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Member Profile

Mercedes Schlapp

Board Member

Mercedes Schlapp

Board Member

Biography

Mercedes Schlapp is the co-founder of Cove Strategies, a government and public affairs firm that she started with her husband, Matt Schlapp.  She was the Director of Specialty Media under the Administration of President George W. Bush and hosted the Republican National Committee’s web show, “In the Know,” in 2006. Schlapp has been an NRA Board Member since April 2015. She is regularly featured as a pundit on Fox News.

 


All Statements (16 total)

Statements by Category (16 total)

  • Education

    Sources [1]

  • Fox News Appearances

    Sources [1]

  • Republican Party (GOP)

    Sources [1]

  • Women's Rights

    Sources [1]

  • Fox News Appearances

    Sources [1]

  • Republican Party (GOP)

    Sources [1]

  • Environment
    In a March 18, 2016 editorial for U.S. News & World Report entitled "The Voters Created a Stalemate: Let Them Break It," Schlapp endorsed inaction by the Republican-led U.S. Senate on President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. "President Obama fulfilled his constitutional duty of nominating Garland," wrote Schlapp. "Now the Senate, which has the constitutional authority of advice and consent, has made clear its intention to do the right thing by the country and slow down the process and wait for an election result in November [2016]. The process is inevitably politicized already, in other words; Republicans are simply arguing for slowing it down to get past the worst of that politicization. Senate Republicans understand the high stakes if they move forward on the confirmation process. They don’t trust Obama and recognize that the Supreme Court is at a critical tipping point. President Obama’s pick to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, would only cement the liberals’ control of the court." Regarding Garland's record as a judge, Schlapp criticized him for dissenting in a 2002 case that struck down the EPA Haze Rule (which was designed to aid in the enforcement of the Clean Air Act).

    Sources [1]

  • Republican Party (GOP)
    In a March 18, 2016 editorial for U.S. News & World Report entitled "The Voters Created a Stalemate: Let Them Break It," Schlapp endorsed inaction by the Republican-led U.S. Senate on President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. "President Obama fulfilled his constitutional duty of nominating Garland," wrote Schlapp. "Now the Senate, which has the constitutional authority of advice and consent, has made clear its intention to do the right thing by the country and slow down the process and wait for an election result in November [2016]. The process is inevitably politicized already, in other words; Republicans are simply arguing for slowing it down to get past the worst of that politicization. Senate Republicans understand the high stakes if they move forward on the confirmation process. They don’t trust Obama and recognize that the Supreme Court is at a critical tipping point. President Obama’s pick to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, would only cement the liberals’ control of the court." Regarding Garland's record as a judge, Schlapp criticized him for dissenting in a 2002 case that struck down the EPA Haze Rule (which was designed to aid in the enforcement of the Clean Air Act).

    Sources [1]

  • Immigration

    Sources [1]

  • Religion

    Sources [1]

  • Fox News Appearances

    Sources [1]

  • Health Care
    In an editorial for U.S. News & World Report on October 2, 2015 entitled "Raise the Curtain on Planned Parenthood," Schlapp criticized the reproductive health services group and embraced a conspiracy theory about the group selling "baby parts" for profit, writing, "The videos illustrate where Planned Parenthood has facilitated the selling of baby parts and treat babies as a scientific experiment." The videos in question, produced by a right wing group calling itself the Center for Medical Progress, have been thoroughly discredited as fraudulent in nature. Schlapp also accused Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards of supporting the killing of babies who survive abortions based on an answer that Richards gave the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee during testimony. "I can say at Planned Parenthood, I'm aware of no instance where—we don't provide abortions after viability," testified Richards, "so, in my experience at Planned Parenthood we haven't ever had that kind of circumstance."

