New Zealand is still mourning after the horrific attacks on two mosques in Christchurch. As news and social media deal with their influence on the shooter, there were plenty of comments on CNN's "State of the Union." Let's begin with the US Ambassador to New Zealand, former Massachusetts senator and part-time male model Scott Brown. Jake Tapper pressed Ambassador Brown about New Zealand's prime minister's request that Trump show support for the Muslim community. After Brown affirmed HIS stance & support for the Muslim community, Tapper asked a very illuminating question:
TAPPER: Have you spoken with President Trump about this attack?
BROWN: I speak to the, obviously, the White House, the Situation Room and all parties to be on a very regular basis. There's no need for me to specifically speak to the president because I'm here as his representative and do what I have been doing, which is making sure that whatever the new Zealand government needs, including the prime minister or any of the other agencies, we make sure it's available.
So the answer is "NO," Ambassador Brown. Apparently while Trump hasn't had time to speak with his own ambassador to New Zealand, he's had time to feign ignorance that white supremacy is on the rise and trash the late Senator John McCain. Tapper continued:
TAPPER: Would it make your job easier, though? The prime minister has specifically said to the president that she would like to see him say something to address the Muslim community. There are American Muslims very concerned, Muslims worldwide concerned about this horrific anti-Muslim massacre. Would it make your job easier? Would you like to see the president specifically say that he is standing with our Muslim brothers and sisters, exactly the way you did?
BROWN: […] The biggest priority is to deal with the — make sure that love over hate, reach out to your local communities and do the things important to make this country heal.
King doesn't realize he's cheering for Iowa to get shot. Fantasizing against constituents to "own the libs"
Thankfully Karen Finney was on hand:
FINNEY: That's a very shameful comparison to make, Congressman. I'm disappointed you'd use this moment to do that. A couple of things. Steve King has, for years, made all sorts of horrendous comments that have gone without, you know, just a deafening silence from your party. And I actually think this is a moment to lift this up. I mean, you are correct, Jake. The president did not specifically call out white nationalism and the way that we have to combat hate and sexism and bigotry and anti-gay bias, you name it we have to name it. We have to say it. We have to have that courage.
But the last word on this belongs to Shahid, who explained perfectly why the GOP, Trump and segments of America have a hard time calling this out or labeling white nationalist attacks what they are: Terrorism.
SHAHID: For years after 9/11 we've heard this call of moderate Muslim leading (ph) to condemn radical Islam terror but I don't think moderate Republicans are doing enough to hold President Trump accountable for his rhetoric. And at the same time if you look at what's peddled on Fox News, on Breitbart, you have these billionaires like Rupert Murdoch and Robert Mercer. Any time you read Breitbart or Fox News, it's just conspiracy theories about how Muslims, immigrants, people of color are to blame for this country's and the world's economic problems and no one is standing up to any of these people, no one is standing up to Donald Trump. No one is standing up to Rupert Murdoch.
Chuck Todd said some bullshit too, for a change, but Stephen will address that later. Until next week!
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