Five Thoughts on 60 Minutes Interview of Marjorie Taylor-Greene

This evening, I watched 60 Minutes interview of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene and would like to share the following five thoughts.

1. Like It Or Not, Marjorie Taylor-Greene is a Legitimate Political Force in This Country

There have been complaints in some quarters that this interview legitimizes Marjorie Taylor-Greene. Like it or not, Marjorie Taylor-Greene is a legitimate political force in this country. MAGA love of MTG rivals that of Trump. If not for her, Kevin McCarthy isn't the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Despite calls to ignore her, that horse has left the barn and now is the time to corral her or, at the very least, demonstrate to the country how she is way out of control.

2. Lesley Stahl Got MTG to Agree With The Statement "The Democrats Are a Party of Pedophiles"

Because 60 Minutes interviewed MTG, Lesley Stahl was able to get her to agree with the statement, "The Democrats are a party of pedophiles." adding, "They support grooming children." After Stahl challenged her statement, MTG dug in further:

Democrats, Democrats support, even Joe Biden, the president himself, supports children being sexualized and having transgender surgeries. Sexualizing children is what pedophiles do to children.

While there is a far too large segment of this country which support MTG's sentiments, it doesn't represent a majority of the country. A great many independents and even a few Republicans would say, "That woman is out of her fucking mind!!! She should not be allowed near our nuclear codes."

3. MTG: Name Calling Doesn't Bother Me; Also MTG: All They've Done is Call Me Names

Aside from calling Democrats pedophiles, it is clear from this interview that Greene lacks the temperament to yield political power and was on the defensive for much of the interview. 

It isn't to stay MTG didn't try to keep up appearances. She claimed, "I don't let name calling bother me or offend me. I just don't."

But when Stahl challenged MTG about calling Democrats pedophiles, she made it very clear she was bothered and offended:

Well, I would ask the same question of the other side, because all they've done is call me names and insult me non-stop since I've been here, Lesley. They call me a racist. They call me anti-Semitic, which isn't true. I'm not calling anyone names. I'm calling out the truth, basically.

MTG's relationship with the truth is about as tenuous as of defeated former President Trump.

4. Trump Thinks MTG Should Run For The Senate in 2026

Speaking of Trump, the segment ran a brief clip of the defeated former President calling on MTG to run for Senate in Georgia at a recent rally in Waco, Texas.

It is an interesting comment on Trump's part because MTG has made no secret of her desire to be his VP nominee next year. As loyal as MTG has been to Trump perhaps Trump would rather have her run for Senate because having Greene on the ticket would take away the spotlight from him. Between her present position in the House and being Trump's VP pick, I don't think MTG is inclined to run for the Senate. Jon Ossoff would be a formidable opponent and given the antipathy of many Georgia Republicans towards Trump that antipathy would likely extend to MTG. However, MTG might be more amenable to a Senate run in 2026 if Trump loses in '24 while Democrats regain control of the House.

5. Lesley Stahl Ought To Have Focused More on January 6th

However, the segment made no mention of January 6th and Stahl ought to have done so. Given MTG's recent claims had she led the insurrection it would have been armed, leading a Congressional delegation to visit January 6th defendants in jail and her forthcoming appearance in New York City on Tuesday to "protest" Trump's formal indictment, 60 Minutes ought to have highlighted her insurrectionist sympathies which might account for why there were some concerns about legitimizing her. Not touching on this matter is a glaring omission. Whatever MTG's numerous shortcomings, it is all more the reason not to underestimate her capacity for destructive behavior.