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Women's Rights
    In an editorial for U.S. News & World Report on October 2, 2015 entitled "Raise the Curtain on Planned Parenthood," Schlapp criticized the reproductive health services group and embraced a conspiracy theory about the group selling "baby parts" for profit, writing, "The videos illustrate where Planned Parenthood has facilitated the selling of baby parts and treat babies as a scientific experiment." The videos in question, produced by a right wing group calling itself the Center for Medical Progress, have been thoroughly discredited as fraudulent in nature. Schlapp also accused Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards of supporting the killing of babies who survive abortions based on an answer that Richards gave the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee during testimony. "I can say at Planned Parenthood, I'm aware of no instance where—we don't provide abortions after viability," testified Richards, "so, in my experience at Planned Parenthood we haven't ever had that kind of circumstance."

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Conspiracy Theory
    In an editorial for U.S. News & World Report on October 2, 2015 entitled "Raise the Curtain on Planned Parenthood," Schlapp criticized the reproductive health services group and embraced a conspiracy theory about the group selling "baby parts" for profit, writing, "The videos illustrate where Planned Parenthood has facilitated the selling of baby parts and treat babies as a scientific experiment." The videos in question, produced by a right wing group calling itself the Center for Medical Progress, have been thoroughly discredited as fraudulent in nature. Schlapp also accused Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards of supporting the killing of babies who survive abortions based on an answer that Richards gave the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee during testimony. "I can say at Planned Parenthood, I'm aware of no instance where—we don't provide abortions after viability," testified Richards, "so, in my experience at Planned Parenthood we haven't ever had that kind of circumstance."

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Environment

    Sources [1]

  • Foreign Policy

    Sources [1]

  • Health Care

    Sources [1]

  • Immigration

    Sources [1]

  • Poverty

    Sources [1]

  • Religion

    Sources [1]

  • Women's Rights

    Sources [1]

  • Foreign Policy
    During a conversation with Accountability Project Executive Director Nomiki Konst on the Fox News program "Fox & Friends" on August 16, 2015, Schlapp claimed that it was a "bipartisan" decision to invade Iraq in 2003. “As we all know, it was a bipartisan effort that basically said we were going to go into this war. We know that there was faulty intelligence that was associated with it,” Schlapp stated. “[Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton], when she was [a U.S. Senator], actually voted for the Iraq war.” This caused Konst to reply that Schlapp's "spin is insane." In truth, Members of Congress and the American public did not learn that the Iraq War was predicated on faulty intelligence until long after the launch of the invasion. Schlapp worked for the administration of President George W. Bush in 2003 as a communications staffer.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Fox News Appearances
    During a conversation with Accountability Project Executive Director Nomiki Konst on the Fox News program "Fox & Friends" on August 16, 2015, Schlapp claimed that it was a "bipartisan" decision to invade Iraq in 2003. “As we all know, it was a bipartisan effort that basically said we were going to go into this war. We know that there was faulty intelligence that was associated with it,” Schlapp stated. “[Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton], when she was [a U.S. Senator], actually voted for the Iraq war.” This caused Konst to reply that Schlapp's "spin is insane." In truth, Members of Congress and the American public did not learn that the Iraq War was predicated on faulty intelligence until long after the launch of the invasion. Schlapp worked for the administration of President George W. Bush in 2003 as a communications staffer.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Republican Party (GOP)
    During a conversation with Accountability Project Executive Director Nomiki Konst on the Fox News program "Fox & Friends" on August 16, 2015, Schlapp claimed that it was a "bipartisan" decision to invade Iraq in 2003. “As we all know, it was a bipartisan effort that basically said we were going to go into this war. We know that there was faulty intelligence that was associated with it,” Schlapp stated. “[Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton], when she was [a U.S. Senator], actually voted for the Iraq war.” This caused Konst to reply that Schlapp's "spin is insane." In truth, Members of Congress and the American public did not learn that the Iraq War was predicated on faulty intelligence until long after the launch of the invasion. Schlapp worked for the administration of President George W. Bush in 2003 as a communications staffer.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Race
    On June 19, 2015, Schlapp wrote an editorial in U.S. News & World Report about a mass shooting that took place in Charleston, South Carolina two days earlier. The shooting was committed by a young racist, Dylann Roof, who killed nine parishioners (including the senior pastor, state senator Clementa C. Pinckney) at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church after being welcomed to join the group in a prayer service. Roof was able to pass a background check and obtain his handgun legally, but should have been prohibited because of a prior drug-related arrest. He exploited a loophole in America's gun laws that allows a gun dealer to proceed with a sale if the FBI is not able to determine the disposition of a buyer's arrest record after 72 hours. In her piece, Schlapp complained that "the Charleston shooting quickly turned to a rallying cry for more gun control in the media and political circles" and claimed that "stricter gun laws will not necessarily stop a senseless murderer or terrorist from carrying out their act, though they will potentially leave innocent people defenseless ... These terrorists and murderers take advantage of gun-free zones like churches and schools where law-abiding and responsible individuals cannot even protect themselves." She failed to note that the parishioners at Emanuel A.M.E. Church were adherents of nonviolence who did not believe in carrying weapons, including firearms. She also failed to note that gun-free zones like schools and churches have dramatically lower rates of violent crime and gun death than the U.S. as a whole. Concluding her editorial, Schlapp wrote, "We need to start by helping to mold the hearts and minds of our youth by promoting the traditional values and principles of life, goodness and prayer."

