Gillibrand's disgusting comments about Zohran Mamdani on Brian Lehrer's show

[markpkessinger]

This clip features excerpts of Kristen Gillibrand's radio interview with Brian Lehrer. What is truly remarkable about it is the way she, a non-Jewish person, presumes to lecture Brian Lehrer (who is Jewish, and is a highly respected radio host here in NY). As Lehrer pushes back on her outrageous claims, the interview goes from Gillibrand stating (falsely) that Mamdani supports "global jihad" and violence against Jews, to falsely claiming Mamdani said "globalize the intifada (no, he never said it, he was asked specifically to denounce the phrase, and he declined to do so), to eventually Gillibrand admitting she had no evidence on which t o base these claims, yet continued to imply that Mamdani was somehow anti-Semitic. This is just vile!

?si=W3h8t9T1yn7BIEVv

[Prairie Gates]

1. There was already a 200+ response thread about this

Why rehash it yet again this Monday morning?

For your reference: https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20437514

[markpkessinger]

3. Sorry I missed that thread . . .

. . . but I think I still have the right to post about it.

[Prairie Gates]

5. Of course you have a right

Let's all have another 200 post mosh pit, by all means.

[Autumn]

7. Does it bother you? We do have an ignore feature you can try.

[Prairie Gates]

8. Oh, I also have a right to post my response, yeah?

[Autumn]

9. But of course.

[Shellback Squid]

11. it's the tone of your post, the OP has been a member since 2010 so I'm sure they know the process

lighten up Francis..

[Trueblue1968]

61. I think this post is Great and the OP is awesome !!!!!

[Shellback Squid]

10. why be nasty? I missed the earlier thread so I appreciate the post.

[PatSeg]

14. Same here

Plus this one has a video. I have no problem with it.

[liberalhistorian]

62. If you don't like a thread

you're certainly free to just not read it! There should be no limit to the calling out of hateful ignorant racism and xenophobia, including when spewed by Democrats.

[Autumn]

6. Not everybody is here on the weekend.

Thanks for posting.

[delisen]

23. Your post does not identify the full source of this video.

This appears to be a podcast wherein clips from the Brian Lehrer interview with the senator are being discussed and commented upon.

This seems to be a form of propaganda. Will you please identify the actual podcast and the persons discussing the clips from the Lehrer interview?

[markpkessinger]

29. I'm not sure of the exact source, but it hardly matters in this case . . .

.I thought the person commenting on the exchange between Lehrer and Gillibrand made some excellent points. Not everything we discuss here has to be from a major, well-known source. And as for it being "propaganda," are you suggesting that Gillibrand didn't say these things on Lehrer's show?

[delisen]

39. It matters that you have not identified the true source of the video you posted

Some responders here seem to be mistaking-attributing to Brian Lehrer words and comments actually being spoken by the third party or the actual source.

[markpkessinger]

43. I distinguished in my OP between the commenter on the video and Brian Lehrer . . .

. . . sorry if that confused you.

[markpkessinger]

44. I need to correct myself . . .

My apologies. I did not make the distinction between the person commenting on the interview, and the speakers in the interview itself. (I had posted this elsewhere, where I did make that distinction.)

But it's clear enough when you listen to the video when it's Brian Lehrer speaking -- his voice is pretty distinctive -- and when it is the commenter. And Lehrer certainly provides some pushback to her statements. So there was nothing at all misleading about my OP, and I'm not responsible for any misinterpretation by those who watch the video.

[delisen]

46. I just read this correction so you can ignore my comment on it in my last post

I still think that a video about a Democrat by Vausch should be identified.

[delisen]

45. This video is by Vauschi, the streamer who supports child pornography

Later in his video he bashes New York City Democrats as being worse than Republicans, and even manages to bring in Hilary Clinton for criticism.

He has doctored parts of his excepts from the the Brian Lehrer show to speed up some of Gillibrand’s statements while leaving Lehrer’s at regular speed which has the effect of making Gillibrand sound very nervous and on edge.

The Brian Lehrer tape is available so I don’t know why you selected this character’s show to post.

Vausch is a product of Beverly Hills, and probably makes his money by being edgy, so I don’t know whether his stances on child porn, lowering the edge of consent are designed to just get him clicks, fame, and money or whether he is wedded to these views.

I still do not see where you distinguished in your op between Vausc and Brian Lehrer

[H2O Man]

36. I'm glad

that you made this post. The topic is part of an on-going conversation. It's not somehow dead in the water. If a previous OP/thread had over 200 responses, that would suggest there is interest in the topic.

Thank you for posting this!

