Thread: Pelosi, Schumer say Democrats should get 'equal airtime' after Trump address

Pelosi, Schumer say Democrats should get 'equal airtime' after Trump address

By Nicole Darrah | Fox News
Published 1 hour ago

Democratic leaders on Monday night called for equal airtime in response to President Donald Trump's primetime address to the nation on southern border security scheduled for Tuesday evening.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued that since Trump's speech will be broadcast, the other side of the aisle should have their fair share of broadcast time, too.

“Now that the television networks have decided to air the President’s address, which if his past statements are any indication will be full of malice and misinformation, Democrats must immediately be given equal airtime," they said in a statement.

Trump said he'll be talking at 9 p.m. ET about the U.S.-Mexico border — the fight over which sparked the partial government shutdown. The address will be carried live by ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox Broadcasting, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, MSNBC and NBC.

Pelosi and Schumer said that Democrats "and an increasing number of Republicans in Congress" have urged Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to "re-open the government while Congress debates the President’s expensive and ineffective wall."

The government is on day 16 of the partial shutdown — the second-longest in history slated to become the longest this weekend.

Trump told congressional Democratic leaders during a meeting on Friday that he was willing to keep the government shutdown for as long as necessary — possibly months or even years — in order to get the border funding he wants.

After a weekend filled with meetings about the shutdown, the president moved to call for a steel wall, rather than a concrete barrier, at the southern border. Trump framed the pitch for a steel wall as a concession to Democrats to move negotiations along, although they do not appear moved by the president's message.

"President Trump keeps rejecting the bipartisan House-passed bills, which have already received strong bipartisan support in the Senate, to re-open the government," Pelosi and Schumer's statement read. "Instead, he is still demanding that American taxpayers pay at least $5.7 billion for his wall, which can’t pass either chamber of Congress and of course Mexico is not paying for."

Fox News' Brooke Singman, Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pel...-trump-address

Do what I said and cancel the whatever it is tomorrow night and in the morning at 9 am call a press conference and announce you are ending the shutdown and will sign a funding bill delivered to you by the Congress, while pursuing other means to construct appropriate barriers to defend our nation against illegal immigration, terrorism, crime and illegal drug operations.

Oh hell no. The President is both the head of state and head of government of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress.

With the position comes certain privileges. Included in those privileges is the right to address the nation without equal rebuttal from the same podium. Heck, this isn't a primary run for office or a competition! Affording Congresspersons the same stage and rebuttal time is demeaning to the office of President of the United States.

Well, that's the way I see it anyway.

After a weekend filled with meetings about the shutdown, the president moved to call for a steel wall, rather than a concrete barrier, at the southern border.

Now we're calling a fence a wall and wall a barrier. It's just too funny how words and terms have flipped. For me a fence is still a fence and a wall is still a wall. This word twisting game is starting to get a little ridiculous (IMO).

"President Trump keeps rejecting the bipartisan House-passed bills, which have already received strong bipartisan support in the Senate, to re-open the government

Fox news managed to get in the word bipartisan twice in one sentence, and strong bipartisan support once, and that is how this nation has been brainwashed over many years.Of course "border security" is another brainwashing term---we should make a list.

I wish those two would just get a room.

Originally Posted by Captainron

I wish those two would just get a room.

They may already have one.

Originally Posted by Captainron

I wish those two would just get a room.

Who are you speaking about? Up to your comment I haven't seen anyone conversing with each other in this thread. I guess your comment was an uncalled for dig, huh?

Originally Posted by Judy

They may already have one.

And to whom are you referring to?

Has it come to the point around here where we've become critical of folks for just liking someone else's post?