    Sources [1] [2] [3]

  • Religion
    On June 19, 2015, Schlapp wrote an editorial in U.S. News & World Report about a mass shooting that took place in Charleston, South Carolina two days earlier. The shooting was committed by a young racist, Dylann Roof, who killed nine parishioners (including the senior pastor, state senator Clementa C. Pinckney) at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church after being welcomed to join the group in a prayer service. Roof was able to pass a background check and obtain his handgun legally, but should have been prohibited because of a prior drug-related arrest. He exploited a loophole in America's gun laws that allows a gun dealer to proceed with a sale if the FBI is not able to determine the disposition of a buyer's arrest record after 72 hours. In her piece, Schlapp complained that "the Charleston shooting quickly turned to a rallying cry for more gun control in the media and political circles" and claimed that "stricter gun laws will not necessarily stop a senseless murderer or terrorist from carrying out their act, though they will potentially leave innocent people defenseless ... These terrorists and murderers take advantage of gun-free zones like churches and schools where law-abiding and responsible individuals cannot even protect themselves." She failed to note that the parishioners at Emanuel A.M.E. Church were adherents of nonviolence who did not believe in carrying weapons, including firearms. She also failed to note that gun-free zones like schools and churches have dramatically lower rates of violent crime and gun death than the U.S. as a whole. Concluding her editorial, Schlapp wrote, "We need to start by helping to mold the hearts and minds of our youth by promoting the traditional values and principles of life, goodness and prayer."

    Sources [1] [2] [3]

  • Vigilantism
    On June 19, 2015, Schlapp wrote an editorial in U.S. News & World Report about a mass shooting that took place in Charleston, South Carolina two days earlier. The shooting was committed by a young racist, Dylann Roof, who killed nine parishioners (including the senior pastor, state senator Clementa C. Pinckney) at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church after being welcomed to join the group in a prayer service. Roof was able to pass a background check and obtain his handgun legally, but should have been prohibited because of a prior drug-related arrest. He exploited a loophole in America's gun laws that allows a gun dealer to proceed with a sale if the FBI is not able to determine the disposition of a buyer's arrest record after 72 hours. In her piece, Schlapp complained that "the Charleston shooting quickly turned to a rallying cry for more gun control in the media and political circles" and claimed that "stricter gun laws will not necessarily stop a senseless murderer or terrorist from carrying out their act, though they will potentially leave innocent people defenseless ... These terrorists and murderers take advantage of gun-free zones like churches and schools where law-abiding and responsible individuals cannot even protect themselves." She failed to note that the parishioners at Emanuel A.M.E. Church were adherents of nonviolence who did not believe in carrying weapons, including firearms. She also failed to note that gun-free zones like schools and churches have dramatically lower rates of violent crime and gun death than the U.S. as a whole. Concluding her editorial, Schlapp wrote, "We need to start by helping to mold the hearts and minds of our youth by promoting the traditional values and principles of life, goodness and prayer."

