Debbie Wasserman-Schultz

Key Dem: 'Wrong' To Say GOP Waging A War On Women

Sahil Kapur | April 8, 2012, 11:05AM

Democrats didn't have their message straight on Sunday.

In separate segments on CNN's State of the Union, two top Democrats differed on whether Republicans are waging a "war on women," a central line of attack that Democrats have reaped big political gains for amid the GOP's recent push to limit access to contraception.

DNC chair and Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, pressed on whether it's fair to accuse Republicans of waging a war on women, didn't concede an inch.

"The focus of the Republican Party on turning back the clock for women really is something that's unacceptable and shows how callous and insensitive they are towards women's priorities," she said.

Since 2011, Republicans have pushed various bills that would restrict access to abortion and women's health services. The DNC chairwoman cited those efforts as well as the GOP's opposition to legislation establishing equal pay for women as evidence that the party's policies are antithetical to women's interests.

Later on the same show, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and an influential African-American voice, strongly pushed back on his own party's line of attack.

When Clever, a United Methodist pastor, lit into the GOP's claim that President Obama is anti-religion, social conservative Ralph Reed retorted, "Congressman, is it similarly wrong, then, for Democrats to say that the Republican Party is engaged in a war on women? Is that wrong?"

"Yes, that is wrong. And I've never said it, not one time," Cleaver responded. "I condemn it. If it's a Democrat, if it's my cousin, it's wrong."

"We have got to quit exaggerating our political differences," he said.

Dems, including Obama, have enjoyed a significant boost among women voters in recent polls while hammering the message that Republicans are waging a "war on women." Democrats have so far been able to press that attack without dissent from within, but remarks like Cleaver's could give the GOP an opening to push back.

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Topics: CNN, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Emanuel Cleaver, GOP, war on women

Allen West

Allen West Threatens To Quit Congressional Black Caucus Over Attacks On GOP, While Attacking Dems

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2011, 3:49PM

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), the hard-line conservative Tea Partier who is currently the only Republican member of the Congressional Black Caucus, is now saying that he might quit the group -- if they don't condemn remarks made by fellow member Rep. André Carson (D-IN) attacking Republicans.

"Some of these folks in Congress right now would love to see us as second-class citizens," Carson told a CBC event in Miami. "Some of them in Congress right now with this Tea Party movement would love to see you and me -- hanging on a tree."

This has West -- who has made no small amount of racially inflammatory remarks about Democrats and African-American voters -- calling for the CBC to denounce Carson, who holds a leadership position as CBC whip.

"It is unconscionable when a fellow CBC Member, Congressman Andre Carson, comes to South Florida and claims that some in the Tea Party would love to see black Americans 'hanging on a tree,'" West wrote Wednesday in a letter to CBC chair Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), which he also released to the media. "It is appalling to hear another CBC colleague, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, say 'The Tea Party can go straight to hell.'

"As Chairman of the CBC, I believe it is incumbent on you to both condemn these types of hate-filled comments, and to disassociate the Congressional Black Caucus from these types of remarks. Otherwise, I will have to seriously reconsider my membership within the organization."

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Topics: Allen West, Andre Carson, Congressional Black Caucus, Emanuel Cleaver, Maxine Waters

Emanuel Cleaver

Emanuel Cleaver On Giffords Shooting: 'We've Got To Watch What We Say' (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | January 9, 2011, 11:55AM

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that politicians need to think about their rhetoric in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and 19 others (including a federal judge) in Arizona, "or this darkness will never ever be overcome with light."

"The hostility is here -- people may want to deny it -- it's real, and if we don't stop it soon, I think this nation is going to be bitterly divided to the point where I fear for the future of our children," Cleaver said.

Cleaver was on a panel on the program along with Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID).

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Across the Nation, Vigils Held for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords]

"We've got to watch what we say," Cleaver said. "Congress meets a lot, but it rarely comes together," Cleaver said.

"They say I'm right, and you're evil, and that is what's damaging this country," Cleaver said.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Dem Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot In Arizona]

"We're all in this for the same reasons, to make America a better place," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) said. Wasserman Schultz suggested that Democrats and Republicans should have an event or retreat to come together.

Meet the Press also aired comments that former President Bill Clinton made on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing about the use of political rhetoric.

"What we learned from Oklahoma City is not that we should gag each other or that we should hold less passion for the positions we hold, but that our words really do matter. There is this vast echo chamber, and the words fall on the serious and delirious alike," Clinton warned. "Have at it. Go fight. Do whatever you want. You don't have to be nice. But be careful with what you say and do not advocate violence."

Watch the video below:

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Topics: Arizona, Emanuel Cleaver, Gabrielle Giffords, Giffords shooting, Jared Loughner