Instead of being angry at Republicans for demolishing yet another government funding plan. Yesterday, Democratic Representative David Scott decided to go after the press instead. And if you don't know who David Scott is, you're not alone. Now hear from Ken Klippenstein. [00:00:16] Here's a picture of 79 year old Congressman, Representative David Scott, yelling at a photographer who gave you the right to take my picture blank. This picture was taken in a public place. Now, keep in mind they were again outside in public. [00:00:32] And this is Scott's 12th term. So you think he'd be used to this process by now? But there's more. The staffer who was assisting Scott then returned to the area where the journalists were gathered and confronted Politico photographer Frances Chung, [00:00:48] asking which outlet he was with and saying, I'm going to ask you to not come and take a picture of us as we're trying to get into the Capitol. When Chung replied that he hadn't gotten in the way, the aide pushed back, raising their voice and repeatedly saying no, adding, I'm going [00:01:04] to ask you very nicely not to do that. We will be reaching out to your editor. Whoever it is. We have to reach out to Jake. - They're calling the manager. - Yeah? Yeah. Okay. It was. It was her name. Karen? Okay. So. All right, look, this story is so interesting on a couple of fronts. [00:01:23] So there's a whole heap of senile people in Congress, but mainstream media never covers it because. Oh, no access. And we have to worship the powerful, etc.. And, I mean, guys, you've seen it with your own eyes, right? Joe Biden, his brain was melting on camera and they're like, no, it's not. [00:01:41] No it's not. He's young and dynamic behind the scenes, behind the scenes. Right. So I'm sure this brother is also young and dynamic behind the scenes. Doesn't even use the wheelchair behind the scenes. Just having fun for the photo op. Okay. So and then we saw Dianne Feinstein. I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend, but like a corpse being wheeled around [00:01:59] by Nancy Pelosi's daughter and they're saying, no, no, she's totally fine. Yeah. They're like, she couldn't say a sentence. Like she was like way past Joe Biden. Like, no, no, she's fine, she's fine. I don't know what you're talking about. And I've told you guys this before, why do they like the older politicians? [00:02:16] Because the return on investment. You never heard of this guy, right? He's the head of the agriculture committee. But you've never seen him before, is my guess. Why? Because they get elected by the donors and then they go into a cave. They never do any press. They never do anything important. [00:02:32] Interesting. They never fight for you. That's why you never see them. Right? And that way, they can survive forever and forever. They might freeze this guy eventually and be like, no, he's fine. Do not ask any questions. Right. Is he still working for the donors? Yes. Good, good. But there's a second part of it, too, which is what you're hearing [00:02:49] from his, handler there. I'm going to call your editor and him saying, like, who do you think you are to take a picture of me, brother? You're a public servant. You're a congressperson. You are literally called a representative, right? [00:03:06] But he thinks, no, I don't want my picture taken. So you will not take it. Okay. And then it's not just him, though. His staffers who are not senile. How dare you? No. Only the donors have access to him. Now the humans will see him. This is an outrage. [00:03:22] Right. And that is their actual expectation. And by the way, when they call the editor nine out of ten times, that works. That's why she makes that threat, right? Because if I call your editor, your editor knows to kiss my ass and make sure you don't get any actual stories out there that might inform people. [00:03:40] There's more. Jackson, what do you think? Yeah, I think the really good point that you made about how, particularly people who, you know, you never heard of, but they've been in this seat for maybe like 20 years or something like that. That's even more prevalent at the local level because Americans in general, [00:03:57] you know, pay most attention to politics when somebody's running for president. We pay even less attention to local politics, unfortunately, because that's where the most direct change can take place for your community and your neighborhoods. But these people will get elected, and they'll be like, this dude's been [00:04:13] in this bench for 35 years. And local government is just as corrupt as the federal government. So corporate America is pulling strings all over the place. And, you know, the less face time you get, the less known you are, the less likely you're going to be held accountable by the public at all. [00:04:29] Because Americans and this is, definitely on us and on us on our education system, we don't really know how this country works as a whole. So if you can go under the radar, then that's really good for you. That's probably why he didn't want his picture taken. Like, no, I don't want nobody knowing who I am, [00:04:44] because this is like when they wrote. Dianne Feinstein out when she was like that old woman from SpongeBob. Like what? What's next? Selling chocolates? I'll never forget that. But yeah. No, all these people are. Oh, we got Chuck Grassley. He's almost 100 years old. [00:05:01] Nancy Pelosi is like, what? She's 84 or something like