    Sources [1] [2] [3]

  • Education
    On June 1, 2015, Schlapp appeared on Fox News to discuss legislation in the Texas General Assembly that would force colleges and universities to allow guns on campus. Schlapp described the carrying of firearms on campus as “a women’s issues right … This empowers women [to prevent sexual assault].” However, according to a study in the Journal of American College Health, "Students who carried weapons [on campus] were more likely than students who did not do so to report…being victims and perpetrators of physical and sexual violence at college."

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Women's Rights
    On June 1, 2015, Schlapp appeared on Fox News to discuss legislation in the Texas General Assembly that would force colleges and universities to allow guns on campus. Schlapp described the carrying of firearms on campus as “a women’s issues right … This empowers women [to prevent sexual assault].” However, according to a study in the Journal of American College Health, "Students who carried weapons [on campus] were more likely than students who did not do so to report…being victims and perpetrators of physical and sexual violence at college."

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Fox News Appearances
    On June 1, 2015, Schlapp appeared on Fox News to discuss legislation in the Texas General Assembly that would force colleges and universities to allow guns on campus. Schlapp described the carrying of firearms on campus as “a women’s issues right … This empowers women [to prevent sexual assault].” However, according to a study in the Journal of American College Health, "Students who carried weapons [on campus] were more likely than students who did not do so to report…being victims and perpetrators of physical and sexual violence at college."

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Foreign Policy

    Sources [1]

  • Women's Rights

    Sources [1]

  • Conspiracy Theory

    Sources [1]

  • Republican Party (GOP)

    Sources [1]

  • Foreign Policy

    Sources [1]

  • Republican Party (GOP)

    Sources [1]

  • Foreign Policy
    In an August 8, 2014 editorial for U.S. News & World Report entitled "Abandoned in Iraq," Schlapp criticized President Barack Obama's decision to pull troops out of Iraq, eight years after the start of the war there. "Our ill-advised complete pullout from Iraq has turned into a death sentence for thousands of religious minorities and women and those trying to build a civil society there," claimed Schlapp. "Obama’s political actions and disengagement have also hurt America’s security interests and are an offense to every American family who shed blood in the war on terror." She also included a quote from Faysal Shaqooli, an Iraqi interpreter for the U.S. Army who sought political asylum and now lives in the Nebraska: "President George W. Bush would have never abandoned us." Schlapp worked for the Bush administration as a communications staffer.

    Sources [1]

  • Republican Party (GOP)
    In an August 8, 2014 editorial for U.S. News & World Report entitled "Abandoned in Iraq," Schlapp criticized President Barack Obama's decision to pull troops out of Iraq, eight years after the start of the war there. "Our ill-advised complete pullout from Iraq has turned into a death sentence for thousands of religious minorities and women and those trying to build a civil society there," claimed Schlapp. "Obama’s political actions and disengagement have also hurt America’s security interests and are an offense to every American family who shed blood in the war on terror." She also included a quote from Faysal Shaqooli, an Iraqi interpreter for the U.S. Army who sought political asylum and now lives in the Nebraska: "President George W. Bush would have never abandoned us." Schlapp worked for the Bush administration as a communications staffer.

    Sources [1]

  • Education

    Sources [1]

  • Religion

    Sources [1]

  • Health Care

    Sources [1]

  • Conspiracy Theory

    Sources [1]

  • Republican Party (GOP)

    Sources [1]

  • Health Care

    Sources [1]

  • Women's Rights

    Sources [1]

  • LGBT Rights

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Religion

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Republican Party (GOP)

    Sources [1] [2]