CNN’s Scott Jennings excoriates Walz after a panelist called him a “consistent” choice for vice president

CNN’s Scott Jennings called out Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday after a panelist called Walz a “consistent” choice for Vice President Kamala Harris’ nominee.

Walz and Republican Sen. JD Vance will face off in their first debate over their parties’ nominees, hosted by CBS News on Tuesday. On “State of the Union,” former Harris communications director Ashley Etienne accused Vance of doing “more harm” to the Republican electorate and praised Walz for bridging the “cultural divide” among voters.

“I think what struck me in all of this is that there has never been a time, as far as I can remember, when the choice of vice president had such a large impact on the actual top of the list. Look at how JD Vance was somehow supposed to expand the reach of Donald Trump, instead he has actually done more harm, harm than good,” Etienne said.

“But look at Governor Walz, the reason he was chosen – a smart, smart choice – is to bridge the cultural divide,” Etienne continued. “To reach constituencies that the Democratic Party has had a hard time reaching – moderate Republicans, disaffected Republicans, independent Republicans.” It signals to a constituency that you can vote for this ticket. “So it has incredible significance for Kamala Harris –”

CNN anchor Jake Tapper chimed in, pointing out that Jennings “laughed” at Etienne’s statement and urged him to think. Jennings pushed back against Etienne, criticizing Walz for getting a “free ride under Harris” and expressing hope that Vance would “get under his skin” in the upcoming debate.

REGARD:

“Well, first of all, I don’t think it’s consequential. Second, Walz is a jerk. I’m sorry this guy, he’s the only school teacher in America who brags that none of his students can get into an Ivy League school. He recounted a follow-up press interaction with our own Dana Bash, who asked him about the falsifications on his own resume and his response was essentially, “I don’t understand words well. I mean, he’s a jerk,” Jennings said.

“He has a free pass because he ran under Harris. He gets very little press, they don’t let him talk to the press for a reason. There’s one thing I want to take away from this debate,” Jennings continued. “I want JD Vance to go out there and get under his skin. He has a legendary hot, short temper. Many governors do this, but apparently he does. I want JD Vance to go out there and explain to him why he denigrates JD Vance’s story – small town America ends up doing something better with his life, which is what we should want for every child.”

Since Harris named the Minnesota governor as her running mate, Walz has been accused of “stolen valor” for allegedly deserting his battalion in 2005 after learning of its deployment to Iraq. While Walz denied the claims in August, two veterans who served with him criticized him in a 2018 letter, accusing him of “betraying his country” by retiring before his unit deployed, according to reports the New York Post.

Vance also criticized Walz in late August, saying he was “proud” to have attended Yale University after the Minnesota governor took a swipe at the Ohio senator during his Democratic National Committee (DNC) and said he was not one of his Student “went to Yale.” according to The Hill.

Featured Image: Screenshot/CNN/“State of the Union”

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