Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has a proposition for you: Vote Democratic this November or risk seeing our overheated political rhetoric go to the next level.
The California congresswoman made her pitch this week during an interview with CBS’ Stephen Colbert, who pointed to recent discussions about “lowering the temperature of political discourse.” He asked whether she had seen “evidence of that.”
“Well, I think when we win, you will see evidence of that,” Pelosi responded. “Because when we do win, we will have, as we open the new Congress, we will honor the vows of our founders, E pluribus unum, from many one. It’s OK to disagree in the marketplace of ideas, that’s exciting, but it is also important to find solutions that unify and not divide.”
In other words, let Democrats win and nobody gets hurt.
The House minority leader added, “We own the ground. We’re not yielding one grain of sand. Democrats will carry the House … It’s going to be a great night for America.”
If you think this is bad, consider the fact that the congresswoman is not even the first prominent Democrat to go down this road. Hillary Clinton beat Pelosi to the punch roughly three weeks ago.
“You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about,” Clinton told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Oct. 9. “That’s why I believe, if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and or the Senate, that’s when civility can start again. But until then, the only thing that the Republicans seem to recognize and respect is strength.”
The two-time failed presidential candidate continued, accusing Republicans of dirty tactics and campaign tricks.
“I remember what they did to me for 25 years – the falsehoods, the lies, which unfortunately people believe because the Republicans have put a lot of time, money, and effort in promoting them,” Clinton said. “So when you’re dealing with an ideological party that is driven by the lust for power, that is funded by corporate interests who want a government that does its bidding, it’s – you can be civil, but you can’t overcome what they intend to do unless you win elections.”
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, also said three weeks ago in reference to the mobs of protesters who had driven Republican officials from public spaces, “This is what happens.”
The message they’re conveying is clear, as summed up by my Washington Examiner colleague Michael Barone:
[…]
Until Democrats win, a Republican senator out raking leaves can expect to be attacked and have multiple ribs broken by an angry Democratic neighbor. The House Republican softball team cannot yet relax in the knowledge that some raging left-winger won’t start spraying gunfire over their practice field.
There’s a word for using force or threats to achieve a goal. It’s called “extortion.”
