In lock step with his network's anti-gun push, CNN analyst David Gergen praised Bill Clinton's "guts" for standing up for gun control, on Tuesday's Anderson Cooper 360.
"Listen, there was a president named Bill Clinton who had the guts to stand up on these issues," said Gergen of Clinton's push for gun regulations as president. "Three laws. And he got re-elected." [Video below the break. Audio here.]
"You know, he showed some leadership. We don't see that today," Gergen said, taking a swipe at today's Democratic party. Fellow correspondent John King had just explained how Democrats had stepped away from gun control a decade ago, considering it politically risky.
Gergen was not alone with his sentiments. Just a day prior, CNN contributor John Avlon had praised Clinton's "courage" on the issue as well.
"Bill Clinton took on the NRA in 1994. We passed an assault weapons ban. It lapsed 10 years later. So there is an example of profiles in courage," Avlon said on Monday's Erin Burnett OutFront.
A transcript of the segment, which aired on July 24 on Anderson Cooper 360 at 8:07 p.m. EDT, is as follows:
ANDERSON COOPER: David, it does seem like the conversation on guns is just frozen.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN senior political analyst: It's terrible. Listen, there was a president named Bill Clinton who had the guts to stand up on these issues. He did it in 1993, signing the Brady Law. 1994, he added another law, an assault weapons ban. And then he came up with a smart (Inaudible) on a bullet law. Three laws. And he got re-elected. You know, he showed some leadership. We don't see that today.
