CNN Panel Explodes After Guest Roasts Tim Walz

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz may be a “consequential” selection for running mate by Vice President Kamala Harris, but not for the reasons believed by one liberal CNN panelist who was called out by Scott Jennings.

The conservative network analyst referred to Walz as a “buffoon” who will be a drag on the ticket for Harris and down-ballot Democratic candidates in November. Jennings tangled with panelist Ashley Etienne after the former Harris spokeswoman slammed Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) for causing “damage” to the GOP ticket while praising Walz for bridging the “cultural divide” between white and blue-collar Americans.

(FREE RED HAT: “Impeached. Arrested. Convicted. Shot. Still Standing”)

“I think what I noticed about all of this there’s never been a time, that I can recall before now, where the vice presidential picks have been so consequential to the actual top of the ticket. You look at J.D. Vance was supposed to somehow expand Donald Trump’s reach, instead, he actually has done more damage, harm than good,” Etienne said in a clip spotted by the Daily Caller. “But you look at Governor Walz, the reason why — smart, smart pick — the reason why he was picked is to bridge the cultural divide. To reach out to constituencies that the Democratic Party’s had problems reaching — moderate Republicans, disaffected report Republicans, independent Republicans. He’s signaling to a constituency that you can vote for this ticket. So he’s incredibly consequential to Kamala Harris — ”

Host Jake Tapper cut in to ask Jennings why he has “chortled” at Etienne’s summation of Walz’s positive impact on Harris’s campaign. The GOP strategist countered, accusing the Minnesota Democrat of getting a “free ride” in the media and predicting Vance would “get under his skin” in Tuesday’s vice presidential debate. “Well, first of all, I don’t find them to be consequential. Second of all, Walz is a buffoon. 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 said one consequential press interaction with our Dana Bash, who asked him about the fabrications in his own resume and his answer was essentially, ‘Me no understand words good.’ I mean, he’s a buffoon,” Jennings said.

“He’s on a free ride for running under Harris. He gets very little press, they don’t let him talk to the press for a reason. I want one thing out of this debate,” Jennings continued. “I want J.D. Vance to go out there and get under his skin. He has a legendary hot, short temper. A lot of governors do, but apparently he does. I want J.D. Vance to go out there and have him explain why he is denigrating J.D. Vance’s story — small-town America ends up making something better out of his life, which is something we should want for every kid.”

WATCH:

The much anticipated Walz-Vance showdown will culminate weeks of mudslinging between the two running mates. Within days of Walz joining Harris’s campaign, Sen. Vance amplified accusations that the former National Guardsman committed “stolen valor” by running for Congress on a brief office title that was rescinded after he backed out of an upcoming deployment during the Iraq war. Walz has countered, referring to Vance as “weird” after a few awkward moments on the campaign trail.

(VOTE: Are You Supporting TRUMP Or KAMALA In November?)