[SocialDemocrat61]

17. Because there is always room for another bash Gillibrand thread

LOL

[Shellback Squid]

20. as there should be, I believe she railroaded Franken

[SocialDemocrat61]

21. Her and 38 other senators

[Shellback Squid]

22. don't you understand who led the charge at the time? Kirsten

read up on the event to educate yourself

[SocialDemocrat61]

25. I have

Here are a few articles from different sources that discuss the events back then. It’s very obvious that this was not the act of just one person but an highly coordinated effort by the democratic caucus.

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/al-franken-urged-to-resign-kamala-harris/
https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/senators-al-franken-resignation
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/363759-al-frankens-swift-fall-a-timeline/

[delisen]

28. Actually in his book, Franken blamed Schumer.

Abuse he considered her a friend.Gillibrand had been at the time a tireless worker for women in the military who were exploited and abused a, both sexually and otherwise.

I was amazed at the time that many democrats were not aware of her work. Although I wrote to Frankenstein urging him to not resign, i could fully understand Gillibrand’s reaction.

In his book Frankensteinand focus their spoke of his disappointment in Gillibrand because he considered her a friend. However he clearly pointed to Schumer as the party’s powerful leader who demanded his resignation.

For whatever reason many democrats have given Schumer a pass but focus all their anger on Gillibrand.

[SocialDemocrat61]

33. Why blame a man

when a woman can be blamed instead?

[DFW]

42. I am going to take a reckless guess here

This calling Al Franken "Frankenstein" is a result of some computer fill-in program getting busy on its own, and not your personal opinion of Al.

Yes, Al blames Schumer, and would hate to serve again in a Senate where Schumer was the Democratic leader. But he also blames each and every Democratic Senator at the time who never apologized to him. Franni hates them all, and Al pays much attention to how she feels. If you think Al bears any kind of a grudge, just talk to Franni for ten minutes on the subject. Al is downright indifferent by comparison, and I promise you, he is anything but indifferent. He has not "moved on and put it behind him," no matter what assumptions are made by those who don't know him, and I have read a few.

One of the main reasons Al never tried to get his Senate seat back is because he would have had to look at and work with colleagues who said about him what they did. These are fellow Democratic Senators with whom he shared--and still shares--great political affinity. That so many of them have not apologized is something I find highly depressing, and a black stain on those who were there at the time, and think there was nothing wrong with what they did and said. One of them pulled a stunt so evil and dirty (subsequent to his resignation), it is an immense credit to Al that he did not try to sully the name of that senator after being on the receiving end of such cynicism. At this point, he doesn't talk about that jab any more. Some of his friends are not so willing to hold back.

[tavernier]

66. Frankenstein?

You are very generous to blame the poster’s computer, especially since it happened twice and wasn’t corrected, even after your comment. But I suppose not everyone takes the time to reread their own comments and check for these kind of errors before hitting “Post”.

[jaymac]

32. remember Franken

She. made her fame by challenging the military chain of command to adjudicate rape and harassment charges, but she excoriated Franken for a comic spoof and we lost a formidable voice in the senate. she's been wrong before and she'll be wrong again..............don't let her get away with it again

[BonnieJW]

26. She is another unaccomplished senator

She shows up and bitches to give the illusion of doing her job. She's done nothing since taking office in 2009.

[SocialDemocrat61]

27. Securing medical funding for 9/11 first responders

and veterans doesn’t count?
Getting the military to change policy and procedures for sexual harassment to protect women doesn’t count?
What do you consider an accomplishment?

[atreides1]

52. At the time it did

But with the current administration all of that is going to go away. Do you believe that with Hegseth in charge that those policies will remain in effect?

And now she's either a bigot or another paid hack for AIPAC!!!

[SocialDemocrat61]

54. Probably not

And the re authorization of funding for the 9/11 responders is coming up too.

[Prairie Gates]

30. Ha!

Kinda true though I gotta say!

[liberalhistorian]

63. Hateful ignorant racism and

xenophobia should always be called out, even when spewed by Democrats.

[SocialDemocrat61]

65. Plus sexism

and groping women.

[Emile]

2. Follow the money.

[leftstreet]

4. DURec

[Nanjeanne]

12. Where are the Democratic Congresspeople

asking for her apology? Where is the media asking her to condemn the words and implications of her responses?

Waiting…

[SocialDemocrat61]

15. You mean like Rep. Laura Gillen?

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5369176-gillen-mamdani-new-york-choice/

[Nanjeanne]

34. I mean Dem politicians condemning Gillen and

Gillibrand and the other Dems engaging in disgraceful islamophobic remarks and slurs. Some like Bernie and Van Hollen and Murphy have spoken out but I want them to name the names. I’m disgusted by the behavior of members of the party I once was proud of.

