Liz Cheney Recirculates Elise Stefanik Jan. 6 Statement | The View

The View

29 Jan 202404:07

Summary

TLDRThe script captures a heated discussion on 'The View' about the political feud between Liz Cheney and Elise Stefanik. Cheney reignited the dispute by reposting Stefanik's old statement condemning the January 6th Capitol attack, contrasting it with Stefanik's current stance. The hosts criticize Stefanik for her changing views and aligning with Trump, labeling her a 'total crackpot' and questioning her motives. They commend Cheney for her consistency and exposing Stefanik's flip-flop. The conversation also touches on Stefanik's perceived sycophancy towards Trump, her influence on Harvard's recent resignation, and the broader implications of her actions on her political future.

Takeaways

📺 Whoopi introduces a segment discussing the revived feud between Liz Cheney and Representative Elise Stefanik, focusing on Stefanik's changed stance since her 2021 condemnation of the January 6 attack.
🔥 Cheney reposted Stefanik's old statement condemning the January 6 attack to highlight Stefanik's apparent change in perspective over time.
🤔 Stefanik expresses concerns about the treatment of January 6 'hostages', comparing the Capitol riot to BLM protests and emphasizing election integrity.
🙄 Whoopi questions Stefanik's commitment to democracy, given her conditional recognition of election outcomes.
🔮 Cheney labels Stefanik as a 'total crackpot', illustrating the deepening rift between them.
📝 Ana Navarro reflects on Stefanik's transformation from a promising young congresswoman to a Trump sycophant, highlighting recent controversies.
🚫 Sunny Hostin criticizes Stefanik for comparing January 6 rioters to hostages, considering it offensive and anti-Semitic.
❓ Panelists ponder Stefanik's endgame, suspecting her aspirations for relevance and power within a Trump-led political landscape.
👨‍💻 Alyssa Farah Griffin notes the mentorship history between Cheney and Stefanik, suggesting that Stefanik may eventually regret her current political trajectory.
👯 Panel discussion implies that politicians closely aligned with Trump, like Stefanik, may face long-term accountability issues once Trump's influence wanes.

Q & A

What was the main point of contention between Liz Cheney and Elise Stefanik?
-Cheney reposted an old statement by Stefanik condemning the January 6th attack and calling for the rioters to be prosecuted. This contrasts with Stefanik's more recent remarks sympathizing with the rioters.
How did Stefanik's view on the January 6th attack seem to change over time?
-In 2021, Stefanik clearly condemned the attack as violent and destructive. More recently, she expressed concern over the 'treatment' of the January 6th 'hostages' and drew comparisons to the BLM protests.
Why did Cheney call Stefanik a 'total crack pot'?
-It was in reaction to Stefanik's shifting stance on the Capitol attack and rioters over time, as well as her recent questionable remarks sympathizing with the rioters and comparing them to hostages.
What was significant about Stefanik taking down her old statement?
-It shows that she likely recognizes how much her current position contradicts her past condemnation of the attack. She seems to want to hide that contradiction.
What does Cheney's 'receipt' for the old statement demonstrate?
-It demonstrates Cheney's sharp political instincts in holding politicians accountable for their shifting stances. She kept the receipt for 3 years before using it at the opportune time.
What is Stefanik's political end game according to the panelists?
-She likely hopes to gain ongoing political relevance, power, and possibly the VP slot in a future Trump administration by appealing strongly to his base.
Why did the panelists criticize Stefanik's hostage comparison?
-They found it highly insensitive given the recent traumatic hostage situation, and considered it a false equivalence that diminishes the severity of the Capitol attack.
What is ironic about Stefanik's shift away from Cheney?
-Cheney used to be Stefanik's mentor, and Stefanik has now gone completely against Cheney's principles for political gain.
How might Stefanik come to regret her political shift?
-When Trump finally fades from power, Stefanik may remember her past principles and realize that her betrayal of them was not worth the temporary gains.
Who wins in the 'contest' of sucking up to Trump between Scott and Stefanik?
-The panelists imply it's hard to judge who goes further in appealing to Trump's base - both Scott and Stefanik pander significantly.

