Fox News "The Story with Martha MacCallum" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Dan Crenshaw
Interview
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REP. DAN CRENSHAW, R-TX: Oh, and I agree with everything, Karl said. It's unfortunate that, that we've gotten to this point, right? It -- you know, years ago, it didn't matter what side of the aisle are you on, you were still proud of your country. And that started the change over time.
You know, and I think, as Americans, too many people have started to see the imperfections of America and our imperfections in foreign policy as a sign that America is inherently bad, in the -- you should no longer be proud of your country.
And I fundamentally disagree with that notion. It -- we should not need a 9/11 to bring us together. We shouldn't need the anniversary to bring us together. We should still be proud of our country, were the greatest country that has ever lived, we are responsible for the most prosperity and human good that has ever been created. And we should be proud of that fact and talk about it more.
MACCALLUM: Yes. I want to put up a couple of things on the screen. This is Chris Pratt, the famous actor in a t-shirt that says, "Don't tread on me." He was slammed by some on social media, which you mentioned, which I think is behind a lot of the evils that tear us apart these days, unfortunately, for just wearing that t-shirt.
Then, you've got the -- you know, Nike Betsy Ross flag sneaker, which had to be pulled instantly because it had an American flag on the back of it that Colin Kaepernick, believed was racist and oppressive.
I mean, Karl, it's a very -- it's a very uphill battle. And I'm not sure where the leadership comes from that you're talking about that begins to make a difference in this kind of environment.
ROVE: Yes. Well, the leadership starts with us. And I think Dan is absolutely right about the necessity of us talking about the great -- greatness of America. There is an element in our country that really does want to run down America. That really does say things like somebody who did something, and the symbol of our American independence is a symbol of racism.
And what we need to do is, to be -- is to express pride in America and its role in the world. I happen to be at a conference recently, a very diverse group. Small business people, health care professionals, hospital people, insurance people, and I got a question that allowed me to sort of opine about one area in which were criticized, climate.
Where I said, America is the only major industrialized country in the world that's reducing the absolute level of greenhouse gas emissions. And I have to admit, I got carried away and said, "I'm sick and tired of people running down our country when our country is providing such an example of leadership, and the crowd went wild.
Now, that wasn't my oratory, that's the fundamental sense that's in the heart of most Americans, our country is a great country and we need to stand up for him.
MACCALLUM: Yes. I mean, I remember, 9/11, there were flags everywhere for -- you know, I don't know for how long. You know, a year.
ROVE: Months.
MACCALLUM: More than that.
ROVE: Yes.
MACCALLUM: Months, perhaps, people had them on their cars, everywhere. Now, the flag has become this sort of -- it's a little bit weaponized in the debate that's going on right now, Dan. It's sort of seen as -- you know, I -- for some people, it seeing us like a symbol of President Trump, a symbol that you're a conservative, a Republican. And it really -- I mean, that -- that's something that, that is sad for the country.
I mean, it clearly is something that we should all be able to get behind regardless of our political stripes.
CRENSHAW: Right. And you know, there's not that many things that bring us together as Americans. There's not that many things that make us Americans. OK, it's not the color of our skin, it's not our religion. It's not ethnicity. It's not even necessarily a geographic area that's changed over time too. Right?
It is -- it is an understanding that we have certain ideas in our founding that brought us together. That this idea that all men are created equal. This idea that government is there to protect your inalienable rights. OK?
And that's what makes us American. It is not different colors of skin, it is the red white and blue. It is things like the national anthem, it is things like the Pledge of Allegiance. It is our American flag.
Those are the symbols and ideas that bring us together. And we have to remind ourselves of that. We're in a culture war right now, as you've been indicating, and this is new. And we have to confront it.
MACCALLUM: Yes.
CRENSHAW: And we have to talk about why America is good and why we should be proud of our country.
MACCALLUM: And we need to do it in our schools too. I mean, there are schools where -- you know, wearing a flag, or you know having a flag day is sort of considered a controversial subject, which I just think is so reprehensible. And we need to get past all of that garbage, honestly.
Thank you very much, you guys, Karl --
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ROVE: Martha.
MACCALLUM: Yes. Final thought, sure.
ROVE: Martha, we shouldn't let this moment pass without thanking Dan Crenshaw as the greatest generation that saved the world in World War II. Dan represents the best of the 9/11 generation that rose up to fight Islamic terrorism.
MACCALLUM: Yes, that's well put. And thank you for saying that.
CRENSHAW: Thank you, Karl. Thank you, Martha.
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