'I can read a chart — I guess you can't': Heated debate on CNN as panelist shouts 'BS!'
A stand-up comedian clashed with a Republican strategist Thursday night in a heated debate on CNN over the Biden administration's handling of Abbey Gate in Afghanistan.
Comedian Pete Dominick blasted a clip of Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), a veteran, saying the Biden administration was "out of touch with America."
"Pulling us out of Afghanistan in a haphazard way that cost American lives and ultimately really impacted our foreign policy was a mistake," said Moulton earlier in the day. "And we should be able to admit that. And we as Democrats should be willing to fix it."
Dominick shook his head, reacting to the clip, and said he held an event earlier in the night for veterans, and said he "loved how people just tuned in to caring about veterans during the pull-out."
Dominick said Biden had the courage to do what no other president had before him — including former President Barack Obama. He noted that while 13 U.S. service members died in the attack, thousands of other veterans died as a result of Republican policies and wars in the Middle East.
Fellow panelist Scott Jennings, a senior political commentator who served as special assistant to former President George W. Bush, noted that Biden was in "really good shape" before Abbey Gate, "if you look at the arc." Biden's approval rating dipped under 40 percent after August 2021 as did Vice President Kamala Harris.
"And they lived there until the end of the presidency," he said.
That's when the discussion became heated.
When Dominick asked, "Why?" Jennings shot back that Biden had campaigned on the idea the "adults were back in charge."
"And that was the opposite of that," he said.
Dominick tried to talk over him and say the adults were, in fact, back in charge, and called Trump a "child."
When Jennings tried to accuse the Biden administration of not giving the soldiers' families the "time of day," Dominick shouted, "Bulls--- dude!"
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Dominick returned fire and referenced reporting that Trump once called service members "suckers and losers."
"He did! He absolutely did!" shouted Dominick.
"I know you're super emotional," said Jennings — which Dominick admitted, saying he was "terrified" — "I'm telling you the political reality is that they made that decision —"
But Dominick butted in again.
"It doesn't matter! When you don't admit Donald Trump hates veterans. You don't admit it!" he shouted back.
As Jennings cracked a smile, host Abby Phillip tried to regain control of the panel.
"You're still campaigning," retorted Jennings. "It's over brother."
The two clashed again later in the segment, as Dominick questioned Republican assertions that Biden's pull-out in Afghanistan was the "pivot point."
"Are you kidding me?" he railed.
Jennings doubled down with a jab at the comedian.
"I mean I can read a chart. I can read a poll. I guess you can't," Jennings said.
"Ugh! Your petty insults are so weak dude! You have no idea — like I don't even understand if you hear yourself talking," said Dominick, as Jennings started to chuckle. "You can laugh all you want but like I can't read a chart? Like it's so tacky. It's so uninteresting and unconvincing."
As Jennings kept laughing, Dominick continued, "That is so condescending."
Watch the heated exchange below or at this link.