that. Yep. Nancy. Yeah. 84. Like so many of these people are 81, 82, 84, 78. And like you pointed out, you know, they they have these relationships. They've been having these relationships with these people for decades. [00:05:18] So it's just easier than bringing somebody younger in. That's why AOC didn't make it to the to the position because, you know, make it easier for the donor class. But yeah, no, it's, I think one of the biggest silver linings that we have as progressives are really just anybody who wants a more effective government [00:05:36] is these people are old, you know what I'm saying? Like, their time is just is just come to an end naturally. So we all need to encourage our friends and family and just good people that we know to run for office, because that's really what's going to make the difference at the end of the day. [00:05:51] Let me say real quick, until about a year ago, these three had been running the Democratic Party in the House for, I think almost the entire time I've been covering news, which is like a quarter of a century. Pelosi, who's 84, Clyburn, who's 84, and Steny Hoyer, who's 85. [00:06:09] Absurd change we can believe in. But so to Jackson's point, these people are old. To reiterate, Scott is 79. He was expected to retire earlier this year, but instead he decided to launch a reelection bid back in February. Scott was also the Democratic leader for the House Agriculture Committee, [00:06:27] but was replaced earlier this week after the Democratic caucus voted to make Representative Angie Craig the new ranking member. And it's clear to see why. Take a look. Just in this past year, as of [00:06:44] May 24th, and also in in 2023 alone, you have an outstanding record and not only your record, but the record of President Biden. [00:07:05] Okay, now compare that to a younger, more vigorous version of his past self. - Take a look. - Let's give the truth in this matter. It was under Democratic leadership that we said no. Yes, we have a credit problem, a credit freeze of the credit markets [00:07:21] up in on Wall Street. And we must respond. No, I will not. You had your 15 minutes. I only have two minutes. Now, according to a Politico Politico report earlier this year, when Scott was seeking reelection, even in private meetings, Scott frequently reads from a script and at times has trouble carrying out [00:07:39] substantive conversations in real time about much of the food and agriculture policy that he oversees, according to more than a dozen lawmakers, congressional staff, lobbyists and agriculture advocates who have spoken with Scott in recent months and were granted anonymity to speak candidly about their concerns. [00:07:56] One Democratic lawmaker even stated, David Scott is exhibit A for term limits. He was a respected, talented member who has become diminished and it's painful for people to watch. And I think there is an issue here where their age and their declining mental [00:08:13] capacity has a inhibits their ability to fulfill the obligations of their job. But I do want to point out that friend of the show, Ken Klippenstein, has dubbed this cadre of aging members of Congress the Mothball Mafia. And I just that has been banging around my head the past day since I read that. [00:08:31] Kenny Cliff's okay cause in trouble, as always. Look, if these folks are senile, which they clearly are. Who's actually running their offices? I mean, that's the thing we used to ask about Feinstein. Now, by the way, as we've got drones circling around for months above us [00:08:46] and no one gives us an answer. We've got a mess in Congress. They go to ask the president. Nobody knows who's in charge of the white House now. When Feinstein was being wheeled around, nobody knew who was in charge of her office. And we all had to speculate. Is it Pelosi's daughter? Is it a chief of staff? Is it a donor, etc.? [00:09:03] But let me tell you who's generally in charge, because Mo Brooks, a Republican congressman from Alabama, already clarified it. It's one of my favorite stories, and I put it in my book, Justice is Coming. He said in order to become the head of a committee, you have to raise about $1 million and give it to the other members of your [00:09:21] party in that committee, and that's how you get the committee chairmanship. And and he said, do you think an average Joe or Jane Doe in Alabama has $1 million? Dollars? No. The only people who have $1 million are people who are regulated [00:09:38] by that committee. So almost every committee chairman gets $1 million from the people he's supposed to be regulating to make sure that they do not get regulated, and that's how they get their position. So if you want to know who's actually in charge instead of Scott, [00:09:54] as usual, it's the donors. Exactly. Definitely the donors. But yeah, no, it's as you always point out, the biggest issue is just the the oversaturation of money in politics. Because without taking that out, I don't really I mean, what difference are term [00:10:11] limits really going to make, you know. I mean, you're still going to have you're still going to have, money flowing like crazy. They're just going to find another way to get it in there. So that that continues to be the central issue with our politics in this country. Yeah, 100%. [00:10:26] If you enjoyed this video, that's because of our members. They make us independent. They make us strong and they make us honest. Become a member today by hitting the join button below.