[SocialDemocrat61]

37. I also blame the corporate media

They have pushed a lot of misinformation about Mamdani without any fact checking. Now they are playing a gotcha game with a lot of democrats. If they support Mamdani, they are antisemitic commies. If they don't they are establishment Islamophobes.

[Nanjeanne]

40. True. Which is why he is so impressive in

Interviews. He is engaging and positive yet he doesn’t parse his words and he responds to those gotcha questions with very savvy understanding of what they try to elicit. He doesn’t word salad but he doesn’t fall into their traps either.

[vanessa_ca]

13. Vile liar. Flagrantly racist. What a fine representative of Vote Blue No Matter Who

So that’s what $1,000,000 of contributions from a special interest group sounds like.

She sounds genuinely unhinged. Vile.

[Nixie]

24. Welcome to DU

[vanessa_ca]

35. Thank you -eom

[Ping Tung]

16. "a tale told by a fool, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" from Macbeth.

She may not be a fool but I do think she is, at best, an opportunist and donation seeker.

[AStern]

18. I liked that he pointed out that there was zero evidence of the statements the establishment says he made.

She should be ashamed of herself.

And I'm going to start listening to his show.

[David__77]

19. It's amazing that this isn't a parody.

[Passages]

31. Just think about her crypto vote and some of her other votes.

It will then begin to make sense.

[aocommunalpunch]

38. AIPAC has entered the chat.

Nothing to see here.

[Prairie Gates]

41. Kick it

Can I get all three at the top of GD?

[Pris]

47. This thread has sexism in it and the video is biased.

Schumer made Franken step down.

Gillibrand has been a great senator and she agrees with Mamdani's priorities.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken

“It was like a scene out of a movie,” Franken added.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Franken said, according to the magazine. “I asked him for due process and he said no.”
A spokesman for Schumer confirmed the ultimatum but claimed that Schumer never threatened to rally other Democrats against Franken.

[SocialDemocrat61]

49. Don't confuse them with facts

😉

[Torchlight]

48. I guess the Biden's Health Imbroglio had run its course and we're on to something newer.

Hipper. Fresh.

[Pris]

50. Is DU pulling this thread? This video is altered

Damaging female officials who have successfully led legislation to stop sexual harrassment and assault in the military is wrong. Not only that Gillibrand is in SUPPORT of Mamdani's goals for New York City
This post is a hit piece to damage a Democratic Senator.

[Pris]

51. I have had a post pulled because I criticized a Democrat but this isn't being pulled?

[markpkessinger]

57. The video was "altered" only in the sense that playback was sped up . . .

. . . it doesn't change what she said.

And while you're extremely upset about criticism of Gillibrand, you seem to be find with the fact that she has deliberately tried to slander Mamdani, who has far more support among New York Democratic voters than does her preferred candidate!

[Pris]

53. This is a hateful post about a feminist Democratic Senator who agrees with a Democratic Nominee

Except for one phrase that is used that is offensive to Jewish people and the Democratic Senator wants clarfication (as does teh Democratic Speaker fo the House).
The video in this OP is altered.
This is a hit piece on a female Democratic Senator.
This entire thread should be removed.

[markpkessinger]

55. The video is sped up, but it doesn't change what she said. n/t

[Pris]

59. Sped up is altering

Gillibrand is a senator who does great work.
Democrat and female.
The mob mentality here is rooted in sexism.

[Rhiannon12866]

64. We no longer have Moderators here on DU, members alert and juries of DUers vote on removing posts

[markpkessinger]

67. Or it's rooted in . . .

. . . a revulsion to a blatant Islamophobe who made false allegations against a politician she happens to dislike.

[markpkessinger]

56. Mamdani has provided such clarification . . .

. . . He himself never used the words, "globalize the intifada." He was asked whether he would denounce the phrase. He declined to do so, and has since given his reasons for declining. He made it clear in his clarification that there is no place for anti-Semitism in New York.

As for the criticism of Senator Gillibrand, the mere fact that she is an elected Democrat and a woman does not place her beyond criticism. She is not currently running for office, and the rules of this site do NOT prohibit any and all criticism of elected Democrats. And Cuomo was a Democratic candidate, not a nominee! This was a Democratic primary!

BTW, the final results of the ranked choice reallocations are in. It's Mamdani by 56& to Cuomo's 44%!

[angrychair]

58. The video content wasn't altered

Or taken out of context. I also have not heard her clarify her comments.
Its disheartening and very troubling that so many are so quick to label people as antisemitic because of even the slightest criticism of what Israel is doing.
Throwing that label around so haphazardly causes it to not only lose meaning but also builds up resentment.