CNN’s Don Lemon is rejecting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) claim that reporters “could do a better job” selling their agenda.
On Wednesday, Lemon said, “It’s not our job to sell the narrative. It’s our job to discuss what you are doing, and yes, part of what’s in it. But it’s not our job to sell your agenda for you. They are not selling their agenda.”
He went on to say he is “so enthusiastic” about this issue because he believes “our democracy is on the line.”
“And I don’t want America to lose its democracy. I don’t want America to be a country of minority rule. And I don’t want America to be a place where Black and brown people like me, whose ancestors fought and died for the right to vote, are restricted from going to the voting booth. That is the most un-American thing to do,” he added.
Finally, Lemon said, “Democrats get your butts in gear and get passionate about saving this damn country. You’re not doing it! You’re weak! You are weak. You are weak.”
Watch the video below:
Don Lemon: Not Media's Job to Sell Agenda, 'Democrats Get Your Butts In Gear! You Are Weak!' pic.twitter.com/Ez5OpyZ6GJ
— Alexandra Datig | Front Page Index (@alexdatig) October 21, 2021
Lemon’s comments come hours after Senate Republicans blocked Democrats from starting debate on legislation to overhaul voting and election laws for the second time this year, as IJR reported.
On Oct. 12, Pelosi was asked if Democrats “need to do a better job at messaging” their $3.5 trillion spending bill.
“Well, I think you all could do a better job of selling it, to be very frank with you because every time I come here, I go through the list, Family Medical Leave, the issues that are in there,” she said.
The California Democrat, noting the sweeping scope of the bill, said it is “hard to break through when you have such a comprehensive package.”
A recent CBS News poll found that just 10% of Americans say they know a lot of specific details about what is in the bill, while 29% say they do not know what’s in it, and 33% say they have a “general sense” of the bill.
Additionally, 59% of respondents said they heard about the price tag, while 58% said they heard about tax increases for high-income Americans.
While few respondents said they know specific details of the bill, the poll found that many of the respondents said they support provisions that are in the package.
