GOP, Dems move to lower the temperature after shooting

Republican and Democratic leaders stressed unity Thursday night as members of both parties gathered for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity a day after a gunman opened fire at a practice, injuring House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and three others.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appeared together in their first-ever joint interview on CNN, where they offered well wishes for Scalise, who remained in critical condition Thursday evening.

“Tonight we’re all Team Scalise,” Pelosi told CNN’s Jake Tapper, as she and Ryan sported LSU apparel in a nod to the Louisiana lawmaker’s alma mater. Mentioning their shared heritage, Pelosi joked, “We have an Italian connection.”

Ryan urged members of both parties to come together and “break bread” in the wake of Wednesday’s shooting at a nearby baseball field in Alexandria, Va., where Republicans had gathered to practice.

Ryan spoke about how he had gotten to know Scalise as a fellow member of the Republican leadership.

{mosads}”We spend every day together, working together,” Ryan said. “He’s in the hospital recovering; he’s got a ways to go.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) also appeared together in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper to stress unity.

“There’s a lot of heated rhetoric from all different directions. It doesn’t excuse this. It doesn’t condone it,” Schumer said.

“It’s a good reminder that maybe we can bring the temperature down across the country and the Congress and everywhere else.”

Ryan noted that lawmakers were missing Scalise’s presence in the game, as the Louisiana Republican was slated to play infield.

“He was supposed to start second base today. He is missed; we’re praying for him,” Ryan said.

Pressed by Tapper on whether the country was in an age where increased security for lawmakers was necessary, Ryan cautioned that lawmakers need to remain close to their constituents.

“We’re here together tonight to make the point to the American people that there is a whole lot of cooperation in the Congress, even though it may be covered on a daily basis,” McConnell said.

President Trump did not attend Thursday’s game due to security challenges, but he recorded a video message for the audience maintaining that “we will not be intimidated by threats, acts of violence or assaults on our democracy.”

First daughter Ivanka Trump and other White House officials such as counselor Kellyanne Conway were spotted at the game, which saw a spike in ticket sales following Wednesday’s shooting. Ticket sales go toward charity.

“It’s a tough age. It’s a partisan, polarized country. What we’re trying to do is tone down the rhetoric lead by example, and show people we can disagree with one another, we can have different ideas without going to extremes,” Ryan said on CNN.

“Members have got to get out and see their constituents,” Ryan continued. “Remember [former Rep.] Gabby Giffords [R-Ariz.], yesterday Steve Scalise.”

Ryan and Pelosi mentioned they found common ground on Pelosi’s grandchildren, who are Ryan fans.

“I thought you were going to brag about how much my grandkids are big fans of yours,” Pelosi joked to Ryan.

“That’s right, her grandkids actually like me,” Ryan told Tapper.

— Mallory Shelbourne contributed.