The Daily Show: Tim Walz on Trump, Cheney, and Gun Control

The Daily Show: Tim Walz on Trump, Cheney, and Gun Control

Newly introduced to his role as a candidate for vice president alongside Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, a.k.a. America’s dad, stopped by The Daily Show on Monday to discuss his campaign and the party’s strategy to win over former Republican voters.

Stumping with Jon Stewart

Walz and host Jon Stewart started their conversation with a pressing political question: Why are the New York Giants doing so terribly this season? The Minnesota governor suggested that the team should have kept running back Saquon Barkley, who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, and offered the director’s chair of “pay the money.”

Bringing in the Cheneys

A vocal critic of Dick Cheney during his tenure as George W. Bush’s vice president, Stewart was skeptical of the decision to tout the former VP’s support and campaign alongside his eldest daughter, former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney. “The Cheney thing—do we really have to do that?” asked Stewart. “It goes broader than that,” replied Walz. “Look: Bernie Sanders, Dick Cheney, Taylor Swift.”

Stewart, however, pushed back: “What country did Taylor Swift get us to invade?”

Walz argued that the Cheneys’ endorsement is a good thing, citing an interview with a Republican supporter in Omaha who said, “I can’t stand with this guy anymore. That’s not the party of Reagan. This isn’t freedom.”

Reaching Out to Republicans

Walz emphasized that many Republicans feel they no longer have a place in the GOP and are actively looking for an alternative to Donald Trump. “For a lot of ’em, they’ve never crossed over that line,” he said. “And you can say it about Liz Cheney and Dick Cheney and some of those that did show some courage to cross over; they don’t agree. These are folks that were told… ‘I’m historically Republican, I’m gonna vote Republican.’ But they don’t have a home anymore. And I think for a lot of cases, they hear the noise that’s out there. But that’s why I’m out there talking to ’em.”

Gun Control and Safety

After discussing the importance of gun control, Stewart found a sly way to reference the time when the elder Cheney accidentally shot hunting partner Harry Whittington in the face while quail hunting. “One of the real first qualifications of being a vice president is obviously rifle safety,” Stewart quipped. “I can’t think of a vice president in recent memory that used a shotgun irresponsibly.”

Conclusion

In the end, Walz made a strong case for the importance of reaching out to Republicans and Democrats alike to find common ground on issues such as gun control and the economy.

FAQs

• What did Tim Walz say about the New York Giants’ performance this season?
  • "They should have kept Saquon, pay the money."
• Why does Walz think it’s a good idea to bring in the Cheneys’ endorsement?
  • It shows an openness to including former Republicans in the Democratic party.
• What did Jon Stewart think of the Cheneys’ endorsement?
  • He was skeptical, but ultimately agreed with Walz’s reasoning.
• What did Stewart say about gun control and rifle safety?
  • "One of the real first qualifications of being a vice president is obviously rifle safety. I can’t think of a vice president in recent memory that used a shotgun irresponsibly."
• What did Walz say about the needle Good Republicans are looking for a new way?
  • "I think for a lot of cases, they hear the noise that’s out there. But that’s why I’m out there talking to ’em."