WEBVTT - Partisan Shirts Vs. Skins: David Drucker Talks to A&G

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<v Speaker 1>Let's welcome to the show to talk a little more

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<v Speaker 1>politics of variety of flavors. David Drucker. He's the senior

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<v Speaker 1>political correspondent of The Washington Examiner and a longtime guest

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<v Speaker 1>on the program. David, how are you today? I'm great?

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<v Speaker 1>How are you? What do you think of that that

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<v Speaker 1>the majority of voters now say character, health, whatever. I

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<v Speaker 1>just want to have, you know, an extra number on

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<v Speaker 1>my side. It's true. I mean, if politics has really

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<v Speaker 1>become a shurts and skins game. You know, partisanship has

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<v Speaker 1>always been a big part of American politics, especially their

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<v Speaker 1>two party system, but you know, over the past that's

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<v Speaker 1>tended twenty years. UM. Voters on both sides of the

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<v Speaker 1>aisle have made a calculation that it doesn't matter what

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<v Speaker 1>kind of person they send to Washington. Uh, and I

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<v Speaker 1>say Washington in particular, there's much more nuance and much

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<v Speaker 1>more I think, uh, a willingness to cross the aisle

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<v Speaker 1>in in state and local races, UM, but especially in

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<v Speaker 1>congressional races and in presidential contest, it's simply about how

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<v Speaker 1>will you vote, which side will you vote with? In fact,

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<v Speaker 1>I don't even know if you'll do anything I like

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<v Speaker 1>but you say you're for my side, you'll support that majority.

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<v Speaker 1>You hate the people I hate, and that's good enough

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<v Speaker 1>for me, And in fact, that's the most important thing

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<v Speaker 1>to me. Yeah, you said the key phrase, and I've

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<v Speaker 1>seen polling on this. That is what it's more about

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<v Speaker 1>than anything else. You hate the people I hate. Yeah. Um, Look,

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<v Speaker 1>if you're a Republican running for office, you're a Democrat

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<v Speaker 1>running for office. I've seen this in particularly more acute

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<v Speaker 1>ways on the Republican side. I think it's sometimes it's

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<v Speaker 1>completely immaterial whether or not you're a reliable fiscal conservative

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<v Speaker 1>or reliable reliable conservative on other issues. It just matters

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<v Speaker 1>that you are willing to mix it up with Democrats,

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<v Speaker 1>mix it up with you know, goats like me in

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<v Speaker 1>the media. And if you can do that, I'm not

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<v Speaker 1>even going to pay that close attention to how you're

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<v Speaker 1>voting on particular legislation. Now, obviously, UM, as a Republican

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<v Speaker 1>or Democrat, UM, you have to tow the line or

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<v Speaker 1>believe in certain things to survive in a primary right,

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<v Speaker 1>you have to oppose abortion rights. If you're a Republican,

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<v Speaker 1>you have to be four abortion rights. If you're a Democrat,

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<v Speaker 1>there are other issues in there that are important, but

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<v Speaker 1>all things being equal, as long as you're not uh

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<v Speaker 1>contradictory on the biggest issues gun rights is a huge

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<v Speaker 1>issue on the Republican side, then we just want to

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<v Speaker 1>see you throw punches at the people that I think

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<v Speaker 1>are trying to kill me and destroy my life. And

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<v Speaker 1>you know the language that he's used now in politics

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<v Speaker 1>where people UH constantly believed the other side wants to,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, pour gasoline on the country, lighting on fire,

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<v Speaker 1>and I guess we're you know, move everybody to China

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<v Speaker 1>or something. And this is you know, this is the

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<v Speaker 1>atmosphere that we're dealing with. I talked to voters all

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<v Speaker 1>the time, and you know, they are they are insistent

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<v Speaker 1>that the other side, by the way, they're insistent that

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<v Speaker 1>the other side plays dirty. They're regretful that their own

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<v Speaker 1>side won't play as dirty as the other side. I

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<v Speaker 1>run into that all the time. They're also insistent that

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<v Speaker 1>the other side always wins and we always lose, and

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<v Speaker 1>that we don't win this time, even though there's a

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<v Speaker 1>regularly scheduled election coming two years from now and two

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<v Speaker 1>years after that and two years after that. Nope, this

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<v Speaker 1>is it. It's either now or never, or we're all

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<v Speaker 1>going to end up subjugated by you know, g or

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<v Speaker 1>you know, name your authoritarian at the moment. Yeah, you're

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<v Speaker 1>either gonna have to answer to AOC or Trump, depending

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<v Speaker 1>on who wins. Well to that point, Yeah, and I

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<v Speaker 1>want to get to one of your columns here in

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<v Speaker 1>a second moment. One my favorite poll number of the day.

