House Republican says both parties need to tone down political rhetoric, ‘myself included’

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said on Saturday that both Democrats and Republicans need to tone down their political rhetoric in response to questions about the role of GOP rhetoric in the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), on Friday. 

During an appearance on “CNN Newsroom,” Comer, the ranking member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, told anchor Pamela Brown that the rhetoric from both parties has grown worse over the years. 

“I condemn any attack of political violence from anyone of either party. It’s wrong,” Comer told Brown. “I’ve said for several years now the rhetoric keeps getting worse and worse. And it’s very difficult, the environment out there.”

“You have a lot of people that get so fired up because of various political causes. It puts many politicians in a dangerous spot,” he added.  

When Brown noted the slew of attacks Nancy Pelosi has received from her GOP counterparts over the years, Comer said she was demonized by the right in the same way politicians such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) were demonized by the left.