MIDTERMS BIDEN POLITICAL VIOLENCE -- USAGM
Metadata
- MIDTERMS BIDEN POLITICAL VIOLENCE -- USAGM
- November 1, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script MIDTERMS BIDEN POLITICAL VIOLENCE HEADLINE: US Politicians Condemn Political Violence Ahead of Tense Midterm Vote TEASER: Lawmakers say political violence has no place as deeply divided nation gears up for tense midterm poll PUBLISHED AT: 10/31/2022 at 10:05 pm BYLINE: Anita Powell CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Washington VIDEOGRAPHER: AP, AFP, Zoom VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush, MPage, TD VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, ZOOM (WITH LICENSE), PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:40 VID APPROVED BY: mia TYPE: EDITOR NOTES: )) ((INTRO:)) [[Political violence has cast a pall over the U.S. midterm vote, with poll workers expecting high emotions at election venues and a recent, violent home invasion targeting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. President Joe Biden and other top politicians have condemned the attack, which badly wounded Pelosi’s husband, Paul, and they are calling for an end to political violence as the election looms on Nov. 8. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from Washington.]] ((Establish early voting in US; AP-4404099 and AP-4403777)) ((NARRATOR)) A weekend attack on the spouse of one the most powerful U.S. politicians underscores how divided – and dangerous – the nation is ahead of another divisive election. ((Sequence of aerials of Pelosi house, with police, AP-4404090)) ((COURTESY: KGO)) The attacker missed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi... ((Exterior of hospital where they took Pelosi: AP-4404101)) Instead, seriously injuring her 82-year-old husband, Paul, at their San Francisco home. ((Radio: San Francisco Police Chief William Scott)) ((SOT, English, AP-4404109)) ((COURTESY: KGO)) ((Chief William Scott, San Francisco Police Department)) “This was intentional. And it's wrong. Our elected officials are here to do the business of their cities, their counties, their states and this nation.” ((Establish Biden at event: AP-4404106)) ((NARRATOR)) President Joe Biden condemned the attack. ((SOT, English, AP-4404106)) ((U.S. President Joe Biden)) “Enough is enough is enough. Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against the violence in our politics regardless what your politics are. All of us. All of us together, as Americans.” ((Obama speaking at rally: AP-4404116)) ((NARRATOR)) Former President Barack Obama did so, too, saying “some in office or who aspire to office, work to stir up division.” ((SCOTUS protest sequence: AFP-V000_32D79AP)) Researchers say the violence comes from different directions. Over the summer, conservative Supreme Court justices faced death threats over their decision to reverse a ruling that protects abortion access. Republicans have also expressed concern. ((SCREENSHOT TWEET: https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell/status/1586017719912210440)) ((COURTESY: TWITTER / @LEADERMCCONNELL)) ((NARRATOR)) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted his best wishes to the Pelosi family. ((SCREENSHOT TWEET: https://twitter.com/Mike_Pence/status/1586088902292553731?s=20&t=MyXyflxD-AbEc2JQyqUccg)) ((COURTESY: TWITTER / @MIKE_PENCE)) ((NARRATOR)) As did former Vice President Mike Pence, who tweeted that there “can be no tolerance for violence against public officials or their families.” ((Establish Trump at a campaign rally, AP-4403238)) And former President Donald Trump after initially remaining silent, finally described the attack as “a terrible thing.” ((Establish Trump speaking to crowd on Jan 6)) ((NARRATOR)) Trump was booted off Twitter on January 6, 2021, after the platform deemed that his messages were... ((Show Jan 6 broll)) ((VOA original)) ... inciting his supporters to mount a violent insurrection at the Capitol, in response to Trump’s false claim that the 2020 election was rigged against him. Some of his tweets targeted Pence, who refused to act in Trump’s favor during the vote certification. ((NARRATOR)) Some critics blame Trump for fostering the heightened atmosphere surrounding the midterms elections. ((Musk Twitter broll: AFP V000_32EU6GD)) ((NARRATOR)) Billionaire Elon Musk acquired Twitter just days ago. He tweeted a link to an unfounded rumor by a fringe website about the attack on Pelosi’s husband. It was later deleted after critics said it spread misinformation about the attack. Musk has hinted that he will readmit Trump to Twitter. ((Radio: Darrell West is vice president of governance studies at the Brookings Institution)) ((SOT, English, Zoom, from 3:03, file here: https://app.frame.io/player/7f86714e-b49b-40cd-a8a5-6a6844a64999)) ((COURTESY: ZOOM)) ((Darrell West, Brookings Institution)) “The possibility that Trump could go back on Twitter sends shivers down a lot of people's backs because they worry that that's just going to add to the hyperpolarized environment which we face, there's going to be more extreme rhetoric that takes place and that there could be actual incitements to violence, that then will encourage even additional violence in the future.” ((Establish Merrick Garland making this promise, in this file, AP-4404362)) The Justice Department has pledged to “guarantee a free and fair vote” to all and to not tolerate voter intimidation. ((sequence of Arizona: AP-4403610)) ((COURTESY: KNXV / @ __8675309___)) In Arizona, authorities have stepped up security after incidents of people watching ballot boxes, intimidating voters. ((Sequence of Wisconsin, AP-4404297)) And in the swing state of Wisconsin, poll workers are taking classes to prepare for what they fear could be a tense Election Day. ((Biden early voting, AP-4404198)) If this makes American voters feel sad, frustrated or powerless? West said, there is something each one can do. ((SOT, English, from 5:36, from https://app.frame.io/player/7f86714e-b49b-40cd-a8a5-6a6844a64999 )) ((COURTESY: ZOOM)) ((Darrell West, Brookings Institution)) “People need to participate in politics, the more people who participate the stronger our system will be, and it will help drown out the voices of the extremists. So people need to vote. They need to express their views in a peaceful way. And if individuals do that, our country will be in a better position.” ((Early voting in NCarolina, AP-4404408)) Early voting is happening across the nation now, with Election Day on Nov. 8.
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Location (dateline) in Washington D.C.
- Embargo Date October 31, 2022 23:09 EDT
- Byline ((Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington.))
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English