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<v Speaker 1>This is from NBC News. Percentage of Americans who say

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<v Speaker 1>the opposite party's agenda poses a threat that, if not stopped,

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<v Speaker 1>will destroy America as we know it. Four out of

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<v Speaker 1>five Democrats, four out of five Republicans say that four

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<v Speaker 1>out of five. Yeah. And not only that, they think

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<v Speaker 1>that the other side is doing it on purpose. They

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<v Speaker 1>don't even think it's you know, just you know, dumb

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<v Speaker 1>luck that the other side's ideas are no good. They

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<v Speaker 1>think the other side is in the room conspiring to

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<v Speaker 1>ruin everything on purpose for the soul, a purpose of

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<v Speaker 1>claiming power and subjugating them, as if we're all going

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<v Speaker 1>to be serfs again. You know, it's funny because we've

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<v Speaker 1>listened to this every two years, and then every two

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<v Speaker 1>years life goes on pretty much as normal. I get this,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I've still got the Constitution and the First

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<v Speaker 1>Amendment and the Second Amendment, and I can say what

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<v Speaker 1>I want, do what I want, travel where I want,

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<v Speaker 1>protest the government, and you know what I mean. Obviously

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<v Speaker 1>the economy. Um, you know, there's a business cycle. Sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>some policies are good for the economy, some are bad.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm not saying the government has no impact on things,

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<v Speaker 1>but these are policy debates. Are are general. American way

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<v Speaker 1>of life has basically continued. And you know, if you

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<v Speaker 1>look at it, the grand scheme of history only gotten

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<v Speaker 1>better for more people, you know, and yet people are

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<v Speaker 1>looking over their shoulder now convinced that their neighbor wants

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<v Speaker 1>to boss them over and over the head of the

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<v Speaker 1>baseball bad on purpose. And you know that's the stunt

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<v Speaker 1>of where we are. Yeah, I don't know how we

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<v Speaker 1>move forward if if of people think the other side

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<v Speaker 1>is out to destroy the country. But anyway, I want

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<v Speaker 1>to get to this because I think it's one of

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<v Speaker 1>the most fascinating thing things that's happening in politics. Democrats

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<v Speaker 1>have believed for a very long time that the growing

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<v Speaker 1>Hispanic population could give them a permanent majority, because clearly,

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<v Speaker 1>as more Hispanic people come here, they're going to vote

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<v Speaker 1>Democrat and that's just a good thing. Well, that's turning

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<v Speaker 1>out not to be the case. And a number of

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<v Speaker 1>places around the country, and according to you, Nevada has

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<v Speaker 1>become ground zero for Republican efforts to court Latino voters.

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<v Speaker 1>Tell us about that, Well, look, I mean, if you

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<v Speaker 1>look at all of the polling this election cycle, Republicans

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<v Speaker 1>UM could do very well with Hispanics or Latinos on

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<v Speaker 1>the West Coast uh different terminologies on election day, right,

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<v Speaker 1>and they could do well at historic levels, and they

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<v Speaker 1>might even sweep some house seats in the Rio Grand

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<v Speaker 1>Valley along the Mexican border in Texas, UM districts that

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<v Speaker 1>they haven't won uh for eons. And what you're seeing

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<v Speaker 1>is that a lot of the Republican Party's appeal with

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<v Speaker 1>blue collar voters is expending past the white working class

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<v Speaker 1>into the Hispanic working class. I talked to people in

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<v Speaker 1>Nevada about this, UM. You know, I think one of

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<v Speaker 1>the reasons this may be happening. If it happens is

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<v Speaker 1>as Hispanics, the majority of Hispanics will still vote for Democrats.

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<v Speaker 1>They will still be a major part of the Democratic coalition.

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<v Speaker 1>One of the reasons though, lately they may be shedding

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<v Speaker 1>these voters. Not only are Republicans playing the identity politics

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<v Speaker 1>game and just making a much stronger ever effort to

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<v Speaker 1>court Latino voters, actually opening offices in their neighborhoods uh

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<v Speaker 1>firing you know, people who speak fluent Spanish to appeal

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<v Speaker 1>to Latino voters, advertising and mormally in Spanish language media. Uh.

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<v Speaker 1>You know. But Democrats at the moment a cultural agenda

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<v Speaker 1>that is more left of center than it used to be.

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<v Speaker 1>It is making some Hispanish uncomfortable with the coalition, part

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<v Speaker 1>of the same way that we got suburban Republicans uncomfortable

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<v Speaker 1>with the Republican coalition during Trump's frantancy and moved towards

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<v Speaker 1>the Democrats. So these, you know, these things happen and

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<v Speaker 1>can happen over time. Interestingly enough, as much as Republicans

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<v Speaker 1>out the gains that they think they're gonna make with Hispanics,

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<v Speaker 1>they also constantly talked about the idea that Democrats opened

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<v Speaker 1>and border because they want more voters. So on the

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<v Speaker 1>one hand they brag about the support they're gaining with Hispanics,

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<v Speaker 1>on the other hand, they keep insisting that Hispanics are

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<v Speaker 1>more likely to vote for Democrats. It's an interesting contradiction.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't think, um all kidding aside that, although I

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<v Speaker 1>wasn't kidding, this is what's happening. But aside from that,

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know if Democrats are fully appreciated yet that

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<v Speaker 1>if they believe it's interesting polish more to the left

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<v Speaker 1>on some of these hot button cultural issues, they're going

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<v Speaker 1>to have to there that not as many. It was

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<v Speaker 1>such a big deal when I was a kid, but

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the way the way things change. But I

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<v Speaker 1>don't know where this is going to lead our politics.

