The vice-chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) is calling on the nation’s leaders to “lead by example” and tone down their rhetoric.
During an appearance on CBS News’ ‘Face The Nation” on Sunday, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), the top Republican on the NGA, was asked about a poll that found a majority of respondents believe it is inappropriate for attendees of President Donald Trump’s rallies to chant “lock her up.”
“That’s not a chant I would ever participate in. We need to have a more civil discourse even though it’s a hotly contested presidential race. We need to lead by example,” Hutchinson said.
He continued to say he is “very delighted” that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is safe after law enforcement officials foiled a plot to kidnap and execute her.
Watch the video below:
“That’s not a chant that I would ever participate in,” Arkansas' @AsaHutchinson says of "lock up" chants about Trump's opponents during rallies
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 25, 2020
New @CBSNewsPoll shows a majority of likely voters find the term inappropriate
"We need to have a more civil discourse” he says pic.twitter.com/8WELTAohU2
Hutchinson’s comments come after chants of “lock her up” or “lock him up” have broken out during Trump’s campaign rallies as he spoke about his political opponents.
At a rally in Nevada last week, one supporter chanted “lock her up” — a reference to the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
However, Trump responded, “No, lock him up,” as he accused former Vice President Joe Biden of being a “corrupt politician.”
“Joe Biden is and always has been a corrupt politician,” he said, adding, “He always has been. And as far as I’m concerned, the Biden family is a criminal enterprise. It really is.”
Rally-goers began to chant, “Lock him up.”
In a rally in Michigan, crowds of “lock her up” broke out after the president referenced Whitmer.
Whitmer responded to the chants and accused the president of inciting domestic terrorism as she recounted the plot to kidnap her.
