Mis-speaking is as human as tripping over your own feet. You know they’re there but it just happens. During a speech on ‘Young Ameria’s Foundation’, former PA Sen turn CNN pet, Rick Santorum, accidentally stepped in it. You see, during his speech, the Republican was expressing how impressive original settlers were to set out to a new land in hopes of finding religious freedom. I believe he meant to add that early Americans managed to build a functioning infrastructure that would become the foundation of of modern government- when non existed here previously.
However, what he said was that there was ‘nothing here’. Santorum immediately recognized that he misspoke and left out Native Americans but honestly, he only made it worse trying to fix his mistake. Here is where the human aspect comes in. We are so flipping wrapped up in this new-age PC culture that even career politicians are so afraid of being canceled that someone like Santorum struggled to put his words together.
Now that Santorum is the property of CNN, he had to take a public beating for his crime. His punishment was dished out but none other than Chris ‘Fredo’ Cuomo who would not allow the former Senator to explain himself.
Cuomo sought to tie Santorum’s comments to the Republican Party’s messaging as a whole, claiming he was attempting to erase diversity in the interest of the “white Christian right.” Santorum explained to Cuomo that if the context of the rest of his speech was considered, it would show that he was talking about the country’s founding documents and that he wasn’t dismissing Native American cultural influences on the U.S.
"I wanted to give you a chance to explain yourself, because that's what this show is about."
Tonight @ChrisCuomo asked Rick Santorum about Santorum's widely-condemned comments on Native American culture – here's the entire clip pic.twitter.com/yXZeIsGnpd
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 4, 2021
“I’m breathing heavy right now,” Lemon began as Cuomo introduced him. “I was furious watching that interview in my office. I cannot believe the first words out of his mouth weren’t ‘I’m sorry, I said something ignorant, I need to learn about the history of this country.'”
Lemon, who was visibly and audibly upset, went on to say that Santorum didn’t talk about the suffering that Native Americans have had to deal with and that his comments were “egregious” and “insulting.”
“Europeans did not found this country. It was here, the Native Americans had this country before the Europeans came. Yeah, the Europeans conquered the country, they colonized it, but it had nothing to do with the founding of this country, and he should recognize that” Lemon continued. “He needs to know that, especially if he’s going to be on television representing us and talking about it.”
“It’s all wrong. I’m sorry, but that is the truth. And — I can’t believe — I just — I was watching it going, ‘I cannot believe this man is sitting here and doing this…’ It was like Native American lives matter moment for me watching that. Ugh — Jesus,” he said.
>> @DonLemon's reaction to Rick Santorum's comments: "I apologize to the viewers who were insulted by this. I was sitting in my office, furious, because he's done it so many times. So many times…" pic.twitter.com/UD00zTalI7
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 4, 2021
Tensions then flared as Cuomo told Lemon he needed to do more than just echo the outrage, but needed to figure out where the rhetoric used by Santorum was coming from. The two went back and forth over what Cuomo called an “identity crisis” in the country before Lemon finally said they weren’t getting anywhere and that he was “really mad.”
“We’ve got to go because we’re not going to agree,” Lemon said, to which Cuomo responded that they agree on the problem, but need to figure out a solution.
“I’ve got a solution, but anyways, not my decision,” Lemon concluded, seemingly expressing his desire for Santorum’s firing.
Someone, please go find Lemon’s fluffy safety blanket. He clearly needs a nap.
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