Former Mayor of Chicago and ex-Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel came on The View Monday to not only stump for Joe Biden but also to double down on the Democrat narrative that violent riots happening in major cities across the country, were nothing to worry about. Except co-host Meghan McCain wouldn’t let Emanuel off the hook by making him defend that “dangerous” narrative.
After Joy Behar ranted that Trump “sick[ing] federal troops on protesters in Portland” led to more violence, Rahm Emanuel backed up her assertion that Trump was only making things worse and he needed to let local police protect their communities. Emanuel downplayed the organized efforts of the anarchists using black-bloc tactics and coming with ammunition and molotov cocktails. Instead he claimed these “legitimate protests” were being “hijacked” by some “individuals” who want to create violence. But McCain pressed him on the Democrats’ dangerous defense of violence:
The protesters have set fire to a federal courthouse in Seattle. They've burned a juvenile detention center, construction sites. We're seeing reports of molotov cocktails being thrown at police officers. Lasers sent to blind them. There's this weird, I think, difference between the way conservatives are viewing this and Democrats are in the sense that I'm against violence no matter what. I'm for peaceful protesting, but the second you start burning things, destroying property, let alone murdering or shooting people, like happened in the CHOP Zone, I'm out. I do think there’s this weird narrative that if you somehow are against violence and you don't want your neighborhood looking like Portland, then you somehow aren’t for peaceful protesting and I think that's actually a really dangerous narrative for Democrats. Do you agree with me or disagree with me, and what do you think of the fracture between the left and the right on this?
While he didn’t go as far as some Democrat politicians and media hosts in calling the riots a right-wing conspiracy theory, he did complain Antifa was unfairly being made the “face of the protest” by conservatives.
After all, there were “moms” there, too!
RAHM EMANUEL: Meghan, here's what I would say is, you say protesters. There are moms out in Portland. There are other people legitimately raising questions about--
MCCAIN: There's also Antifa.
EMANUEL: That's right. Well that’s what i’m saying. I wouldn't paint a broad stroke is my short answer. There are people trying to hijack these legitimate protesters and create violence, and I think in the federal government shouldn't be making Antifa the face of the protest. Let the local law enforcement take the lead, and if they need federal assistance they’ll ask for it, like every other situation going back, and in this situation, understand the protesters that are asking America to live up to the promise of America and know that others, individuals, not a lot, but are trying to hijack these protests for their own violent needs and we need to separate them rather than paint in broad strokes.
MCCAIN: I mean, I get that, but it's getting more and more violent, and again it doesn't seem to be getting under control and you even see the Portland mayor backtracking on it.
As Emanuel continued to flounder, he then falsely suggested Seattle was now peaceful because the CHAZ/CHOP zone had been disbanded, when riots still continue:
EMANUEL: Seattle, a month ago, solved their problem without any federal assistance. I think it can be done.
MCCAIN: Mm-hmm.
EMANUEL There are forces. Democrats have to be honest, that aren't here for peaceful protest, and unfortunately the voices of the peaceful ones are now being receding and the more violent voices are coming forward. I think in a way that President Trump, if I may say, a little bit Machiavellian, wants to see happen. Whoopi?
After making that nasty assertion about President Trump, Emanuel awkwardly looked to Whoopi Goldberg for a way out. Whoopi had started to talk over McCain earlier in the exchange before letting McCain continue her questioning. Clearly Emanuel was eager to get out of the hot seat and so he asked Whoopi to step in, before McCain could ask another question.
This pro-Biden puff piece was sponsored by Carvana and Progressive.
You can read the transcript below:
The View
7/27/2020
MEGHAN MCCAIN: Hi, Rahm. I want to follow up with what you were talking about with Portland. The protesters have set fire to a federal courthouse in Seattle. They've burned a juvenile detention center, construction sites. We're seeing reports of molotov cocktails being thrown at police officers. Lasers sent to blind them. There's this weird, I think, difference between the way conservatives are viewing this and Democrats are in the sense that I'm against violence no matter what. I'm for peaceful protesting, but the second you start burning things, destroying property, let alone murdering or shooting people, like happened in the CHOP Zone, I'm out. I do think there’s this weird narrative that if you somehow are against violence and you don't want your neighborhood looking like Portland, then you somehow aren’t for peaceful protesting and I think that's actually a really dangerous narrative for Democrats. Do you agree with me or disagree with me, and what do you think of the fracture between the left and the right on this?
RAHM EMANUEL: Meghan, here's what I would say is, you say protesters. There are moms out in Portland. There are other people legitimately raising questions about--
MCCAIN: There's also Antifa.
EMANUEL: That's right. Well that’s what i’m saying. I wouldn't paint a broad stroke is my short answer. There are people trying to hijack these legitimate protesters and create violence, and I think in the federal government shouldn't be making antifa the face of the protest. Let the local law enforcement take the lead, and if they need federal assistance they’ll ask for it, like every other situation going back, and in this situation, understand the protesters that are asking America to live up to the promise of America and know that others, individuals, not a lot, but are trying to hijack these protests for their own violent needs and we need to separate them rather than paint in broad strokes.
MCCAIN: I mean, I get that, but it's getting more and more violent, and again it doesn't seem to be getting under control and you even see the Portland mayor backtracking on it.
EMANUEL: Seattle, a month ago, solved their problem without any federal assistance. I think it can be done.
MCCAIN: Mm-hmm.
MCCAIN: There are forces. Democrats have to be honest, that aren't here for peaceful protest, and unfortunately the voices of the peaceful ones are now being receding and the more violent voices are coming forward. I think in a way that President Trump, if I may say, a little bit Machiavellian, wants to see happen. Whoopi? I think --
WHOOPI: Yes.
