Transcription
Senator Bill Cassidy changes his vote on the Iran war after Trump berates him in front of his colleagues because standing up for what's right is just so darn inconvenient. This is just another day.
After a testy exchange on Capitol Hill yesterday, it looks like Donald Trump has finally met his match: members of his own party.
>> President Trump clashed with Senate Republicans and then got what he wanted.
>> Oh, come on. The Senate reversed course on the Iran War powers resolution late Wednesday night, with two Republicans, Kucky's Ran Paul and Louisiana's Bill Cassidy, flipping from yay to nay.
I know that "yay to nay" is technically correct, but it really just doesn't do justice to the gravity of the debasement that transpired last night. I feel like when Republicans switch their votes to simply appease, dear leader, it should go from nay to may, as in, "Thank you, sir. May I have another?" But of all the people who should not be changing their vote to win favor with the president, Bill Cassidy is at the top of the list, especially after yesterday.
>> It was a day of high tensions here on Capitol Hill.
>> A shouting match on Capitol Hill. President Trump had a testy meeting with Senate Republicans.
>> Then came a tense lunch with the Senate GOP.
At one point, the president told Cassidy to sit down. Cassidy's response? He told the president of the United States that he should sit down. Sorry, but your delivery isn't exactly selling the explosiveness that we were promised. And then the president inferred that the senator from Louisiana could go have sexual intercourse with himself, at which point the senator responded by informing the president that he should go digest a bag of penises. Yes, things got pretty combative up on Capitol Hill yesterday. I mean, not pardon-worthy combative, but combative nonetheless.
>> The president didn't want to hear my question. Interrupted me. I didn't care to be interrupted. I felt like I was trying to get answers for the American people. And I'm not going to be bullied when I'm trying to get answers for the American people.
So, I guess you'll wait to get bullied a few hours later. Bill Cassidy is like the kid in school going, "Hey, you can't talk to me like that!" But how's 3 p.m.? My calendar is wide open. Shall I pencil you in for a brief locker shoving, followed by an hour's worth of rectum ripping wedgies?
Before last night, Bill Cassidy was one of four Republican senators to join with Democrats in approving a war powers resolution that rebuked Trump's handling of the war in Iran, instructed him to end the war (you know, the one that Donald Trump said isn't happening and never even really started), or seek Congress's approval to continue. But then Cassidy switched his vote. So today, he's telling his side of the story.
>> So when the president was berating the four people that voted for the War Powers Act, frankly, I'm not there to be bered.
I think you've just shown that you are. That's like me saying I'm not some corporate chill who's going to cowtow to the whims of a faceless profit obsessed company just so I can make a few extra bucks by talking about how satisfyingly delicious sun chips are and how they come in a wide variety of mouthwatering flavors and each bag is packed full of whole grain goodness.
So what exactly changed this senator's mind?
"So, Senator, as I understand it, the vice president and special envoy Wickoff gave you a special briefing in the situation room late Wednesday on Iran."
Wait a minute. The situation room? That place is only supposed to be used for talking about protecting Trump from the Epstein files. Are you guys discussing a war in there? Have you no shame? What exactly happened?
"After the exchange I had with the president yesterday, I passed a note to Steve Wood. Steve, I would consider changing my vote, but I've been voting yes because I've not been briefed. He said, 'Call me back in the hour, uh, and let's have a briefing.' We had it last night."
And isn't that such a great lesson in civics? It is exactly how the process of government is supposed to work. Forget congressional hearings and sworn testimony. It's all about passing a note, getting a one-on-one briefing, and then changing your vote for absolutely no reason. Senator Cassie was rightfully furious yesterday, the way all of us are every single day. Why the sudden change of heart?
>> Now, I shouldn't have lost my temper. Um, nor should he, but, you know, my wife will tell you, every now and then, my Irish temper gets the best of me.
And this interview just took a turn. I believe everybody watching has just pushed the issue of Iran war to the side and is now wondering, is Bill Cassid's wife okay? Look, I shouldn't have lost my temper, but as my wife can tell you, if you raise your voice to me, or you insult me, or you use my car and don't return the driver's seat back to how I like it, or you keep badgering me about how going to your sisters for dinner while LSU is on the fourth and goal situation, or you insist on buying that rye bread with the seeds in it, even though we've had a thousand conversations about how they get in my teeth AND IRRITATE MY GUMS, then sometimes my Irish temper can get the best of me. How does this man sleep at night?
