In July, Air Force Major Jason Watson, was arrested on the steps of the U.S. Capitol while holding an impeach Trump sign, after speaking at a press conference run by the anti-Trump Removal Coalition, in uniform, which is prohibited for all service members. On CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront Monday, Watson was was given free rein to go after Trump, while being treated like an inspirational hero.
As she touted this was his first TV interview, Burnett's first question set the Major up perfectly to go after his target.
BURNETT: Major Watson, obviously, you have done this after incredible, incredible consideration. You've been in the Air Force for 17 years. You're in the Air Force, and you know that by choosing to speak out as as you did in uniform, calling for the Commander-in- Chief's impeachment and removal from office, that that carries grave consequences, violates the laws governing the U.S. Military. But you chose to do it knowing all of that. Tell me why.
WATSON: I think the most important thing for all of us to keep in mind is what has happening with President Trump is not normal. He has failed us. And not only is he a failure as President, he is flagrantly violating the Constitution, breaking the law, engaged in rampant corruption, and is killing Americans. And that is unacceptable to me. And it should be unacceptable to all of us....I believe we can defeat this government if we just take a stand
Defeat this government? Is he just anti-Trump, or a fan of DSA? But there was not one word of pushback or follow-up on that, or on Watson's multiple serious claims against Trump from Burnett, who brought out the violins to help paint her guest in a sympathetic light. Everyone knows CNN wouldn't honor a service member protesting a Democrat in uniform.
BURNETT: So, you know, when you talk about that desire to inspire, you know you're not, of course, a somebody. You are a somebody, right? You're not. You're not anybody. You're you are a somebody, right?
You're a sitting major and in the Air Force, you know, after your arrest, the military had placed you under a gag order. They restricted your movements. You're under investigation as you and I speak. And obviously, the consequences you could face for speaking out because you are who you are include court martial removal from the Air Force, loss of pay and benefits. You could even go to prison. And you knew all of that, right? You knew all of that when you made this decision to try to inspire others. How did you go through the thought process that made you willing to pay the price that this may cost?
WATSON: Nothing that is worth doing is something that you can do for free. Everything that is worthwhile is going to cost something. It's going to be hard. It's going to require sacrifice. And we are in an incredibly challenging time. And in order for us to get out of this situation, we all have to have courage.... We just have to be willing to accept that we can change what is happening in our country if we're just willing to pay a price for it. So all that I could do was ask myself, what's the highest price that I'm willing to pay? And this is what I ultimately came up with. And it is absolutely motivated by my oath to the Constitution.
Motivated by the Constitution? He's violating the law. Another opportunity for Burnett to press, but she passed, and would even let him off the hook for one of his previous claims against Trump.
BURNETT: You mention the Constitution, you mention corruption, and I know you have specific reasons for why you feel this, this was necessary and why the President should be removed from office. It is obviously it includes the war on Iran, but it is much more than that.... What, what is it about the war and this Commander-in-Chief, President Trump's handling of it, that made you do this at this moment?
Watson compared Trump's war on Iran with Putin's war in Ukraine and claimed the war is unconstitutional. Of course no mention from Burnett that Congress hasn't officially declared war since World War II, that covers Barack Obama's attacks on Libya in 2011.
Burnett finished up with gush: " All right, Major Jason Watson, I appreciate your time very much. And I thank you for speaking out. Of course, you may say it's a nobody, but it certainly is a somebody and something that is going to matter for a lot of people."
Simply pathetic performance by the host, but this is CNN!
