There’s no other way to describe yesterday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General William Barr other than a colossal failure for House Democrats. Throughout the so-called “hearing,” they asked the Attorney General questions and either didn’t like what he had to say so they wouldn’t let him complete his answer, or wouldn’t even let him talk, period:
SUPERCUT: Democrats reclaim their time during Bill Barr hearinghttps://t.co/lKJ3a5qaOW
Via @DavidRutz pic.twitter.com/5JP8CtaSLF
— Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) July 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/DailyCaller/status/1288280039809744896?s=20
The Attorney General recognized this and said directly, “(t)his is a hearing. I thought I was supposed to be heard,” but Democrats still refused to allow him the opportunity to answer certain questions. At one point Chairman Jerry Nadler – who delayed the start of the hearing in the morning – refused to give the witness a break when one was requested, a break from the committee’s past precedent:
BARR: "Mr. Chairman, could we take a 5 minute break?"
NADLER: "No."
BARR: "I waited an hour for you this morning. I haven't had lunch…"
NADLER: "We are almost finished…"
BARR: "You're a real class act, Mr. Chairman." pic.twitter.com/kccY05AOn5
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 28, 2020
Throughout the hearing, Chairman Nadler was under fire for his ridiculous claim that rioters and organized instigators who are perpetuating violence in cities across the country are a “myth.” Other Democrats used the hearing as an opportunity to blame the federal government and Department of Justice for upholding the law by countering the widespread violence and attacks on law enforcement, instead of rightfully condemning the lawless behavior of these rioters:
Nadler has just ended hearing. One takeaway: House Judiciary Democrats are deeply invested in position that federal law enforcement in Portland has attacked 'peaceful' protesters. Comes even as some pro-Biden voices express concern about riots, violence hurting Democratic cause.
— Byron York (@ByronYork) July 28, 2020
1) Barr is so much better and smarter than these people.
2) Dems seem to be committing to blaming federal law enforcement for rioters’ violence.
3) These hearings are little more than platforms for competing partisan preening. Insufferable.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 28, 2020
Even Democrats recognized how disastrous the hearing was for their party, including one of the main lawyers involved in the impeachment sham who pointedly criticized Chairman Nadler:
Disappointing hearing
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) July 28, 2020
Ineffective opening line of questioning by @RepJerryNadler.
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) July 28, 2020
And reporters from The New York Times and CNN, as well as conservative commentators, also criticized Democrats for not knowing basic facts about the points they sought to raise, and for their overall failed strategy:
Clearly the Dems on the House Judiciary committee decided not to let Barr speak or answer q's — a failing strategy when the members eff up their facts. (a fool who keeps silent is considered wise and all…) And it means that the public gets ZERO new information. https://t.co/4YPDMajy7O
— Katie Benner (@ktbenner) July 28, 2020
WATCH: CNN Reporter blasts Judiciary Committee Democrats for not knowing the facts during today's hearing with AG Barr pic.twitter.com/SWJOQPQF8b
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) July 28, 2020
- National Review (McCarthy): “Democrats Make Mockery of Barr ‘Hearing’”
- Fox News: “Ben Shapiro decries Barr hearing as ‘moral absurdity’: ‘Just ridiculous from beginning to end'”
- The New York Post (Goodwin): “AG Barr destroys Jerry Nadler in another House Democrat testimony disaster”
- Mediaite: “Karl Rove: Democrats at Barr Hearing Look Like ‘Jerks’”
If the goal of this hearing for House Democrats was to show that they will defend the actions of violent rioters who are causing chaos in cities across the country, attack the Attorney General for enforcing the law, and refuse to let him answer questions, then they succeeded. More likely, the American people saw first-hand yesterday how they made an “embarrassing spectacle” of their governing responsibilities and cannot be trusted with power.