Republican CNN contributor gets into it with Democrat strategist: ‘Do you have a single friend?'
On CNN Tonight Wednesday, conservative CNN contributor Scott Jennings got into it with Democratic strategist and former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, who repeatedly accused Jennings of only pushing GOP talking points.
“According to some polling, (Blake) Masters is close to (Mark) Kelly,” Jennings said, speaking about the Arizona senate race. “I don’t know if he’s gonna win, but it’s a very close…” “Do you want to bet money on that race?” Messina interrupted. “Do I want to bet money?” Jennings replied. “You wanna bet money on the governor’s race?” “You’re just holding the Republican line in everything you’ve said tonight,” Messina said. “Let’s be in the middle.”
Finally, after Messina accused Jennings a couple more times of simply repeating what he was told to say by Republicans, Jennings had enough.
“Scott, come on,” Messina said. “Enough with the talking points.” “I feel like your debate with Karl Rove that you had before you came here — like, your ears are clogged,” Jennings responded. “I’m telling you…” “No,” Messina retorted, “I’m just concerned that the RNC gave you the talking points and now you can’t shift.” “I tell you what, man, do you have a single friend?” Jennings said angrily, adding, “You’re an absolute jerk.”
Video transcript
[AUDIO LOGO]
SCOTT JENNINGS: According to some polling, Masters is close to Kelly. I don't know if he's going to win, but it's a very close--
JIM MESSINA: Do you want to bet money on that race?
SCOTT JENNINGS: Do I want to bet money?
JIM MESSINA: Yeah.
- Go ahead, guys. [INAUDIBLE] right here.
SCOTT JENNINGS: You want to bet money on the governor's race?
JIM MESSINA: You're just holding the Republican line in everything you've said tonight. Let's be in the middle.
KYLIE MAR: On "CNN Tonight" Wednesday, CNN contributor Scott Jennings got into it with former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina while discussing gains the GOP has made among Latino voters ahead of the midterm elections. Jennings lost it when he was accused of reading GOP talking points one too many times.
JIM MESSINA: Scott, come on, enough with the talking points.
SCOTT JENNINGS: I feel-- I feel like-- I feel like your debate with Karl Rove that you had before you came here, like your ears are clogged. I am telling you--
JIM MESSINA: I'm just concerned that the RNC gave you the talking points and now you can't shift.
SCOTT JENNINGS: I tell you what, man, do you have a single friend?
- Guys.
SCOTT JENNINGS: You're an absolute jerk.
- Guys.
KYLIE MAR: This testy exchange came just a few days after Jennings got into it with former Democratic Senator Al Franken over GOP election deniers currently running for office.
SCOTT JENNINGS: I'm sorry, I don't come on here and read talking points. You know me, and you know me, and you. I don't come on here and read talk-- I don't even know you, and you've come out here and insulted me.
- Guys, [? but ?] the ad hominem attacks. Let's just--
SCOTT JENNINGS: I don't want to be accused of reading talking point.
