The Pro-Putin Family Leadership Summit '23
Principle over politics (as if)...
Former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson continued to undermine Democracy in Des Moines on Friday at the Family Leadership Summit 23. From questioning US support of Ukraine, the validity of the 2020 election, to Covid vaccinations and more, he sowed doubt.
For a conservative faith-based event, and given the success of Governor Kim Reynold’s school choice and abortion legislation, one would have thought those successes would have been highlighted. Not so much.
Tim Scott was by far the best speaker at the event, and I was delighted when he stood up and ignored Carlson and spoke directly to the audience. Carlson pushed Scott on his support for the funding of Ukraine’s defenses in the aftermath of Russian aggression, but Scott stood firm.
I think the media needs to change their narrative of people like Carlson and Republican Legislators in D.C. Instead of saying they are “questioning our support of Ukraine, they should call it like it is, saying that they are “pro-Putin,” or “Putin appeasers.”
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson was flustered by Carlson’s attack on several fronts, including his veto of a gender-affirming care ban while governor and his stance on Ukraine support. Carlson also created the false dichotomy of helping in the defense of Ukraine and sealing our border.
Carlson criticized former Vice President Pence for his support of Ukraine. Carlson presented Ukraine as the bad actor, not Russia, and implied that Mexico was a greater threat to the United States than Russia.
Pence was asked about January 6, and whether it was an insurrection or not. He demurred, and said something about it being tragic and referenced the loss of life of the right-wing cultural icon and insurrectionist 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt who was shot and killed while storming the capitol. That he mentioned Babbitt, a member of the violent mob who wanted to “hang Mike Pence,” rather than the five police officers who died in the line of duty protecting Pence and members of Congress shows Pence has a spine of jelly.
The audience booed Pence for his support of Ukraine. Many in the Republican Party are ready to abandon Ukraine. They are all pro-Putin.
Pence complained to the media that Carlson didn’t ask him about abortion.
The real media were there.
As were Steve Deace and Glenn Beck, masters of disinformation and disruption (because it pays well in their alternative media universe). Kari (elections are always stolen unless Republicans win) Lake, a Trump surrogate, was there (middle right).
I think Reynolds is doing a brilliant job of building power and getting out in front of the national media. Call the legislature back into session to pass the fetal heartbeat bill right before the Family Leader presidential event, and then sign it into law at the event in front of her base and the national—no international media? That’s smart. And look how she does it—by recognizing the support of the Republican legislature by bringing them onstage to honor them.
We’ll see if her abortion ban is a winning issue in the next election.
The experts who contribute to the must-listen “On Iowa Politics” by the Gazette believe the date of the special session was incidental to the timing of the special session and the Family Leader event, but I’m not so sure. Regardless, it worked out well for Reynolds.
Carlson began his discussion with Haley casting doubt on the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s win in 2020. Haley said that while there were irregularities, Biden won. The crowd grumbled. Haley is for the continued support of Ukraine and stood up well to Carlson.
Vivek Ramaswamy said he would end support for Ukraine on day one of his administration, and his “plan” for ending the war is more Putin appeasement. He’s chameleon-like, and another member of the media suggested to me that he’s like a candidate who was dreamed up in a lab. The first AI presidential candidate says he’s going to win in a landslide.
The “Moms for Liberty” were recognized.
The My Pillow guy Mike Lindell has adoring fans.
Carlson and DeSantis hit it off like the old Ivy League frat boys they are. Iowa Republicans love DeSantis. Trump recently condemned Reynolds for not endorsing him, and it appeared that he wasn’t missed at the event. I only saw a couple of pieces of MAGA gear. Notably, Reynolds sat next to Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis prior to her husband taking the stage. My friend and fellow Iowa Writers’ Collaborative member Doug Burns has a nice piece on the event and how Reynolds could play “kingmaker.”
Bob Vander Plaats, the president of The Family Leader, hovered over the event as host. If he and Kim Reynolds are on the same page with respect to who they feel will be the best nominee and make it public, they will likely sway the nomination process that direction.
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Great coverage! Putin appears to have nearly the entire Republican Party in his grasp. Perhaps this is what Kruschev meant by America destroying itself from within?
Concise and informative. Thank you!