Outlines

00:00

📺 Political Rivalries and Changing Positions

This segment focuses on the revived feud between former House member Liz Cheney and Representative Elise Stefanik, stemming from Cheney highlighting a past statement by Stefanik that condemned the January 6th Capitol attack. The discourse covers Stefanik's shift in stance since 2021, including her recent controversial remarks equating January 6th detainees to hostages, drawing parallels with BLM riots, and her emphasis on election integrity. The conversation also delves into Cheney's critique of Stefanik as a 'total crackpot,' reflecting on Stefanik's dramatic transformation from a promising young congresswoman to a Trump loyalist. The discussion extends to the broader implications of political allegiance and integrity, citing Stefanik's removal of her previous statement from her website as a symbolic act of shifting allegiances and the potential long-term consequences of such political maneuvering.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Liz Cheney

Liz Cheney is a prominent political figure known for her outspoken criticism of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and her divergence from the mainstream Republican party's stance on the event. In the video, Cheney revives a feud with Representative Elise Stefanik by highlighting Stefanik's past condemnation of the January 6th attack, contrasting it with Stefanik's later statements. Cheney's actions and comments underscore her position as a critic of those who downplay the severity of the January 6th events.

💡Elise Stefanik

Representative Elise Stefanik is depicted in the video as having shifted her stance from condemning the January 6th attack to expressing concerns over the treatment of individuals involved in the incident. Stefanik's evolution from a critic of the violence to someone who aligns with broader Republican narratives about election integrity and the January 6th participants illustrates the political dynamics within the Republican Party and the pressure to align with former President Donald Trump's views.

💡January 6th attack

The January 6th attack refers to the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, aiming to overturn the 2020 election results. This event is central to the video's discussion, with contrasting views on the attack highlighting the political divide within the Republican Party. The attack is condemned by both Cheney and Stefanik, but their subsequent rhetoric and focus diverge significantly.

💡Election integrity

Election integrity is a term used by Elise Stefanik to justify her stance on the January 6th events and broader electoral processes. Stefanik's emphasis on election integrity reflects a common narrative among some Republicans that raises concerns about the fairness and security of elections. This concept is used to question the legitimacy of election outcomes and has been a focal point of division within American politics.

💡Violence

The term 'violence' is referenced multiple times in the video, initially in the context of the January 6th Capitol attack and also in comparison to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests. The comparison made by Stefanik aims to equate the events, though the contexts and motivations behind them are widely viewed as distinct. This comparison is part of a broader discourse on political violence and its repercussions in U.S. society.

💡Hostages

The use of the term 'hostages' by Elise Stefanik to describe those involved in the January 6th attack is highlighted as a contentious point. This terminology is criticized for its perceived attempt to victimize the perpetrators of the attack, contrasting sharply with the legal and public condemnation of their actions. The term plays into broader narratives attempting to shift the discourse around the events of January 6th.

💡Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism is brought up in the context of criticizing the comparison between January 6th participants and hostages, with implications that such comparisons are offensive, especially considering the historical and contemporary significance of anti-Semitic violence. The discussion extends to a critique of Stefanik's actions and rhetoric, pointing to a broader conversation about the use of charged comparisons in political discourse.

💡Election democracy

Election democracy is questioned in the video with skepticism towards Stefanik's commitment to democratic principles, based on her conditional recognition of electoral outcomes. This critique reflects concerns about the undermining of democratic norms through the refusal to accept election results, a theme that has become increasingly relevant in American politics following the 2020 election.

💡Political transformation

The concept of political transformation is discussed with regard to Elise Stefanik's evolution from a Harvard-educated, young congresswoman to a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, illustrating the personal and ideological shifts that can occur within the political arena. This transformation is viewed critically, suggesting a departure from earlier principles in favor of political expediency or ambition.

💡Accountability

Accountability is a recurring theme, particularly in the context of the aftermath of the January 6th attack and the broader implications for those who supported or downplayed it. The video suggests that political figures like Stefanik will eventually face consequences for their actions and rhetoric, emphasizing the importance of accountability in maintaining democratic integrity and the rule of law.

Highlights

Cheney reposts Stefanik's 2021 statement condemning January 6th attack

Stefanik now calls January 6th rioters 'hostages', concerns over their treatment

Stefanik condemns BLM riot violence like January 6th violence

Stefanik stood for election integrity and security

Whoopi questions Stefanik's commitment to fair elections

Cheney calls Stefanik a 'total crack pot' in her book

Ana discusses how Stefanik changed drastically, becoming a sycophant

Sunny asks what is Stefanik's end game in sucking up to Trump

Alyssa says Stefanik wants perpetual power in a Trump administration

Cheney was a mentor to Stefanik but took the high road

Alyssa predicts Stefanik will regret abandoning her principles

Sara says Stefanik will be held accountable when Trump is gone

Alyssa compares sycophancy of Stefanik and Tim Scott

Sunny praises Cheney for keeping Stefanik's old receipts

Alyssa says Stefanik took down her 2021 statement condemning riots