Point being, I needed to know. I need to know to serve my people in my state and my country. As it turns out, I got a briefing afterwards. In one sense, I actually accomplished the mission of of what I needed to do.
>> But you had also said the American people need that information. The American people aren't getting those public hearings and briefings. So I, so, so last night when I asked about that in my briefing, they said, "Right now, the negotiations are delicate, and they could collapse if they're not nursed along in the appropriate way."
Excuse me for letting my temper get the best of me here, but are you kidding me? That's what this administration has been saying the whole time. Why are you buying into their now? Especially after we know this happened.
Trump reportedly calling Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy a lunatic.
>> Not only that, according to The New York Times, "You just lost the election," Mr. Trump shouted at Mr. Cassidy, whom he called a loser.
And I hate to agree with the president here, but he's spot on with that one. Donald Trump trashed you, forced you out of your job by endorsing your opponent, celebrated your unemployment, and you're still kissing the ring. The reality is, never bet against the cowardice of today's GOP. My god, their favorite meal must be because they eat it every single day. And today was no different.
>> Said, "You got to talk about something called God's will, right? There's a reason why Donald Trump is still here. God's will is that his work is not done."
That's right. Just like Trump, even God underestimated how long his will would take and how much it would cost, which totally tracks. I mean, he told everybody that he created the world in one day, but suddenly some vandals came along and it took him six. What the hell are you talking about? Trump's work is not done. The only reason it's not done is because he doesn't want to do it, as in helping people afford a home.
>> The bill would restrict Wall Street investors from buying single family homes and would reduce tape to make it easier to build new housing. Trump's own press secretary called it one of the most significant pieces of housing affordability legislation in American history.
>> The president had a chance to sign this into law yesterday and decided he's not going to do it.
Because he doesn't care. He's a legacy obsessed monster who's happy to let Americans suffer while he continues to shove as much cash into his pockets as he can. Or to put that another way, "With Donald Trump in the White House and God bless President Trump. He knows the reason he is here is because God has a job for him to finish." I mean, that, that is profound.
>> Yes. Profoundly insulting to every person of faith.
If Donald Trump is such a devout Christian, why is he deviating from God's plan on a minute-to-minute basis? Like, I'm no Bible expert, but building a golden ballroom while kicking millions off of healthcare and food assistance doesn't sound like helping the poor to me. Calling Democrats the "radical left scum" in your Christmas message doesn't sound like turning the other cheek to me. Holding clandestine crypto dinners doesn't sound like someone observing God's instructions to not lust after money. And sending masked ICE agents out into terrorize our cities and deriding Somali immigrants as deadbeats does not sound like someone with deep compassion for immigrants. Oh, and then there's that whole marital fidelity thing. These people are a cult.
Every single elected official should have the spine to exercise their powers on behalf of the American people and stand up to a president when they know he's taking our country down the wrong path. But that especially applies to a senator like Bill Cassidy, who is on his way out the door. This was his chance to stick to his guns and stand up to an autocratic leader who thinks he can take a nation to war whenever he pleases, but rather than having a spine, he chose to back down. And when you know the right thing to do and you still choose to do the opposite, well, I guess that makes you...
>> ...a lunatic.
Exactly.
Before you go, I'm very excited to announce that I've written a new book titled *The Day After: How to Wield Power in a PostTrump World*. The book explores what is, in my opinion, the single most important theme that we're dealing with in politics today and moving forward: power. Specifically, how Republicans abuse it and how Democrats refuse to wield it. This book explains how we got here and, more importantly, how we should finally wield power if we're fortunate enough to get it back. It is the blueprint for progressives who want to do far more than just restore the status quo. Please pre-order today by visiting the link in the episode description or go to brianttylercohen.com/book. You can grab yours from any of the major retailers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble or find an independent bookstore closest to you that's also listed on that website. Thanks so much for supporting Independent Media.