Just a thought:
Nancy Pelosi had good reasons for not allowing the GOP unfunny clowns and co-conspirators Reps. Jordan and Banks not to be on the Jan. 6 committee so they could disrupt it. The fact that the hearings begin today with the testimony of four police officers who witnessed the attack and were brutalized at the insurrection would put them in the position of trying to attack the testimony of actual uniformed cops.
As the hearing progress I wonder what damage could be done aside from disruption by giving these sleazy Trump apologists a forum.
While there would be entertainment value watching the witnesses and Democrats tear apart the ludicrous questions and claims coming from GOP members of the House Jim Jordan and Jim Banks would present, having them and the other Republicans on the committee would increase the likelihood Trump supporters would watch the hearing.
While Fox News is covering the hearing note the chyron under the image:
Further to the right than Fox News, this a a portion of the Newsmax coverage when the cut away from of one of the police officers to have a guest blame the insurrection of FBI informants, Antifa, and BLM:
The permanent chyron on CNN (below) says “Investigating the Insurrection” which is in stark contrast to the message Fox News is trying to send.
Officer Harry Dunn, above, used the full n-word several times in his opening statement noting how he’d never been called that as a police officer, and how it was used as a threat by rioters against him.
Above: Capitol Cop Says Trump Supporters Called Him The N-Word During Jan. 6 Attack, HUFFPOST
I expect that this committee will get to the truth far more expeditiously not having members like Jordan and Banks on it. However, if an ancillary purpose was to get the message to Trump supporters I think even with it on Fox News most of them won’t bother watching. If Jim Jordan was on it I think lots more would tune in.
NBC is covering the Olympics:
CBS wasn’t covering the hearing live when I checked, but aired an interview with Rep.Liz Cheney who as I post this is asking her first question. It was a pointed one about Donald Trump’s responsibility in inciting the rioters.
ABC is coving the hearing:
I consider Nancy Pelosi to be a consummate politician and also a purist who, in an endeavor to get to the truth wisely initiated a Plan B when, as could be expected, the Republicans blocked the formation of a January 6th commission. I have no idea whether she even considered that by not allowing McCarthy to put on his disruptive show fewer Trump supporting people would watch the proceedings on TV.
In addition to Jordan the rather obscure Rep. Banks, these are the members of the House Kevin McCarthy originally wanted to be on the committee. When Pelosi removed Jordan and Banks, McCarthy in a fit of “how dare Nancy Pelosi tell me what do do pique” pulled all the Republicans.
What do you think of Pelosi’s decision?
Update:
I view Pelosi’s decision in a different way than most of those who commented. I am acutely aware of the need to get to the absolute unvarnished truth in this hearing but I also want to increase the likelihood that at least a few people will have their minds changed and admit to themselves that this was an insurrection that imperiled our democracy. It they refuse to even watch portions of the hearing there’s no chance of changing their beliefs.
Aside from wasting time just how much damage could Jim Jordan do? He could suck up to Trump personally with ludicrous claims, but they would easily be demonstrated to be batshit crazy by the testimony of witnesses and the numerous videos which would be showed.
I know the Trump cultists are a brainwashed bunch of bigots but call me a cock-eyed optimist I would hope there would a few people who wouldn't otherwise watch the hearing just to watch one of their heroes might do so and crack open the door of their closed minds just a little bit and let some of the truth come in.
