Cory in the House: a real possibility? Ellen DeGeneres certainly thinks so!
The daytime queen invited Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey on her show Wednesday, where the two had a lovely chat about the state of politics, his relationship with Rosario Dawson, and, of course, his bid for the 2020 presidential election.
After tooting her own horn by recalling Cory’s last appearance in 2012, where she predicted he would one day become senator and later run for president, Ellen asked the 49-year-old about what sets him apart from the other candidates in the already crowded Democratic field and the criticisms that he isn’t “tough enough” for the job.
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To those critics, Booker replied:
“[People] make this mistake where they confuse being strong with being mean or being tough with being cruel. You don’t have to let yourself be pulled down that you go through I think moral vandalism when it comes to your highest ideals. And at a time in this country where we’re seeing toxic Twitter trolling and trash talking, I think the best antidote to that, the best thing that is going to win against that, is not fighting darkness with darkness, but is bringing light and decency and grace back to our politics.”
Now, that’s a candidate: someone who keeps their message positive while simultaneously shading toxic Twitter users — aka Donald Trump.
When pressed on his thoughts about the President, who unleashed yet another angry Twitter rant over the weekend, Booker said he feels that Trump is abusing his “moral platform” as Commander in Chief.
Related: Hillary Clinton Hilariously Hits Back At Trump
A real leader, according to Booker, would use their power to lift people up instead of “push people down,” like Trump does. He explained:
“[At] a time that our country needs redeeming in terms of our connections, we have a president that just seems to continue to want to be doing demeaning. I think you judge a leader not by how much they push people down, but how much they lift people up. And so, those tweets to me were indicative of a serious problem and they are – you know, there’s a Stanford researcher that’s shown that kindness and decency goes viral if you do one kind act witnessed by others it actually moves multiple degrees of separation. This person studies this. Unfortunately, it’s the same thing with cruelty. So, what do we want from the highest office in the lands evidenced?”
Booker went on to say that a politician can be both strong and uplifting, like the late Senator John McCain:
“He was one of those people when I first came to the senate that called me to his office, sat me down, and gave me incredible advice. Not partisan at all. But calling on me to be a statesman. He said this senate has too much particularistic smallness. He said, I want you to be a larger senator. Be somebody who sets a tone, sets energy. It was just a great talk.”
Booker also made it clear he has nothing but admiration for Ellen, whom he praised for being a “leader for the spirit of goodness, kindness, and decency.”
Being the agent of decency she is, Ellen proceeded to get the tea about the Senator’s “very private” relationship with the RENT actress. Booker didn’t share much about how he and Dawson got to know each other, but he praised his girlfriend as “an incredible human being” who is helping him become his best self.
He said:
“[As] our relationship grows it’s difficult, but she is such a deeply soulful person. And has taught me a lot of lessons about love already. Sometimes, you show the greatest strength when you make yourself vulnerable. She really has this nurturing spirit that has made me more courageous not just in the love that I project and want to see in our country, but I think in our own personal relationships to love more fearlessly. I’m very, very blessed to be with somebody that makes me a better person.”
Sounds like a future first lady if you ask us!
Ellen thought so, too — but she advised Corey to wait until after he was president to walk down the aisle so America could have its own royal wedding. Ha!
FLOTUS or not, Booker is keen on having a woman by his side if he makes it to the White House. He promised Ellen that there will be “gender diversity” on his ticket… and, of course, he’s keeping a spot open for the host in case she wants a career change.
What a charmer!
Do U think Booker has what it takes to take the White House, let alone win the primaries? Watch his full interview (above) and sound off in the comments.