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demmiblue

(36,751 posts)
Sun Apr 4, 2021, 12:34 PM Apr 2021

Rep. Eric Swalwell: Republicans smear me on Fox News then want to grab dinner...

You can’t smash a chair over someone’s head in the ring, then hang out backstage like it was all an act.

Congress has become a deeply divided, almost toxic work environment in part because of the “pro wrestling” mentality too many members have adopted, putting showmanship ahead of statesmanship.

You may be surprised to know that most of the right-wing House members who spend endless hours on Fox News smearing Democrats actually want to be back-slapping buddies with us when the cameras are off. Some have defamed me on national television or by tweet and then, within a day, approached me in a hallway or on the House floor, smiling and wanting to chat me up. They seem surprised when I don’t want to share pleasantries; to them, they’re just “playing the game.”

Last week one representative told me we were due to grab dinner again, as we had before the insurrection. I was stunned.

Last week one representative told me we were due to grab dinner again, as we had before the insurrection. I was stunned. This guy tweets about me and slams me on Fox News at every opportunity.

Many of my Republican colleagues also don’t see the people they represent as constituents to serve; they see fans to entertain, thinking this will help them win re-election. But Congress shouldn’t be like WWE wrestling. You can’t smash a chair over someone’s head in the ring, then hang out backstage like it was all an act, and still expect to make any real progress on behalf of the people who elected us. The preoccupation with putting on a show often devastates the relationships required for bipartisan cooperation.

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/republicans-smear-me-fox-news-then-want-grab-dinner-congress-ncna1262941
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Rep. Eric Swalwell: Republicans smear me on Fox News then want to grab dinner... (Original Post) demmiblue Apr 2021 OP
If our side behaved this way the right wing outrage would drown out the noise of the universe. CrispyQ Apr 2021 #1
Don't be naive Swalwell. They don't want to be friends. They want to be close enough to Baitball Blogger Apr 2021 #2
That's exactly what I was thinking. FoxNewsSucks Apr 2021 #5
just business, nothing personal...I don't think so... agingdem Apr 2021 #3
They only want to be buddies... 2naSalit Apr 2021 #4

CrispyQ

(36,231 posts)
1. If our side behaved this way the right wing outrage would drown out the noise of the universe.
Sun Apr 4, 2021, 01:11 PM
Apr 2021

They missed that whole "do unto others" thing.

Baitball Blogger

(46,576 posts)
2. Don't be naive Swalwell. They don't want to be friends. They want to be close enough to
Sun Apr 4, 2021, 01:24 PM
Apr 2021

hear you say something they can use against you.

agingdem

(7,759 posts)
3. just business, nothing personal...I don't think so...
Sun Apr 4, 2021, 01:26 PM
Apr 2021

their across the board adoration and support of loathsome narcissistic sociopath was/is personal..the over 500,000 avoidable dead is painfully personal....I don't want to share a planet with a rancid Jordan or a McCarthy much less a drink!

2naSalit

(86,071 posts)
4. They only want to be buddies...
Sun Apr 4, 2021, 02:10 PM
Apr 2021

To gain access to info they can use against you so not worth letting them have the first inch of that mile.

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