Fox News "Hannity" - Transcript Interview with John Kennedy
Interview
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Joining us now is Louisiana Senator John Kennedy.
Senator Kennedy, before we get to Speaker Pelosi, I want to first ask you about how the residents of the Louisiana are doing in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY, R-LA: Well, thank you for that, Trey.
This is probably the worst hurricane damage I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of hurricane damage. This storm practically knocked Louisiana into Texas. I was out all day yesterday trying to help my people.
And I got in late last night and I saw the story about Speaker Pelosi violating the coronavirus rules that she has advocated for and that the rest of us mere mortals have to abide by in order to get her hair done. And I thought to myself, isn't this special?
Despite the fact it's against the law, Speaker Pelosi is getting her hair washed and probably getting a neck massage and my people don't even have water. The irony is extraordinary. But, I am not sure -- I'll be glad to explain why I make this statement -- I'm not sure she can help herself.
GOWDY: Well, yeah, I'm going to want you to explain that one. That one is too good. Yes, why can she not help herself?
KENNEDY: Well, Speaker Pelosi is part of what I call the managerial elite. They can strut sitting down. You know who I'm talking about, Trey. The entrenched politicians in Washington, the bureaucrats, the media, the academics, the corporate phonies, they live in the condos with the high ceilings and the important art on the wall.
I call them the shaved truffles crowd. They think they're smarter and more virtuous than the middle class ordinary Americans. They're not, of course.
But here is -- here's the managerial elite -- elite's message of which Speaker Pelosi is part to the -- to the ordinary Americans. You are a bunch of morons. By the way, you are also a bunch of racists.
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So, just shut up. Do what you're told and periodically, we, the managerial elite, will tell you what values and what opinions you have to adopt without debate because we are experts and we are intellectuals.
And that's why most people think now that Washington, D.C. is the place where good ideas go to die.
I'll add one more observation, just my opinion -- the managerial elite of which the speaker is a part, I know they think they are the smartest people in the room. But if they are the smartest people in the room, it's the wrong room, because if they ever get in charge, Trey, you know this, they're going to put America in the ditch. They're going to beat the crap out of America, and the American people don't deserve that.
GOWDY: Senator, one reason I think that you're popular, not only in Louisiana but also in South Carolina, is authenticity. And when I see that video, I see hypocrisy -- the same with the mayor of Chicago telling folks they can protest but not in her neighborhood, the same with elected officials who say you can't eat indoors but I'm going to.
Is there going to be a political price to be paid for hypocrisy?
KENNEDY: Well, Trey, you -- you make a good point. And I don't want to paint with too broad of a brush. All Democrats are not like -- all Democrats are not like this, but too many Democrats today, they -- they don't like ordinary Americans unless they're part of a specific minority group that they deem worthy.
And for most ordinary Americans, the members of the managerial elite of which Speaker Pelosi is a part and I think Vice President Biden is too, they -- they just think that we're all a bunch of deplorables if we're not part of a specific group that they deem worthy. And they don't respect the opinions of ordinary Americans and they don't like us very much.
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And I don't think Americans want to be governed by people who look down on them. I know I don't.
GOWDY: Senator, you had a distinguished career in the law before you joined the United States Senate. What did you think of her "I was set up" defense? And why is it so hard for people in politics sometimes to just say, I'm sorry, I was wrong? Why do you have to say "I was set up"?
KENNEDY: Well, the speaker makes my point. She thinks most Americans are morons and are going to believe that.
You know, when people, ordinary Americans lie to Congress, you can go to jail. When members of Congress lie to the American people, it's called -- it's just politics.
And that's -- that's what the speaker has done. She knows that's not accurate. She just got caught but she actually expects the American people to believe that excuse.
GOWDY: Well, my experience has been the American people will forgive you for almost anything except lying.
We've got about 30 seconds left. What can people that love your state but don't live there do to help you in the coming days and weeks?
KENNEDY: You can go to my website, Kennedy.Senate.gov. There are a number of ways you can help in terms of sending food, sending prayers, sending charitable contributions.
We'll get through this. Americans -- Louisianans and Americans are tough as a boot. We will -- we will show the American people what it's like to be an American. We understand Louisiana, that getting, you know, knocked down is not failure. Failure is not getting up. We'll get back up.
GOWDY: Thank you, Senator. God bless you and everyone else in Louisiana. Thank you.
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