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<v Speaker 1>It's it's always seemed weird to me that because I

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<v Speaker 1>live in an area where there are a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>Hispanic families lined up to go to church on you know,

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<v Speaker 1>every Sunday, and uh, you know, the Democratic Party is

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<v Speaker 1>not exactly church going friendly. So I've never understood how

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<v Speaker 1>that fit together. Well. Look, I mean, when you know,

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<v Speaker 1>voters of all stripes make decisions about where they feel

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<v Speaker 1>most at home. I mean, there are plenty of Republicans

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<v Speaker 1>in the suburbs that have been a part of the

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<v Speaker 1>GOP coalition. They're not a part of the coalition because

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<v Speaker 1>us they're fixated on trying to reduce abortions, or because

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<v Speaker 1>they embrace the Second Amendment to what other Republicans do

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<v Speaker 1>in other um parts of the country or in rural

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<v Speaker 1>neighborhoods or ex Serman neighborhoods. But you know, for reasons

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<v Speaker 1>of taxes and regulations, how small businesses are treated by

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<v Speaker 1>the government, uh, for issues of foreign policy. They're part

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<v Speaker 1>of the Republican coalition. So it's it's natural to find

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<v Speaker 1>voters in a coalition. They don't agree on a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of things. That they agree on the things that matter

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<v Speaker 1>to them and um so that and that's where they are.

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<v Speaker 1>But when things change too much, it can cause you

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<v Speaker 1>on particular issues, it can cause them to reconsider. Hey,

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<v Speaker 1>I gotta ask you this before we let you go.

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<v Speaker 1>I ask your colleague Sarah Westward about it, and I'm

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<v Speaker 1>wondering what your take is. She seemed to feel like

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<v Speaker 1>the zeitgeist in d C was that Joe Biden will

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<v Speaker 1>will at some point give a speech where he says

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<v Speaker 1>he's stepping aside for the next generation or something like that,

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<v Speaker 1>will not finish out his first term. What do you

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<v Speaker 1>think will not finish out his first term? No, no, no,

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<v Speaker 1>no, no no, no, no, He's finished, well, I'm sorry, not

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<v Speaker 1>not run again. He'll finish his term, but not run again.

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<v Speaker 1>So I don't have reporting to give you. What I

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<v Speaker 1>can tell you is that the man wanted to be

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<v Speaker 1>president for fifty years and you just don't just walk

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<v Speaker 1>away from that. I think he wants to run again.

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<v Speaker 1>I think that he intends to run again. I'm just

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<v Speaker 1>not convinced he's actually going to run again when they

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<v Speaker 1>have to sit down and game out a re election

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<v Speaker 1>campaign where he's gonna have to be much more aggressively

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<v Speaker 1>public and on the road because there will not be

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<v Speaker 1>knock on what a raging pandemic that forces everybody to

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<v Speaker 1>be inside. Does he turn to come, does he turn

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<v Speaker 1>to Kamala, or does he say we should open it

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<v Speaker 1>up to all comers. It really doesn't matter what he does,

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<v Speaker 1>because all comers are going to come after it. Vice

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<v Speaker 1>President Harris has not established herself as a political figure

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<v Speaker 1>with a base of power or report within the party

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<v Speaker 1>that is sufficient to keep other ambitious Democrats out of

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<v Speaker 1>an open sea bris. I know you don't have reporting

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<v Speaker 1>on it, but do you think that's the most likely scenario,

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<v Speaker 1>just based on your reading of the tea leaves? I

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<v Speaker 1>just think it's a toss up. You know. Some days, honestly,

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<v Speaker 1>I just I'm convinced he's gonna run Another days. I

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<v Speaker 1>think to myself, when you're eighty two headed toward eighty six,

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<v Speaker 1>if you could finish the second term, the you know,

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<v Speaker 1>the presidency ages everybody. Right, you go into the presidency

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<v Speaker 1>in your mid foties or mid fifties, and if you're

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<v Speaker 1>not gray yet, you come out gray. Most of the reason,

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<v Speaker 1>two term presidents are happy to be done with everything.

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<v Speaker 1>In fact, one term presidents usually because as much as

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<v Speaker 1>you want the job, as ambitious as you are, it's

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<v Speaker 1>so taxing that once you're done, you're just done. And

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<v Speaker 1>so you know, that's I think what Joe Biden and

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<v Speaker 1>his family I unfortunately about a second term. I have to, unfortunately,

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<v Speaker 1>have to let you go. I appreciate you answering that question,

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<v Speaker 1>because I know reporters don't like to speculate. But David Rucker,

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<v Speaker 1>we'll have you on again soon. It's going to be

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<v Speaker 1>a spicy couple of years, no doubt about that. Armstrong

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<v Speaker 1>and Jetti