During an appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told Bill Maher civilization as we know would be in real trouble if the Republican Party took control of the Senate in November. On radio this morning, Glenn wondered how Democrats constantly get away with this sort of hyperbolic rhetoric.
Maher asked Pelosi why the American people should care about the midterm elections. Poll after poll shows dissatisfaction with Congress is at an all time high as partisan politics and gridlock continuously get in the way of governance.
“What do I care if [Democrats] lose the Senate,” Maher asked.
“It would be very important for the Democrats to retain control of the Senate,” Pelosi said. “Civilization as we know it today would be in jeopardy if Republicans win the Senate.”
Glenn was disgusted by the comment, which he ranked as one of the “craziest” things he has heard from Pelosi, but Pat and Stu were not convinced.
“Was this the craziest thing you've ever heard,” Glenn asked.
“From her specifically,” Stu asked. “I don't know… She said there is nothing, ‘the cupboard was bare.’ There was nothing to cut in the entire government.”
“She also said her favorite word is ‘the word,’” Pat added.
While Pelosi’s assessment may come across as a fear-mongering tactic, she reiterated Democrats are the party of hope not fear.
“Nobody comes about to vote to say ‘thank you,’” Maher said. “The people who get health care now — they’re the people least likely to vote. The people who come out to vote are the angry people.”
“That’s true,” Pelosi responded. “Fear is a motivator, and we are not fear-mongers. The Democrats are messengers of hope, and that’s what we will continue to be.”
“We're fear-mongers,” Glenn said Republicans. “But civilization as we know it [is over], if the other party – who's going to do exactly the same thing that we're doing – wins.”
Front page image courtesy of the AP