MSNBC "All in with Chris Hayes" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Maxine Waters

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

HAYES: Those comments precipitated a significant backlash from members of both parties and from the president who, we should note, lied what Waters - - what Waters had said and appeared to then threaten her with violence: "Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extremely low IQ person, has become, together with Nancy Pelosi, the face of the Democratic Party. She has just called for harm to supporters of which there are many of the make bank of America great again movement. Be careful what you wish for, Max."

As you just heard, Maxine Waters did not in any way call for harm to Trump supporters, the president lied.
Joining me now to respond, Representaive Maxine Waters of California.

Congresswoman, let me start with this. You did not call for physical harm or attacks on people, but you did say create a crowd and push back on them. And so I wonder, do you worry the people interpret that as a call to essentially mob intimidation, to use a sort of mass of people to physically threaten people in public spaces Is that what you're calling for? And what do you think of that?

REP. MAXINE WATERS, (D) CALIFORNIA: Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, you're absolutely correct, I did not call for harm for anybody. The president lied again. As a matter of fact, I believe in peaceful protests. I believe that protest is at the centerpiece of our democracy. I believe that the constitution guarantees us freedom of speech. And I think that protest is civil protest.

And so I don't know why the president chose to stretch that out and try to imply that I was causing harm. As a matter of fact, the president calls for more violence than anybody else. But let's not talk about that.

Let's focus on the children, that's what this is all about. It is about the fact that children have been snatched from their parents' arms. They're in cages. They're in jails. They're in prisons. You name it. The parents don't know where they are. And this administration can't tell us where they are.

These parents want to know where their children are. Any parent would want to know where their children are. Most parents in this country seeing what is going on where children have been separated from their mothers and their fathers would feel absolutely outraged about the fact that that is happening, that's what we've got to focus on. This administration had better come up with a plan by which to connect these children and their parents. That's what I'm talking about.

HAYES: So I hear you on that, and I want to sort of follow up the question that was posed by The Washington Post editorial board. But first, I also want you to respond to your Democratic colleagues who have sort of distanced themselves from your comments. And these are people, I should be clear, that I think that agree with you fundamentally on the policy, right, they are against the child family separation policy. They think it's outrageous and morally abominable, but we had Nancy Pelosi said that, strive to make America beautiful again and calling for civility. You had Chuck Schumer who has not been particularly vocal or visible on this
particular issue, but says I strongly disagree with folks who advocate harassing folks if they disagree with you.

What is your response to your Democratic colleagues who say you are out of line? And why are they telling you that?

WATERS: They don't really say what I'm out of line, what they do is try to find a way talk that about civility without attacking me or anybody else.

As the leader of the Democratic Party, I expect that she would do everything that she could to make sure nobody believes that Democrats are out here harassing anybody or causing any violence. And I think that she was very responsible in the way she said that.

They're not attacking me, they're trying to make sure that people understand that we're focused on the children and that we're not focused on this diversion, particularly the way the president would have it sound and make it out to be.

And again, let me just tell you this, I am focused on the children. I've had sleepless nights about the fact that these children do not -- we do not know where they are. The parents don't know where they are. Why can't the administration come up with a plan to connect them and make it public so that we can all get more comfortable with the fact that they are going to be reconnected.

They should not have been separated in the way that it was done in the first place. This president will try to do everything to divert attention. He calls me names. He calls everybody names. As a matter of fact, we expect that from him.

But we expect -- we have come too close to normalizing this president. Listen to some of his statements during his campaign and since he has been president. His violence statements are, I'll quote, "I'd like to punch him in the face. Another violent statement, "knock the crap out of them." Another one, "maybe he should have been roughed up." And then he goes on to say, "try not to hurt him, but if you do, I'll defend you in court. Don't worry about it."

Now if that's not creating violence and supporting violence, what is? I've said nothing about that. I've talked about peaceful protests.

HAYES: Right. And I just want to be clear, though, you don't think that's a good idea. Like, you don't approve the president's language there. You wouldn't call for people to physically threaten, intimidate, or to attack anyone? I just want to be crystal clear on that.

WATERS: Absolutely not. I would not in any way support any violence, anybody being hit or beaten or then say to them I'll have to get you out of jail. This president is guilty of all of that.

Don't forget that they created some of the most violent protests that we've ever seen led by a president of the United States of America.

I'm for the children. I'm for the parents. I want those children connected back to their parents. I want this president to come up with a plan where he can make us all comfortable that this is going to be done.

Now on the entire question of immigration, he is coming off even in another place. He has confused people. But he has not guaranteed us that he is going to get these children back to their parent.

HAYES: All right. Representative Maxine Waters, the president addressing a crowd tonight apparently talking about you. He seems to talk about you a tremendous amount. I thank you for taking some time to be with me tonight.

WATERS: Well, I expect Don the Conman to say anything. He's a liar. He's deplorable. He cannot be trusted. The American people should be accustomed to that now and know who we have for president, someone who does not deserve to be president of the United States of America. Thank you so very much.

HAYES: Thank you, congresswoman.

WATERS: You're welcome.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source