrow Wilson, who was the most ideological man ever to become president. These progressives are at best ambivalent towards America and openly hostile toward American power. They are threatening the foundation of American power, a strong, fierce military, a free and prosperous economy, freedom to move around the world, American energy production, and sovereignty at our borders. This is not something that happened overnight. It’s not bad luck. Joe Biden, for example, stated in his 2020 campaign that he would end American fossil fuel production. This is why gas costs almost $4 per gallon. This is why some people will struggle to heat their homes this year in certain parts of the country. I wanted to explain why this is happening, what the left’s ideological ambitions are driving it, and why I also laid out a roadmap for how Americans can recover.
DOKOUPIL: Senator —
COTTON: — power.
DOKOUPIL — Senator, there are a lot of things at stake in these midterm election and there will be points or counterpoints to everything you just said there. But I — I am curious about 2024, as I know that you have. You want to win in 2022, then take back the White House. Your resume — Harvard-Harvard and U.S. Army 101st, Ranger and now this book — is attracting a lot of attention. Many people are thinking that he wants it in 2024. Are you right?
COTTON: Tony, thank you for asking the question. I’ll just say, as one of my drill marshals used the phrase in basic rifle marksmanship: There’s a 50-meter target and there are 300-meter targets. The 300-meter target can be hit in time, but the 50-meter target is still seven days away. After the election, it will be a good time to look forward to 2024. To explain to fellow Americans what it would require to turn around the country, what it would mean to restore American power, and stop the decline we’ve witnessed under Barack Obama and Joe Biden, I wanted to write this book. It’s a book I hope everyone will enjoy, regardless of whether they are in public office or simply want to see better elected officials.
DOKOUPIL: Alright, Senator Tom Cotton. I believe people heard you clearly, and are waiting for your shot in 2024. The book is Only the Strong, and it’s currently on sale. Thank you, Senator Cotton.
GAYLE KING : Thank you Tony.
