Political reporters and observers are up in arms after Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) tweeted portions of a quote from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) that lacked context and misleadingly seemed to be an inflammatory comment on the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.
Pelosi: If There Is ‘Collateral Damage’ for Those Who Don’t Share Our View, ‘So Be It’ via @freebeacon https://t.co/NlE0G38Q1A
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) October 28, 2018
A spokesperson for Cornyn did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pelosi made the comments last week about progressive economic policies.
“We owe the American people to be there for them, for their financial security, respecting the dignity and worth of every person in our country, and if there is some collateral damage for some others who do not share our view, well, so be it, but it shouldn’t be our original purpose,” she said in full, according to the Free Beacon.
From a CNBC reporter:
we just suffered terrorist attack by Trump fanatic and mass murder by anti-Semitic white supremacist 1/2
Trump/GOP on defensive over incendiary rhetoric appealing to people like Sayoc and Bowers
so #2 Senate GOP leader sends story on week-old Pelosi “collateral damage” comments https://t.co/RiNm6zjPxD
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 28, 2018
From a former GOP congressman:
Senator, as the article makes patently clear, she is discussing liberal economic policies to address climate change, and the economic consequences to some industries.
You know what you did here, the morning after a mass shooting, and it’s disgusting.
Delete your tweet. https://t.co/1WXEohKlFw
— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) October 28, 2018
From a former staffer for Hillary Clinton, Eric Holder and Chuck Schumer:
John Cornyn is intentionally spreading lies about what Pelosi said in order to try to muddy the waters at a time when the President and his party are rightly under fire for the hate they have stoked.https://t.co/Mb0g8w8H1O
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) October 28, 2018
