After a Bernie Sanders-supporting, Republican-hating gunman attempted to slaughter GOP Congressmen, CBS This Morning host Charlie Rose on Thursday wondered if it was Donald Trump who needed to show "civility." Talking to Republican Congressman Gary Palmer about violence at the congressional baseball practice, Rose suggested, “Do we begin with leadership from the White House, in terms of trying to cool down things and trying to create more civility and trying to create a more common ground?”
The co-host noted, “It is said that the Democrats at their playing field were actually praying when they heard about the shooting on the Republican side.” Co-host Gayle King, unsurprisingly, used the shooting to promote gun control.
She pushed the Alabama Congressman:
Do you think this will take on a different conversation about gun control and guns in this country? Your governor [sic], the governor of Virginia said yesterday, Terry McAuliffe, "We should have that conversation. Now is not the time." I think many people thought after Sandy Hook things would change and unfortunately very little seems to have changed.
King is just recycling her same talking points. On June 14, 2016, she used nearly the same language while talking to then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson:
But it does raise the question again about gun control. I keep wondering what it's going to take....What will it take to move the needle when it comes to gun control? People thought it would be Sandy Hook.
A transcript is below:
CBS This Morning
6/15/17
7:13:34 to[Palmer describes what he saw.]
...
GAYLE KING: Congressman Palmer, we're all trying to process what happened yesterday. I think many people are still reeling from it. And now come reports that it might have been politically motivated. This man apparently was unhappy with the Republican Party and said many disparaging things. What do you think when you hear about that? What needs to happen based on the conversation that is happening in the country right now?
REP. GARY PALMER (R-Alabama): I think our republic's in danger, Gayle. I think we're fraying at the edges. There’s extremes on both sides and I'm been hearing some reports of what this gentleman had posted on his Facebook page, and it's not that different from some of the things we're hearing from other people. So we have got to tone down the rhetoric. I think it has to begin with us, both parties. But it's got to come from media. It's got to come from other people who are speaking to the country. And particularly in the social media.
JEFF GLOR: Congressman, that's a pretty serious thing to say the republic is in danger and the country is fraying at the edges. Do you think it starts in Washington though? Does it start with social media? Where does — What concrete steps need to be taken many your estimation?
PALMER: I think we've got to lead by example. Obviously Republicans and Democrats differ on issues, but I think we can have a civil discussion.
CHARLIE ROSE: It is said that the Democrats at their playing field were actually praying when they heard about the shooting on the Republican side. Teddy Roosevelt used to call the White House the bully pulpit. Do we begin with leadership from the White House, in terms of trying to cool down things and trying to create more civility and trying to create a more common ground?
PALMER: I think it begins with me. It begins with my colleagues. I think all of us have a stake
in this and every one of us need to take responsibility if for what we say and how we say it.KING: Do you think this will take on a different conversation about gun control and guns in this country? Your governor, the governor of Virginia said yesterday, Terry McAuliffe, “We should have that conversation. Now is not the time.” I think many people thought after Sandy Hook things would change and unfortunately very little seems to have changed.
PALM: Well, all I know is first of all, governor McAuliffe got his stats wrong and used a stat for the 93 violent deaths a dau. That’s inaccurate in the context he was using it. As a gun owner, I wish I had one yesterday.
ROSE: You wish you'd had a gun yesterday so you could have fired back?
PALMER: Yes, Charlie. I would have liked to have a firearm. I think Trent Kelly would have. there are a number of others that wish we would have been able to defend ourselves and come to the aid of the Capitol police who were extraordinary.
ROSE: Congressman, thank you for joining us.
