‘Despicable’: David Axelrod Rips Democratic Stunts at Trump Speech

Longtime Democratic operative David Axelrod deplored Democratic stunts at President Donald Trump’s address before a joint session of Congress on CNN Tuesday night, even going so far as to call one of them “despicable.”

Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was removed from the House chamber on the order of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after he repeatedly heckled the president on Tuesday night, and some Democrats were criticized for not standing when Trump recognized a child cancer survivor and Marc Fogel, who had been imprisoned by the Russian Government until last month.

Axelrod had harsh words for both Trump and some members of his party after the speech.

He weighed in after Erin Burnett commented on Trump’s remarks about the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania last summer.

“I’m sure that’s an emotional moment that connected with a lot of people,” conceded Axelrod. “I just want to-,160 years ago tonight, Abraham Lincoln gave his inaugural, his second inaugural address. He said, ‘With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds.’ What a different spirit that was, and that was after a civil war. So it’s one thing to mind our differences. It’s another thing to try and heal our differences. And that is, you know, that’s the difference between real leadership and political expediency.”

“Would it have been healing to stand for Marc Fogel?” asked conservative commentator Scott Jennings. “Might have been.”

“No, I agree! You know, you are absolutely right, Scott. I will do what you will not. I will say, I thought Democrat, I thought that was-, I think there were times when they should have risen. I think what Al Green did was despicable. I liked Elissa Slotkin’s speech. I think that’s where Democrats should go,” replied Axelrod. “That doesn’t obviate the fact that you shouldn’t exploit our differences. You should try and solve problems and heal our differences. I don’t see that inclination on the part of this president.”

Watch above via CNN.