CNN political commentator Scott Jennings argued with his fellow panelists on Monday night against the idea of Republicans endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Stuart Stevens of the Lincoln Project argued that Republicans who oppose Republican candidate Donald Trump are morally obligated to support Harris, while Jennings questioned why Republicans would support a left-leaning candidate. Stevens, along with the other panelists, argued that Harris is the only candidate who supports the “rule of law” and the Constitution.
“Why would any Republican of any faith, old or new, vote for Kamala Harris,” Jennings questioned. “She's said she's going to stuff the Supreme Court. Remember, her voting record is the most liberal senator, and her presidential platform was as far to the left as Bernie Sanders or more. How can you read that into the conclusion that Republicans are somehow going to go back down a conservative path by voting for this? It just doesn't make sense.”
CNN contributor Cari Champion argued that voters should choose candidates who “believe in the rule of law,” while CNN political commentator Ashley Allison said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has packed the Supreme Court with conservative justices. Jennings then criticized former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan for his comments. said Those who vote for Trump are 'not patriots'
“And I have to tell you how badly this sounds to Republican ears,” Jennings continued. “Look, there are a lot of half-hearted Republicans out there who probably wish he hadn't been reelected. But to be told that your patriotism is down to your choice because of a Republican administration? I thought that was a poor argument.”
“Republicans are saying that if you vote for Harris you're not American,” Champion said, to which Jennings asked who said that. “I've heard a lot of Republicans say that.” (Related: “Why do you keep saying that?”: Jennings slams panelist for downplaying Harris' performance as VP)
Katie Frost, a former aide to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, said Harris appears to have changed her mind since the 2020 election and voters are still unaware of her policy platform. Jennings then said Republicans cannot be asked to cede their values to “absolute radical liberals,” leading to a clash with Stevens.
Stevens said voters should not support Trump because he has been described as a “terrible person.” Jennings said the election also had significant policy implications, warning that Democrats would change the country “in ways that it will never recover from.”
“It's much more than that. It's much more than a question of what the tax rate is,” Jennings told Stevens. “The next administration will have significant policy implications and decisions to make. I firmly believe that if Democrats win and somehow manage to retain control of the Senate, which I think is unlikely, they will eliminate the filibuster and change this country in ways that will never be reversed.”
“That's the thing about it to me,” Jennings continued. “I don't blame you for your opinion, but I can't blame Republicans for wondering, 'Hey, maybe it's not such a good idea for us to drive off the left side of the road and drive so far that we can never get back.'”
Democrat-turned-independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stopped campaigning on Friday and endorsed Trump, and former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard followed suit in a speech to the Michigan National Guard Association in Detroit on Monday.
As an independent, nonpartisan news service, all content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher with a large readership. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and affiliation with the DCNF. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
