CNN’s The Messy Truth with Van Jones is meant to be a forum where people of different political stripes come together and have a discussion about what divides the country in an effort to get past it. But during Wednesday’s show, Jones’ guest, The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah tarnished that ideal when he targeted the right. “Realistically, when people are saying this, they're going, “It's the same. There's extremes on either end.” And I go, yes, but what is one extreme shown us that they're capable of repeatedly,” he sneered.
Noah’s snide comment came after Jones explained why Trump commanded loyal followers. “And for his supporters, his appeal has nothing to do with protocol,” he noted, “It has everything to do, though, with pride and prosperity. He's saying, I want you to be proud of the country and have a job.”
The CNN host also joked that Trump was driving liberals so radically insane that it was scaring him. “I'm seeing, literally, [rogressives now so mad and distracted and depressed and angry, I'm like, I don't want y'all to be in charge either,” he quipped.
But Noah’s response to Jones was really inexplicable. “When people say that, I go, like, what is an extreme liberal? Like, what is that,” he asked without missing a beat. Jones joked that it was someone who wanted health care. But Noah took it to a rather mean-spirited place:
So what's the thing you're afraid of? Health care for everybody? Free education? Is that what you're afraid of? Is that really what people are afraid of? We know what an extreme right-wing person does. But I go like-- Realistically, when people are saying this, they're going, “It's the same. There's extremes on either end.” And I go, yes, but what is one extreme shown us that they're capable of repeatedly?
For as educated and intellectual as Noah likes to portray himself as his claims of the far left being tame are ignorant.
An “extreme liberal” is someone who takes the stage at a woman’s rally and declares that the President’s daughter is his “favorite sex symbol.” It’s when a famous liberal singer gets on that very same stage and announces her fantasy about “blowing up the White House.” It’s those who firebomb the election headquarters of their Republican opposition.
It’s the radical college students who rioted during the inauguration, injuring police officers and setting fire to Muslim’s limousine. It’s similar college students who use physical violence to shut down free speech to force conformity of thought on their campuses, and actually have a serious discussion on how ethical it is to punch the face of someone they disagree with. It’s those same students who proudly adorn themselves with the face of a mass murderer on their shirts because they believe in the same radical leftist ideology.
Those are just some of the people Jones is cautious of and doesn’t want in charge. Noah’s assertion that “extreme liberals” just want to give people free stuff is just ridiculous. To use Noah’s own words: that’s what “extreme liberals” have “shown us that they're capable of repeatedly.” Noah’s comments only drive more division and hurt the mission of the show he was a guest on.
Transcript below:
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CNN
The Messy Truth
March 8, 2017
9:18:51 PM EasternVAN JONES: Now listen. I have been all over the country talking to Trump supporters and I've been learning a lot. And one thing I want to share. Progressives tend to focus when we critique him on politeness and proper protocols, okay? There's a proper way to deal with reporters or intelligence agency, or judges. And when Trump breaks the rules, we just start fanning ourselves and freaking out and handing out all of these protocol violations. And for his supporters, his appeal has nothing to do with protocol. It has everything to do, though, with pride and prosperity. He's saying, I want you to be proud of the country and have a job.
So liberals seem to only see like the crazy tweets. And we act like that's all he's doing. But his supporters actually ignore those tweets. You want to know the tweets he cherish? The one where he's taking credit for the stock market that's rising and their 401(k)s doing better and the jobs he so-called saved. If Progressives want to understand Trump supporters, those are the tweets we need to be paying attention to.
So I want to bring you back into the conversation. We were talking a little bit about the break. I sometimes think that liberals completely just miss the appeal. Why is he having this appeal?
TREVOR NOAH: Well, I mean, it's a combination of two things. Like you said, we see the madness. And we focus on that. And then you don't focus on why he connects. You can't expect people to disavow him when that's the reason they voted him in.
JONES: Yeah.
NOAH: Like the one thing a lot of people struggle with is Trump is doing what he said he was going to do. If you voted for Trump, right now you're like, “yeah, this is what I voted for.”
JONES: But I think he's driving liberals insane. And I mean, I think he is. And I'm seeing more -- I'm seeing literally Progressives now so mad and distracted and depressed and angry, I'm like, I don't want y'all to be in charge either. So it's -- am I wrong?
NOAH: When people say that, I go, like, what is an extreme liberal? Like, what is that?
JONES: They want health care.
NOAH: So what's the thing you're afraid of? Health care for everybody? Free education? Is that what you're afraid of? Is that really what people are afraid of? We know what an extreme right-wing person does. But I go like-- Realistically, when people are saying this, they're going, “It's the same. There's extremes on either end.” And I go, yes, but what is one extreme shown us that they're capable of repeatedly? That is what I'm saying. When it comes to Trump, you have somebody who's saying these things, and you cannot deny that that rhetoric often sometimes spills over.
So yes, it may be protocol it may be boring, but it's also the thing that stops you from falsely accusing the president who came before you of wiretapping you. Like, that's what protocol almost helps you stop.
