'Let me tell you something!' CNN panelists clash as debate gets heated
A CNN panel discussion over the state of the presidential race Thursday quickly spiraled into a heated clash between a former Democratic lawmaker and a social media influencer over reproductive rights.
The on-air exchange began when author Leigh McGowan, a social media influencer who uses the handle PoliticsGirl, snapped back at her fellow panelists over their views of Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I feel like I’m watching a different candidate than everyone at this table,” McGowan said. “I do see her being authentic. I do see her as being a fighter, you’re saying everyone looks at Donald Trump and he’s a fighter? I don’t see that from Donald Trump anymore — he looks angry and sad and like he’s — he’s petty at this point.”
McGowan went on to tell CNN anchor Abby Phillip on her show that she was having “Hillary Clinton flashbacks,” before mocking attack lines levied at Clinton during her presidential run.
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“The voters get to decide though,” former Ohio Democratic state Sen. Nina Turner interjected. “As an elected, as somebody who has run for office, served in office, it doesn’t matter necessarily what I think, it matters what the people I need to get to vote for me think.”
But what matters to women, McGowan told Turner, is that "they think that they will have rights under one president and not rights under the another.”
“Not all women,” Turner said. “Another thing I have not heard any woman — I think women want to know that that access to reproductive health, which abortion is, is there but women, unless they need it in the moment — I haven’t heard any woman say, ‘Oh my God if I can just...' – the abortion thing, that is not it. … You know what is it? it is the economy,” Turner said.
“You haven’t heard any woman say that? That sounds bananas to me!” McGowan replied.
Turner quickly fired back: “Let me tell you something! You and I may not be navigating the same circles. I’m not saying women don’t care about it, I am saying when I am in rooms with those women they’re talking about the economy.”