CNN host Audie Cornish had to break up an argument on-air Wednesday morning as pundits hurled insults over the value of President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
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Anti-trans activist Terry Schilling spurred the heated debate when he questioned why Trump had thrown his support behind scandal-plagued candidates in GOP primaries.
“Look, I don’t know much about Chuck Edwards – oh, I actually do,” Schilling said, referring to a former North Carolina congressman who dropped out of his race over sexual misconduct allegations. “Yeah, well, look, [Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), I don’t think the campaign finance violations had anything to do with [his primary loss]. I think those are other things. But, look, [Rep.] Cory Mills (R-FL) deserved to lose. He should have lost. Trump never should have endorsed him.”
Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright interrupted to underline the fact that Trump had endorsed Mills despite allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic violence against him, and he said that was part of a pattern.
“The president endorsed him, he endorsed Ken Paxton, he’s standing by [Rep.] Max Miller (R-OH),” Seawright said. “So there’s consistent pattern of behavior from this president and the serious allegations. Quite frankly, I know Democrats who have resigned from their seat, who’ve been dismissed from their seats for less serious allegations, and I think the party of family values have some serious evaluations to do.”
Schilling begged to differ.
“I just think you’re doing yourself a disservice to not distinguish between those people,” Schilling interjected. “Ken Paxton stands a far and above all those other candidates because he’s been a conservative warrior.”
Seawright was incredulous, and he asked whether Paxton’s political bona fides outweighed his indictment for securities fraud, bribery allegations, impeachment and acquittal and marital infidelity.
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“So you’re saying so you’re saying Ken Paxton, with all of his baggage–” Seawright said.
Schilling cut in: “What I’m saying is voters care about what you’re going to do in office.”
“I just want to make sure I hear you clearly,” Seawright snapped back. “You’re saying Ken Paxton with all of his baggage. You’re saying that does not matter, just based on his conservative record?”
“Yes, absolutely,” Schilling insisted. “What we are saying is that what we care about is the results we get while in office.”
“So you don’t care about the affairs?” Seawright laughed. “You don’t care about the baggage?”
“Guys – pause,” Cornish cut in. “Lucky for you, this Congress, there’s a spectrum between biblical divorce, outright domestic violence, and a lot in between, and unfortunately, in this, I don’t know what to call it – dirtbag primary. There are a lot of people who have allegations of one kind or another, and sexual misconduct against women.”
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