On CBS’s 60 Minutes last Sunday, anchor Lesley Stahl wore her bias on her sleeve when she conducted her sitdown interview with Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. In stark contrast to the foot massage that was given to Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman earlier in the day on CBS Sunday Morning, this interview was more of a brawl between Greene and Stahl.
Deciding to jump head first into the nasty questioning, Stahl read off a list of words that she claimed people have used against Greene. “We looked up some words that have been said about you,” Stahl informed her.
Among the list of words were apparently “crazy,” “q-clown,” “looney tune,” “unhinged,” and “moron.”
To her credit, Greene brushed it off as sounding “like the average troll in my Twitter feed, so I don't really care.”
Moving right along, Stahl pointed out how “people say” Greene was “Trump in high heels.”
Greene admitted that she “didn't intentionally style [herself] after President Trump" but "can see how people draw those similarities.”
“We both come from the same industry, construction. I also have pretty much a plain-speaking style and so does he,” Greene said.
Later in the segment, Stahl harangued Greene on the upcoming fight over raising the debt limit and demanded Greene compromise by raising taxes. This is how that back and forth went. (Click "expand"):
STAHL: Would you be willing to vote for compromise? In other words, raise some taxes?
GREENE: I don't think we have a revenue problem in Washington. We have a spending problem.
STAHL: You know something, that's glib. That's glib. What does that mean? The two sides have to come together and hammer it out.
GREENE: Cut spending.
STAHL: Both sides.
GREENE: Both sides need to cut spending.
STAHL: Where do you want to cut it?
GREENE: COVID bailout money and a lot of green energy spending.
STAHL: But are you willing to let us go into default?
GREENE: No. I've always said I wouldn't do that.
STAHL: So would you compromise?
GREENE: It depends.
STAHL: On taxes.
GREENE: No, I'm not raising taxes.
Apparently, it's considered "glib" to point out the indisputable truth that the federal government doesn't have a revenue problem, but rather a massive spending problem.
Towards the end of the interview, Stahl brought up Greene's comments where she called the Democrat Party the party of pedophiles. The left-wing host took issue with that characterization despite there being plenty of evidence to make Greene's case.
"The Democrats are a party of pedophiles," Stahl questioned Greene, repeating her past statement. To her credit, Greene didn't back down or apologize. Instead, she doubled down: "I would definitely say so. They support grooming children."
Stahl lost it and threw a tantrum: "They are not pedophiles! Why would you say that?"
"Democrats support--even Joe Biden, the President himself, supports children being sexualized and having transgender surgeries. Sexualizing children is what pedophiles do to children," Greene explained.
This left Stahl speechless. "Wow, okay," she huffed while rolling her eyes at the Congresswoman.
Finally, showing how she has no sense of irony, Stahl lectured Greene: "Can't you fight for what you believe in without all that name calling and without the personal attacks?"
Greene exposed Stahl's hypocrisy:
I would ask the same question to the other side, because all they've done is call me names and insult me nonstop since I've been here, Lesley. They call me racist. They call me anti-semitic which is not true. I'm not calling anyone names. I'm calling out the truth basically.
Did Stahl demand Joe Biden stop his name-calling and personal attacks when he called half the country "semi-fascists?"
This nasty interview on 60 Minutes was made possible by Fidelity. Their information is linked.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
CBS’s 60 Minutes
4/2/2023
7:06:43 p.m. EasternLESLEY STAHL: We looked up some words that have been said about you.
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: Okay.
STAHL: Crazy, q-clown, looney tune, unhinged, moron. Pretty ugly stuff.
GREENE: Looks like the average troll in my Twitter feed so I don't really care.
STAHL: You're used to it?
GREENE: I don't let name calling bother me or offend me. I just don't.
STAHL: How much have you styled yourself after Donald Trump?
GREENE: Hmm.
STAHL: People say that you are Trump in high-heels.
GREENE: I didn't intentionally style myself after President Trump, but I can see how people draw those similarities. We both come from the same industry, construction. I also have pretty much a plain-speaking style and so does he.
STAHL: But also he's often in attack mode and you appear to be.
GREENE: Yeah. I think, but I think our government deserves it, they don't really deserve to be respected that much.
STAHL: Including for her, the President. While many consider Marjorie Taylor Greene's behavior outlandish, even thuggish, MAGA activists and right-wing media eat it up.
UNIDENTIFIED CPAC ATTENDEE: God bless you guys and keep up the good work.
GREENE: Thank you.
STAHL: In just two years, Greene at age 48 has moved from the fringe of the party to the front row.
GREENE: The House will be in order.
STAHL: Without changing either her style or her views.
[...]
STAHL: Would you be willing to vote for compromise? In other words, raise some taxes?
GREENE: I don't think we have a revenue problem in Washington. We have a spending problem.
STAHL: You know something, that's glib. That's glib. What does that mean? The two sides have to come together and hammer it out.
GREENE: Cut spending.
STAHL: Both sides.
GREENE: Both sides need to cut spending.
STAHL: Where do you want to cut it?
GREENE: COVID bailout money and a lot of green energy spending.
STAHL: But are you willing to let us go into default?
GREENE: No. I've always said I wouldn't do that.
STAHL: So would you compromise?
GREENE: It depends.
STAHL: On taxes.
GREENE: No, I'm not raising taxes.
[...]
STAHL: And things she says that are over the top like: The Democrats are a party of pedophiles.
GREENE: I would definitely say so. They support grooming children.
STAHL: They are not pedophiles. Why would you say that?
GREENE: Democrats, Democrats support -- even Joe Biden, the President himself, supports children being sexualized and having transgender surgeries. Sexualizing children is what pedophiles do to children.
STAHL: Wow, okay. But my question really is, can't you fight for what you believe in without all that name calling and without the personal attacks?
GREENE: Well, I would ask the same question to the other side, because all they've done is call me names and insult me nonstop since I've been here, Lesley. They call me racist. They call me anti-semitic which is not true. I'm not calling anyone names. I'm calling out the truth basically.
STAHL: Pedophile?
