In a stunning escalation of rhetoric, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Republicans in the Senate of “trying to get away with … the murder of George Floyd” with their police reform bill.
The reform legislation, spearheaded by Tim Scott (R-SC), the lone African-American Republican in the Senate, seeks to promote minority hiring within police departments, use of a database to hold bad cops accountable, and restrict chokeholds.
Restriction of the chokehold is a hang-up for Pelosi and the Democrats who want the move banned outight even in situations where the officer’s life may be in peril.
“We’re saying no chokeholds,” Pelosi said during an interview with CBS News Radio. “They’re not saying no chokeholds. I mean, there’s a big difference there. What’s the compromise? Some chokeholds? I don’t see what the compromise is.”
UNHINGED: Nancy Pelosi accuses Republican senators of “trying to get away with murder, actually, the murder of George Floyd”https://t.co/e8pdwnSUdG pic.twitter.com/tK2dFyy1Px
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 23, 2020
RELATED: Tim Scott Rips Dick Durbin To Pieces After He Calls Republican Police Reform Bill A ‘Token’ Approach
Getting Away With Murder
Pelosi then began lecturing Scott and the Republicans on the need to understand just how serious police brutality is in the United States.
“For something to happen,” she explained, “they’re going to have to face the reality of police brutality, the reality of the need for justice in policing, and the recognition that there are many, many good people in law enforcement, but not all and that we have to address those concerns.”
Scott has told the story several times of being stopped for “driving while black” even as a Senator.
“So far they’re trying to get away with murder – actually, the murder of George Floyd,” Pelosi concluded.
While Scott isn’t mentioned by name, he is certainly a member of the ‘they’re’ she’s referring to and with the bill being led by him, it’s a clear and direct shot at the GOP senator.
I think it’s fair to say that the issue of police reform is personal to @SenatorTimScott, and that he knows a lot more about it than Nancy Pelosi ever will.
Her insinuation that he—or any member of Congress—is complicit in murder is disgusting and beneath the office she holds. https://t.co/DOMEOx8yP2
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) June 24, 2020
RELATED: Candace Owens Mocks Democrats For Patronizing Black Voters By Wearing ‘African Garb’
Backlash
Needless to say, Pelosi’s comments were met with swift backlash, many calling on her to apologize to Scott, while others were confused about how the House Speaker could point a finger at Republicans for Floyd’s murder.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) accused Pelosi of being a “rhetorical arsonist” while noting that CBS didn’t push back on her comments at all.
“It’s absolutely stunning that Democrats are trying to block common sense police reform while resorting to unhinged rhetoric to criticize Republicans,” they wrote in a statement.
“The Speaker of the House is an insufferable race-baiting poltician who would much rather see no action done than allow change to happen under [President Trump’s] leadership,” Ken Farnaso, the deputy press secretary for the Trump campaign tweeted.
“Say it to @SenatorTimScott’s face, Nancy,” he challenged.
Part one of today’s floor speech on the #JUSTICEAct:
If we miss the opportunity to debate the underlying issues, all you wind up with is talking points and campaigns. pic.twitter.com/9fluJjxsvK
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) June 23, 2020
They Think Scott is Beneath Them
Pelosi’s wild statement is just another involving a white Democrat talking down to a black Republican in the Senate.
Last week, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed Scott’s police reform bill as “token” legislation, igniting a firestorm with the racially tinged comments.
Y’all still wearing those kente cloths over there @SenatorDurbin? https://t.co/h3WETXn3We
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) June 17, 2020
Three years in and Democrats are still digging in, refusing to allow a legislative victory under this President, even for something a vast majority of Americans want to see right now in police reform.
You could probably have Republicans present a bill suggesting that all babies have the right to eat and the resistance party would fight it.
Pelosi and Durbin’s rhetoric is for one reason only – they simply cannot allow police reform legislation to pass under the leadership of a GOP Senator who happens to be black. The embarrassment would be devastating.
Does it get any more racist than that?