CNN commentator and former New York representative Lee Zeldin made a mess of a simple question about political violence before the first presidential debate.
When CNN’s Karen Hunt asked Zeldin if he thought donald trump was “to live up to what they say, that leaders should use rhetoric that discourages political violence,” Zeldin, a former candidate for governor of New York, spoke in circles around the issue, evidently still tied to the party’s dictate that Trump’s conduct is beyond reproach.
“Well, listen, there’s a lot I would say, you know, as far as President Trump, what he’s said, things President Biden has said, maybe you know, what my particular style is, but President Trump is a fighter. You know, he’s, he’s on offense. I’m sure he’ll be on the attack again on Thursday… Again, not just talking about what, me, my preference is for that positive, uplifting message. But I think a lot of people also want to see that contrast drawn out. And that’s a high risk. Talking about the president of the United States,” Zeldin said.
The act of verbal contortion, in addition to his blatant refusal to engage with the Trump administration long story of encouraging political violence, it was not exactly an incisive analysis.
And Zeldin, who ran unsuccessfully against current New York Governor Kathy Hochul to replace Andrew Cuomo, should know the implications of violent political rhetoric better than most; he was attacked while giving a speech during the 2022 campaign. Party loyalty, however, appears to have trumped first-hand experience.
