CNN contributor Tara Setmeyer yelled at multiple panelists Wednesday night during a heated discussion over Republican lawmakers' comments about Haitian immigrants.
Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana posted a message on Wednesday addressing unconfirmed reports of Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, in response to advocacy groups calling for legal action against former President Donald Trump and Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, but it was ultimately deleted following a rebuke on the House floor, Axios reported. ReportedSetmeyer criticized both pollster Frank Luntz and former Republican National Committee spokesperson Madison Gesiot Gilbert for claiming that Republicans are not “serious people” on immigration because they support Trump. (RELATED: 'Co-opting racist tropes': CNN panelist claims saying Springfield is 'occupied' by Haitians 'dehumanizes' immigrants)
“I've worked on immigration. I've worked on this issue for the seven years that I served in Congress. There were people there who were serious about solving it. I…” Setmeyer said after asserting that Haitians did not storm the Capitol during the riot on January 6, 2021. In response, Gesiot Gilbert asked, “So you believe there are no serious Republicans in this country?”
Setmeyer argued that the Republican Party has not taken immigration seriously since it nominated Trump as its presidential candidate.
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“None?” asked Jesioth Gilbert.
“No, they nominated Donald Trump as their first choice, so that's not a serious move if they want to be seen as a serious political party,” Setmeyer argued.
Springfield residents told the Daily Caller News Foundation in September that the city is struggling to cope with an influx of about 20,000 Haitian immigrants, complaining of traffic accidents and rising home prices. Baron Seelig, a pastor and homeless advocate, told the DCNF that Haitian immigrants are “invading” their “sleepy” city and making it harder for Springfield's homeless residents to find housing.
“LOL. Haitians are wild. Pet eating, Voodoo, dirtiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick, gangsters,” Higgins posted to X in a now-deleted statement, according to Axios, adding, “All these thugs better come to their senses and get the hell out of this country by January 20th.”
Springfield residents blame the Biden administration's border policies for their city's woes, and data obtained by the DCNF shows that crimes such as car theft and shoplifting have increased in Springfield since migrants arrived.
“CNN Newsnight” host Abby Phillips asked Luntz to speak about the debate.
“This is a problem. I know you're angry. I feel that way too,” Lantz told Setmeyer, but Setmeyer interrupted him, saying: “Yes, because people like me are being persecuted.”
“This behavior we're having here, yelling at each other, is not what voters want to see. They're tired of the yelling on the show, and I'm sorry, but they don't want to be booted out here,” Luntz responded. “They're tired of the yelling and they want solutions. Results are the number one priority, not looking back, but looking to the future. They say the same thing about other conflicts. They don't want to know who did it. What they want to know is how are you going to solve it? Stop blaming people and start solving it, and start doing it now. That's not what we've been talking about here.” (Related: CNN panelists slam Scott Jennings for suggesting Springfield bomb threat was foreign interference)
Messrs. Setmeyer and Phillips then started blaming Luntz, with Phillips claiming Higgins had spread “false rumors” about immigration, and when Luntz asked if Setmeyer wanted to “make a statement” or “make a change,” he and Setmeyer got into an argument.
“I actually do both. I do both,” Setmeyer asserted. “Just because I'm passionate about it doesn't mean I have to doubt what other people are doing.”
“The fact is, I've done so many focus groups and polls and I want you to succeed. I'm on your side,” Luntz said. Setmeyer responded with a scoff: “What about you?”
Luntz told Setmeyer he was “trying to suggest” to CNN commentators different ways to respond to Trump supporters, but Setmeyer interrupted him.
“Well, that's fine. I don't like being lectured about life experience when I haven't actually experienced it,” Setmeyer said.
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