Progressive California Rep. Ro Khanna (D) surprisingly argued in favor of open political discourse with those of opposing views and sensibly noted that, rather than joining an echo chamber, civil debate helped identify “weaknesses in [his] point of view.”
Khanna, the former co-chair of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (D-VT) 2020 presidential campaign, sat down with Politico’s Ryan Lizza for the “Playbook Deep Dive” podcast where they discussed President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda. Despite consistently voting in favor of Biden’s policies, Khanna articulated one position that made sense.
“The point is,” the California lawmaker said of a recent interview with Neil Cavuto, “if I hadn’t gone on Fox News and I hadn’t subjected myself to that debate and I hadn’t probably lost the debate in that moment, I would never think of the counterarguments.”
Not only did Khanna contend that the discussion was beneficial, he went as far as to concede that he lost the debate with the Fox News host. “I was on Neil Cavuto with Fox News and he got the better of the argument. I did better…well, I will give myself an A-minus on the Fox News Sunday reports. Cavuto got the better of the argument,” he explained.
Referring to Cavuto as “one of the thoughtful anchors,” the representative went on to highlight the boon from these debates, saying, “But that’s the whole point of going on, right? I mean, now I’m much better armed in thinking about those arguments. So I can have a better shot at convincing the independents in my district because I now have a response.”
In one of several appearances on Fox News this week, Khanna had been arguing for a “windfall profit” tax on oil companies as part of a measure to address skyrocketing energy costs. If he hadn’t made the appearances, he acknowledged, “I’d never think of the weaknesses in my own point of view.”
In the short term, we have to increase oil production in order to bring down gas prices. In the long term, we need a moonshot for renewable energy to end our dependence on Russia, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Iran. pic.twitter.com/bKB5MpNSTH
— Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) April 4, 2022
“Short-term we have to increase oil production, there is no doubt,” Khanna argued as part of a “common sense” solution to energy woes with Maria Bartiromo. He did go on to petition for a “moonshot” style program on renewable energy, but even that could be reasonably grounded as opposed to the zealous push by the Biden administration to make an abrupt change without a lengthy and natural transition for the markets.
“I am of that view that you should go on not just because it’s the politically smart thing to do,” Khanna added to Lizza, “because it will help you test your ideas.”
However, his openness for debate evidently has a tolerance threshold, as he admitted he currently has an unwillingness to have a discussion with Tucker Carlson. “I haven’t gone on Tucker. I mean, recently. I went on early on. But, yeah, there are limits. Obviously, there are limits. To anything there are limits.”
“But you’re more inclined to go than not to go, if you get asked?” Lizza inquired.
“I did Ben Shapiro,” Khanna said to balance his apprehension with Carlson and added he is “more inclined to go than not go, partly because it forces you to have an engagement.”
The representative further added that he believed a willingness to participate in venues with those who don’t agree with you was part of the success of former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
“I think if there’s one thing other than an aspirational vision that I would wish for people who share my same perspective on the policies, it is just to have a little bit less judgment, a little bit more humility,” he went on.
“You may not have the whole truth,” Khanna concluded. “You may not have the whole perspective. Don’t be so self-assured of your own moral superiority.”
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Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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10 thoughts on “Progressive Rep admits losing debate with Fox host helped him ‘think of the weaknesses’ in ideology”
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Listen to what he said. He admits he lost the argument, but doesn’t actually concede anything. He says he learned how to come up with answers that further support HIS views. He wasn’t enlightened at all!
I fail to recall any time Clinton or Obama engaged with anyone who held a different point of view and I can’t see that his and Cavuto’s views would differ greatly since Cavuto is a Never Trumper punk.
The Biden regime is committing treason.
Well he almost got red pilled….and he is smart.enough to NOT mess with Tucker Carlson….Tucker would eat his lunch
My 75 year old aunt texted me last night to tell me she and my uncle tested positive for Covid. I drove to their house at 12:30 AM and dropped off Ivermectin pills, HCQ, zinc, and Quercetin. She told me today her fever came down and that I may have saved her life. Uncle is feeling great. This is considered a negative outcome by the cabal. They would prefer my family dead. Their evil is no longer a theory and very much a reality. You can get your ivm by visiting ivmcures.com
HI, there, Proud Girl! I see your aunt and uncle have COVID for the 4th time and coincidentally called you at exactly the same time of night as they did the first three times for your help. Maybe you’re treatment cocktail isn’t working? Given how many times they’re had covid it’s actually making them more susceptible? Maybe they should stop calling you for help because what you’re doing isn’t working?
Maybe you should stop posting this ridiculous lie.
😂😂😂
Ro Khanna saying that he shouldn’t be so sure of his moral superiority is the first intelligent thing I have EVER heard him say, and I hear a LOT because he is a local politician for me. Otherwise, he is the typical Leftist that thinks he knows what’s better for people than they do.
As for Obama listening to and and engaging with those of differing views, that’s laughable. Nobody has been more dismissive of opposing opinion than Obama. He is the cause of much of the behavior we see from Leftists. They don’t have a defensible opinion – they just seek to demonize their opposition. That’s all Obama.
BTW, BizPac, the new comment system stinks!
Progressives are COMMUNISTS! Research the Labor Progressive Party in the United States!
Ro Khanna is just another (dem) example that proves that leftism is a mental illness.