CNN Cheers Maine Democrat Finding ‘Moral Courage’ for Gun Control After Shooting

In the aftermath of the deadly mass shooting in Maine, CNN This Morning on Friday spent time touting a moderate Democrat congressman who has now switched to the liberal side on gun control as the show also took time to single out the only five congressional Democrats who voted against an “assault weapon” ban last year.

Left-leaning CNN analyst Natasha Alford declared that Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) had “moral courage” in switching sides on the issue after the shootings in his state while CNN Republican Alyssa Farah Griffin lauded the move as “fairly bold.”

Co-host Poppy Harlow first touched on the subject in the first hour as she interviewed Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) about the murder spree. Harlow alluded to “strong gun culture” in Maine as she set up the segment:

This mass shooting has torn apart a town and a state with some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation — one that has often prided itself on a strong gun culture of gun rights while still being a very safe place to live. But, as the editorial board for the Portland Press Herald writes, that illusion is now shattered. Quote, “Gone is the idea that Maine is unusually safe or otherwise somehow immune from the rampant disease that is gun violence and mass shooting. And, even in our grief, we have to ask again, why we are not doing more to keep public places safe from senseless massacre.”

In her second question, Harlow followed up: “I was struck by the Boston Globe headline, ‘Gun Violence Invades a State of Grace,’ because that’s one thing that just made Maine so unique. I wonder what you make of your fellow Democrat in Congress, Jared Golden, saying this yesterday.”

Then came a clip of Congressman Golden declaring that he has changed his view of gun laws:

I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime. The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure, which is why I now call on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing in my hometown of Lewiston, Maine.

A couple of hours later, the issue of moderate Democrats voting against new gun restrictions was brought up again, with co-host Phil Mattingly calling Democrats who support gun control “mainstream” instead of more accurately calling them liberal:

 That was Democratic Congressman Jared Golden of Maine reversing his long-held stance against the federal assault weapons ban after the shooting that left 18 people dead and 23 injured in his hometown of Lewiston. Now, Golden is one of only five Democrats to oppose a federal ban last July when it passed the House.

The images and names of five House Democrats who voted against an assault weapon ban last year were shown on screen for a few seconds so viewers could see exactly who they were. It was not mentioned that two of the five are no longer in Congress (Ron Kind retired, Kurt Schrader was defeated in a primary).

He soon added:

Jared Golden is someone who is a frontline Democratic members, doesn’t really ever listen to what Democratic leadership says — does his own thing, which is in part why he continues to get reelected  but can be often frustrating to kind of mainstream Democrats. That’s a big deal even if it doesn’t mean that it’s a kind of sea change for everyone.

Alford suggested that Second Amendment supporters are not thinking of what’s best for their constituents as she also took a jab at newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson:

Then, Griffin — the kind of Republican analyst the liberal media like best — went along with the premise of the discussion that there needs to be more gun control and speculated about what might pass in spite of Republicans usually opposing more gun laws.

This lobbying for more gun control was sponsored in part by DirecTV. Their contact information is linked.

Transcript follows:

CNN This Morning

October 27, 2023

6:36 a.m. Eastern

POPPY HARLOW: This mass shooting has torn apart a town and a state with some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation — one that has often prided itself on a strong gun culture of gun rights while still being a very safe place to live. But, as the editorial board for the Portland Press Herald writes, that illusion is now shattered. Quote, “Gone is the idea that Maine is unusually safe or otherwise somehow immune from the rampant disease that is gun violence and mass shooting. And, even in our grief, we have to ask again, why we are not doing more to keep public places safe from senseless massacre.”

With us now this morning, Democratic Congresswoman Shelley Pingree. She represents Maine’s 1st district, which is south of where the shootings happened. Thank you for being with us this morning. The tragedy is unbearable — I know — for all of you. As you think about Maine and the state you love and the people you represent, how do you move forward from this? What do you think needs to change?

(Congresswoman Chellie Pingree starts by recalling the fear people have had during the manhunt for the gunman.)

CONGRESSWOMAN CHELLIE PINGREE (D-ME): …And, you know, as you said, we’ve thought of ourselves as immune — the safest state in the nation. It’s almost hunting season in November, and so many people own guns and use them safely. We always thought, “Oh, this doesn’t happen in our state,” and here we are. It’s bringing us face to face with reality.

HARLOW: Yeah, I mean, it certainly is —  I was struck by the Boston Globe headline, “Gun Violence Invades a State of Grace,” because that’s one thing that just made Maine so unique. I wonder what you make of your fellow Democrat in Congress, Jared Golden, saying this yesterday. Let’s play it.

CONGRESSMAN JARED GOLDEN (D-ME): I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime. The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure, which is why I now call on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing in my hometown of Lewiston, Maine.

HARLOW: What did you think when you heard that?

PINGREE: No, honestly, I think that conversation is happening throughout Maine, and I commend my colleague for stepping forward and saying, “Now is the time.” As I said, we have a tradition of a hunting culture in our state and a lot of gun ownership, but Jared Golden — our colleague in Congress — knows full well — he served in the military — he knows the difference between a military assault weapon designed to kill and something you take out to go hunting and get yourself a dear. So it’s a very, very different proposition. It’s always been the holy grail in Maine — “Oh, politicians can’t talk about gun laws — it will upset everybody whether you’re in the Maine legislature or in Congress.” I think our day has come. I think people — I already know people are turning to us and saying, “What are you going to do about this? How do you make sure it never happens again?”

HARLOW: And, to that point about things that can be done, do you think that it is time for Maine to have a red flag law? Not a yellow flag law. The yellow flag law makes it harder to take a gun away from someone who is not fit for one, but not as hard as red flags.

PINGREE: Well, absolutely. Sure. And I’ve always been a supporter of the red flag law, and I think there will be a discussion in the Maine legislature about whether to go further. But that is only one piece of this puzzle — banning assault weapons, dealing with massive amounts of ammunition that a shooter like this had — gun registration — you know, there are so many pieces here — background checks. I think they all have to be discussed, and we all have to be aware that we cannot continue to go with the status quo that we have now. We have to take responsibility for the public policy. It makes it easier to own a gun to be in a situation like this, and that no state is immune.

HARLOW; Congresswoman from Maine, Chellie Pingree, thank you so much for your time this morning.

(…)

8:26 a.m. Eastern

CONGRESSMAN JARED GOLDEN (D-ME): I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime. (editing jump) I now call on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles.

PHIL MATTINGLY: That was Democratic Congressman Jared Golden of Maine reversing his long-held stance against the federal assault weapons ban after the shooting that left 18 people dead and 23 injured in his hometown of Lewiston. Now, Golden is one of only five Democrats to oppose a federal ban last July when it passed the House. It, of course, then died in the Senate. Joining us now to discuss, CNN political analyst Natasha Alford as well as CNN political commentator Alyssa Farah Griffin. Natasha, I’m trying to — I was saying about this last night with the…