On Tuesday, MSNBC hosts Nicolle Wallace and Chris Jansing both picked up on misleading statistics trying to link high crime levels to Republicans. Without informing viewers that even Republican-leaning states have crime-ridden cities run by Democrats, both anchors recited a list of the top 10 states by crime rate in which most of the states are run by Republicans statewide.
Speaking with gun control activist Fred Guttenberg on Deadline: White House, Wallace brought up the topic: "When you look at Republicans running on crime, the most deadly places to live in America -- the places where gun crime is the worst, where you have the greatest risk of dying, are all states run by Republicans. So I just don't understand how we communicate that in the two weeks left to go before the midterms."
Guttenberg accused Republicans of promoting a "big lie" on the crime issue, and blamed them for more shootings:
Listen, the crime argument is the other big lie, and, you know, let's talk about Uvalde. Those families have been heroic because they lost what they love. You can look at a state like Texas, and every legislative decision they've made in the past bunch of years to weaken gun safety laws, and draw a straight line from that to DNA kits going home with parents. It is because of them. They did it. It is the reason Texas is a deadly state.
He then claimed that opponents of gun control are "indoctrinate" and should be ignored:
Here's where I'm at, Nicolle -- 37 percent of this country, they are indoctrinated. They are radicalized. I am not changing their mind. But, you know what, I believe the rest of this country does care. I believe they do care about safety. I believe they are horrified by DNA test kits, and I believe they want to see President Biden do more.
Guttenberg is so far to the left on the issue that after CNN announced a right-leaning hire to help them analyze the gun issue, the liberal activist threatened to stop appearing on the network.
Wallace then followed up:
Ten states with the highest gun rate deaths -- according to the CDC, Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Missouri, Alabama, Alaska, New Mexico, Arkansas, South Carolina and Tennessee. Now, I didn't have time to get to the websites of all the state officials, but I'm sure many of them are running on crime if they're up in two weeks. How do you undo the lies that are told about the threat Democrats pose when it comes to crime when the 10 states where the highest where the gun death rates are -- are -- are run by Republicans.
Over at HotAir.com, Buck Sexton recently responded to a similar argument against Republicans made by liberal New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, with Sexton noting that the crime-ridden areas in Republican states tend to be run by Democrats, and citing a Washington Post op-ed by Marc Thiessen..
A few hours earlier, speaking with MSNBC contributor Cornell Belcher on her eponymous afternoon show, Chris Jansing fretted: "Here's the thing, Cornell. We know that violent crime is up in many places, but we also know that seven out of the top 10 states with the worst violent crime rates are run by Republicans. So why do Democrats seem to be losing this issue so badly? Not 'seeming' to -- polls show they are."
And last Friday, as she spoke with MSNBC contributor Michael Steele, she similarly related: "I was looking at the statistics. Out of the states with the top 10 violent crime rates from 2020, seven are run by Republicans." She then posed: "We know that there's a message there that Democrats have, but they seem to be shying away from it. How are Republicans turning around what would seem on their face to be the facts that are against them?"
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Transcripts follow:
MSNBC's Deadline: White House
October 25, 2022
5:03 p.m. Eastern
NICOLLE WALLACE: When you look at Republicans running on crime, the most deadly places to live in America -- the places where gun crime is the worst, where you have the greatest risk of dying, are all states run by Republicans. So I just don't understand how we communicate that in the two weeks left to go before the midterms.
FRED GUTTENBERG, DAUGHTER OF PARKLAND SCHOOL SHOOTING VICTIM: Listen, the crime argument is the other big lie, and, you know, let's talk about Uvalde. Those families have been heroic because they lost what they love. You can look at a state like Texas, and every legislative decision they've made in the past bunch of years to weaken gun safety laws, and draw a straight line from that to DNA kits going home with parents. It is because of them. They did it. It is the reason Texas is a deadly state.
And so I'll just say this. You know, just 15 minutes ago on your show, you were showing some of those showing up at the polls with guns because they misinterpret what their right is. And they use the guns to intimidate. You also talked about, you know, where we are as a country with Eddie (Glaude) just before, who's always brilliant. Here's where I'm at, Nicolle -- 37 percent of this country, they are indoctrinated. They are radicalized. I am not changing their mind. But, you know what, I believe the rest of this country does care. I believe they do care about safety. I believe they are horrified by DNA test kits, and I believe they want to see President Biden do more.
(...)
WALLACE: Ten states with the highest gun rate deaths -- according to the CDC, Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Missouri, Alabama, Alaska, New Mexico, Arkansas, South Carolina and Tennessee. Now, I didn't have time to get to the websites of all the state officials, but I'm sure many of them are running on crime if they're up in two weeks. How do you undo the lies that are told about the threat Democrats pose when it comes to crime when the 10 states where the highest where the gun death rates are -- are -- are run by Republicans.
GUTTENBERG: Well, but, I think, listen, the reporting you're talking about was so important. And we have a few weeks where hopefully everyone in the media really, really shares the truth because the truth is, per capita, those states are deadly. You have more homes per capita with more guns and more gun violence.
(...)
MSNBC's Chris Jansing Reports
October 21, 2022
1:05 p.m. Eastern
CHRIS JANSING: So can I ask you this, though, Michael, because I was looking at the statistics. Out of the states with the top 10 violent crime rates from 2020, seven are run by Republicans. Those were the ones that were mentioned in that exchange from Oklahoma. We know that there's a message there that Democrats have, but they seem to be shying away from it. How are Republicans turning around what would seem on their face to be the facts that are against them?
MICHAEL STEELE, MSNBC CONTRIBUTOR: Because they're playing in an old notion that crime is committed by people of color -- crime occurs in areas where people of color live. Crime doesn't occur in white suburban America -- crime occurs in the inner city.
(...)
MSNBC's Chris Jansing Reports
October 25, 2022
1:07 p.m. Eastern
CHRIS JANSING: Here's the thing, Cornell. We know that violent crime is up in many places, but we also know that seven out of the top 10 states with the worst violent crime rates are run by Republicans. So why do Democrats seem to be losing this issue so badly? Not "seeming" to -- polls show they are.
CORNELL BELCHER, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, you know, look, historically, you know, new flash, Republicans have had an advantage on the issue of fighting crime. News flash: Republicans have also had an issue advantage going back to when I was polling at the DNC for Governor Dean in 2006 around the economy. But it is about, sort of, connecting the dots for Democrats on crime. When you connect the dots with the issue of guns, Democrats have a big advantage on guns right now. So there's -- we look for this silver bullet variable, and, yeah, Republicans want to make that conversation all about crime, and Democrats would be foolish to take the bait and make that conversation completely about crime. He or she who defines the debate is typically the one that's going to win the debate.
Democrats want to sort of pitch this forward to focus and talk about the future -- talk about gun safety -- talk about freedom and reproductive rights. And Republicans want to make this about inflation and crime because that benefits -- that clearly benefits them. It's just basic campaign tactics, but I will tell you right now, the issue of guns is different now than I've ever seen it because it's typically been an issue where Democrats have not wanted to touch, and has broken solidly for Republicans, and Republicans vote around the issue, Now, especially with the young people -- and particularly I give a lot of credit to the young people in Florida who started mobilizing around this. This issue of guns and gun safety is an issue that is now breaking solidly for Democrats.
