Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Transportation, joined Meet The Press with Chuck Todd on NBC to discuss the Rittenhouse verdict, Democrats’ big government socialist agenda, and infrastructure. Excerpts and a full video are below.
On the Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict:
“In this case, the symbolism that surrounded I think it is not indictive of the facts on the ground. I think [Montana Senator] John Tester explained it pretty well. Justice has been done by a jury of his peers. I think, frankly, when you look at the video tape and things that became more apparent later in the trial, you find a kid that was in the wrong place at the wrong time, should not have had a gun with him probably. But he didn’t provoke what was happening to him and he defended in self-defense.”
“Justice was done, but the rhetoric on both sides was inappropriate to the actual event itself.”
“We are living in a time in our country where the Congress that you see that appears very divided is really a reflection of our communities that are very divided. We all have a role to play on this. It’s not just top-down or bottom-up. We all have a role and we ought to use it to do that.”
“What I get concerned about is a political movement that devalues police officers, that then cuts their funding, that makes them into the bad guys in keeping our streets safe and our communities safe. That kind of rhetoric I’m afraid leads to the very same violence that we’re talking about.”
On Democrats’ Big Socialist Agenda:
“Now we’re getting forced with this crazy big government socialist agenda driving up inflation and driving up our debt and our deficit coming at us by the Democrat Party that’s gotten very comfortable with anti-Semitism and socialism. That’s a problem. We all need to get together again and have this conversation about what’s good for America, not what’s good for our tweets tomorrow.”
On the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill:
“I happen to be the Ranking Member of the [EPW] Transportation Infrastructure Subcommittee, so I helped write a good part of this bill. I was advocating for it long before [Senate Republican Leader] Mitch McConnell announced his support for it. He didn’t induce me in any way.”
“I don’t make my decision on legislation based on whether it hurts or helps [former President] Donald Trump or whether it hurts or helps [President] Joe Biden. Unfortunately right now a lot of the rhetoric centers around ‘This gave Joe Biden a victory.’ Whether he gets a victory or not, I happen to believe that not every transaction in Washington requires a loser. When North Dakotans can win and Joe Biden looks good in the process, I’m more concerned about the North Dakotans.”
On the State of Political Parties and American Democracy:
“[Our founders] did not want one party or one philosophy governing this country. I do worry about that. I think the Senate has been pretty exceptional for the most part.”
“Parts of our parties are so polarizing. I think that there’s a tendency to run to those corners rather than stand in the gap and have a better conversation and use our influence both ways.”