On Saturday afternoon, CNN was again showing how fixated on race and identity the liberal media are as CNN contributor S.E. Cupp and former contributor James Carville suggested that racism is to blame for Republicans criticizing President Joe Biden's prisoner exchange agreement with Russia that led to the release of the WNBA's Brittney Griner.
The allegedly conservative S.E. Cupp theorized that House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy criticized the agreement because Griner is a "Black lesbian," and Carville declared that is it because she is "not White" and "not straight."
After host Jim Acosta showed a clip of McCarthy criticizing the plan that resulted in the release of a high-value Russian prisoner known as the "merchant of death," Carville began his response: "So, Jim, I'm going to say something controversial, but I'm going to preface it with something true."
After acknowledging that a reasonable argument can be made against doing such prisoner exchanges because of the cost, he still accused Republicans of the worst motives as he continued: "Does anyone in their right mind think that if Brittney was a blind Chi Omega from SMU that the reaction would have been the same? Of course not."
A bit later, he added: "...a lot of this like a lot of things in America are driven by the fact that this young person is not White and is not straight. And if you don't believe that, you're not in tune with American politics. I'm sorry, this is something that just has to be said."
As Acosta followed up, he complained about the move being criticized by Republicans: "S.E., what do you think? Because, I mean, you know, it was quick -- it was pretty quick the way, you know, some on the right really pounced on this. Shouldn't folks just be happy that Brittney Griner is home?"
Cupp blamed both racism and homophobia and even suggested that Republicans are anti-American. The CNN Republican began her commentary: "It's -- and it's been worse over at Fox News and NewsMax, you know, two places that really profess to love this country -- and it sure didn't sound like it if you listened to a lot of them really trashing the homecoming of an American citizen."
She then added:
Listen, as James says, there are reasons to be critical of this deal -- it was imperfect. But there's no reason not to celebrate Brittney Griner coming home unless -- I don't know -- you're mad that she's a Black lesbian or maybe unless because Joe Biden was instrumental in her release and he's a Democrat, and so you don't want to give him any credit. Or unless it's perhaps because you don't love this country as much as you say you do, and as much as you pretend to, and instead you'd rather side with our enemy, Russia and Putin.
It was not mentioned that when President Barack Obama in 2014 secured the release of U.S. Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl, a white male prisoner held in Afghanistan, in exchange for releasing Taliban members, Republicans were also critical of the move.
This latest race-obsessed segment by CNN was sponsored in part by ServPro. Their contact information is linked.
Transcript follows:
CNN Newsroom
December 10, 2022
3:23:43 p.m. EasternJIM ACOSTA: And, James, let me ask you this because there is this huge development that happened this week with the Biden administration being successful in bringing Brittney Griner back home. The House Republican Leader, Kevin McCarthy -- who still is trying to line up the votes to becoming the Speaker of the House -- he was quick to slam President Biden for this. And let's listen.
[cuts to video]
KEVIN McCARTHY, HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER: I'm glad an American's coming home -- she was arrested for a trumped up charge -- but to exchange the "merchant of death" for this, it's made us weaker, it's made Putin stronger, and it's made Americans more vulnerable.
[cuts back to live]
ACOSTA: James, what's your reaction to that? What do you think of that?
JAMES CARVILLE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: So, Jim, I'm going to say something controversial, but I'm going to preface it with something true. There are some people who legitimately say that prisoner exchanges just encourage more hostage-taking, I 40 percent agree with them, but that's a legitimate policy position. Does anyone in their right mind think that if Brittney was a blind Chi Omega from SMU that the reaction would have been the same? Of course not.
And, by the way, the country that engages in the most uneven prisoner exchange is Israel My Hebrew is not what it used to be -- I'll have Jim Gerstein to tutor me -- but look up the prisoner exchange of Gillian Shilat (Gilad Shalit) -- who was a corporal in the IDF, a rank that I hold dear to me because that was the rank that I had in the United States Marine Corps -- he was exchanged for something like 1,027 terrorists. So I think that there are legitimate things to say -- well, maybe this is not the best idea -- but a lot of this like a lot of things in America are driven by the fact that this young person is not White and is not straight. And if you don't believe that, you're not in tune with American politics. I'm sorry, this is something that just has to be said.
And another point I would make is, most of the people that are criticizing this -- not all -- are pro-Putin, anti-Ukraine. This has exposed a big -- a big, big fault in American culture and American opinion.
ACOSTA: S.E., what do you think? Because, I mean, you know, it was quick -- it was pretty quick the way, you know, some on the right really pounced on this. Shouldn't folks just be happy that Brittney Griner's home?
S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's -- and it's been worse over at Fox News and NewsMax, you know, two places that really profess to love this country -- and it sure didn't sound like it if you listened to a lot of them really trashing the homecoming of an American citizen. Listen, as James says, there are reasons to be critical of this deal -- it was imperfect. But there's no reason not to celebrate Brittney Griner coming home unless -- I don't know -- you're mad that she's a Black lesbian or maybe unless because Joe Biden was instrumental in her release and he's a Democrat, and so you don't want to give him any credit. Or unless it's perhaps because you don't love this country as much as you say you do, and as much as you pretend to, and instead you'd rather side with our enemy, Russia, and Putin. None of the scenarios are good here, but that's the math. There's no way around it.
ACOSTA: All right, James Carville, S.E. Cupp, great to see both of you. Appreciate it.
