Posted on 04/24/2023 8:27:28 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
CNN cut ties with longtime anchor Don Lemon on Monday, and according to a report from The New York Times, a testy debate with Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy might have been what pushed the network over the edge.
The Times reported on Monday that the contentious segment — during which Lemon accused Ramaswamy of “race-splaining” and informed the GOP candidate that he was not equipped to discuss Civil Rights because he was not black — had left several in leadership at CNN “exasperated.”
WATCH:
The debate began with comments Ramaswamy made at the recent National Rifle Association (NRA) convention, in which he detailed the beginnings of gun control in the United States as a means used by Democrats to prevent black Americans from owning guns. The Democrat Party then, as in now, wanted to put them back in chains,” Ramaswamy said.
“CNN This Morning” host Poppy Harlow mentioned the comments, asking Ramaswamy to clarify — and he said that he was referencing President Joe Biden’s claim that Republicans wanted to put black Americans “back in chains” but that it was Democratic policies destroying the nuclear family that had actually accomplished it.
Zeroing in on former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” and war on poverty, Ramaswamy argued that financial incentives taking fathers out of homes — particularly in minority communities — had only served to exacerbate the problem.
The conversation quickly veered off course as Lemon joined in, saying, “I don’t really see what one has to do with the other, especially considering, and using the Civil War to talk about black Americans. That war was not fought for black people to have guns. That’s — that’s — that’s not —”
Ramaswamy pushed back, saying that the Civil War had been about black Americans gaining freedom — but argued that because of laws implemented by Democrats after the war, it was not until the right of black Americans to bear arms was recognized that the other rights could be fully felt.
“But black people still aren’t allowed to enjoy the freedoms —” Lemon objected.
“I disagree with you on that,” Ramaswamy objected, adding, “I think you’re doing a disservice to our country, by failing to recognize the fact that [black Americans] have equality under the law. ”
“When you are in black skin and you live in this country, then you can disagree with me. But we’re not. You mentioned in there that we have three different shades of melanin —” Lemon continued to argue.
Ramaswamy said that regardless of skin color, Americans should be able to have conversations about race and about how far the United States had come in addressing the issue.
“I think for you to compare it to 1864, I think it’s insulting to black people. It’s insulting to me as an African American. I don’t want to sit here and argue with you because it’s infuriating for you to put that — to put those things together. It’s not right. Your telling of history is wrong. You’re —” Lemon continued.
“What part of the history was wrong?” Ramaswamy asked.
“You’re making people think that the Civil War was fought for black people, only for black people to get guns, and for black people to have —” Lemon kept going.
“The Civil War was fought for black people in this country to get freedoms, a noble mission. And I think that even after even after we succeeded, we had to actually secure those freedoms,” Ramaswamy clarified.
Lemon continued to argue, calling Ramaswamy’s telling of history “reductive” — pausing only to complain when a producer apparently began talking to him over his earpiece: “Hang on, please. I cannot keep a thought If you guys are talking in my ear.”
The debate continued, with Lemon asserting repeatedly that the Civil War had not been fought to help black Americans achieve gun rights and that the NRA had nothing to do with that anyway.
“Black people secured their freedoms after the Civil War, it is a historical fact, Don, just study it. Only after their second amendment rights were secured,” Ramaswamy objected, at which point Lemon once again said that he was getting the history wrong.
“The part that I find insulting is when you say today, black Americans don’t have those rights, after we have gone through the Civil Rights revolution in this country,” Ramaswamy said, and Lemon bristled.
“The fact that you are sitting here telling an African American about the rights and what you find insulting about the way I live in the skin I live in every day, and that you find it insulting that I have a different point of view of black and white, and what black people don’t have in this country and what black people do have,” he said.
“I think we should be able to express our views regardless of the color of our skin. We should have this debate without me regarding you as a black man, but me regarding you as a fellow citizen,” Ramaswamy replied.
“And you’re sitting here, whatever ethnicity you are, explaining to me what it’s like to be black in America,” Lemon objected again.
“Whatever ethnicity? I’ll tell you what I am. I’m an Indian American. I’m proud of it. But I think we should have this debate. Black, white doesn’t matter. On the content of the ideas,” Ramaswamy concluded.
“What you should do is have the debate in an honest and fair way, and what you’re doing is not an honest and fair way,” Lemon replied, ending the segment.
Fall in love with whoever impresses you the most.
Anyone who can debate with Don Lemon and make him look like a jerk is impressive. Anderson, Perot or Kasich could never accomplish that. I am looking forward to GOP primary debates this time more than before.
I agree. He is very impressive, and many are taking notice. Ignore the naysayers.
If he wants to impress he should start lower. Too many think a lower seat is beneath them. It’s all about them and his big fans are setting themselves up for a big disappointment. Larry King let Perot talk. Obama got the free pass.Kasich and Anderson(long ago) were given the respect a congressman deserved. Perhaps the Lemon hire was desperation, going for broke. The Swami put him in his place-loved it.
I really like Vivek he is a fighter, NOT afraid of a damn thing, a very unusual trait these days AND an outsider IF Trump somehow were knocked out of the primary due to legal with h hunts Vivek is my choice!! DeSantis has ALL THE WRONG FRIENDS!!
“The incident left several CNN leaders exasperated, the people said.”
So anonymous “sources.”
Why on earth would CNN care what some also-ran Republican thought about LeMon? This makes no sense unless you see it as Ramaswamy trying to make hay off this incident.
Technically, such laws were implemented not after the war (1865), but after Reconstruction (1877).
Only Black people can talk about their Civil Rights (allegedly) being violated - and likewise, only murder victims can talk about the heinousness of murder.
Got it!
Regards,
It’s not melanin that’s the issue with Lemon. It’s brain synapses. And he only has 3. And 2 of them are constantly misfiring.
CC
CNN was supposed to fluff The former president of The Harvard Political Union and instead gaylord played the race card against him.
Lol. Black day? Why?
Liberals’ heads explode when confronted with facts.
Wtf is a Vivek Ramaswamy!??
Surprised lemon didn't just come out and call him a wog or Slurpee Jockey. You know he wanted to, but his mind brain was frizzing out from being so intellectually outclassed by his guest.
“IF Trump somehow were knocked out of the primary due to legal with h hunts Vivek is my choice!! DeSantis has ALL THE WRONG FRIENDS!!”
I am of the same opinion!
Don Lemon being fired from CNN is not going to affect the CNN brand at all. They will neither gain nor lose viewers due to his being no longer employed there.
Tucker Carlson being fired/walking away from FOX will have a big effect on the number of viewers tuning into their news-site daily. Most Carlson viewers can take or leave the other shows on Fox News and they are not enough of a draw that the loyal viewers will soon forgive Fox for this decision. Thus the reason for Fox stock losing value after the announcement.
I guess the Lemon won’t be discussing employment matters any time soon since he is unemployed.
Vivek was impressive on CNN and on Megyn Kelly today.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iLq9_Yw8RTk
I didn't think that was an issue when it came to liberals keeping their jobs.
It isn’t usually. But when they’re obnoxious AND on their bosses last nerve it’s enough of an excuse.
CC
Lemon accused Ramaswamy of “race-splaining” and informed the GOP candidate that he was not equipped to discuss Civil Rights because he was not black
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Que-mala Harris is of Indian descent, not black, either, but it’s ok for her as long as she remains socialist. But not for Ramaswamy, the double standard. Lemon and so many others like him are deeply confused in so many ways. Pray he finds Salvation, in Jesus’ Name.
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