Cross posted to the MRC's NewsBusters blog
On Wednesday's Don Lemon Tonight, CNN commentator and liberal Republican Ana Navarro got her latest opportunity to trash her own party over gay rights as she blamed Republicans for inspiring an alleged plot to riot against a gay pride parade in Idaho.
Lemon predictably bolstered his liberal guest against right-leaning CNN contributor Alice Stewart. The CNN host introduced the segment by recalling that President Joe Biden is pushing efforts to support gay Americans on a number of issues and then went to Navarro for her response.
The liberal CNN contributor who for some reason still calls herself a Republican (as she would do later in the segment) immediately complained about Republicans on the issue:
I think it matters because for the last few months, it feels like there's been this manufactured culture war by Republicans targeting LGBTQ, right? So whether it's "don't say gay" in Florida -- now it's all about -- it's all about drag shows. You know, "What angle to the LGBTQ thing can we pick?" -- targeting people who talk about it as pedophiles -- as "you're grooming kids." It's so ignorant -- it's so wrong.
A bit later, after Lemon suggested that recent laws passed by Republicans were being done "for no reason," Navarro lectured her conservative colleague:
Alice, I know you, and I know you're a decent person. This is indefensible. And, listen, we just saw this week where 31 white supremacists were arrested in Idaho wanting to go attack and riot at a pride parade. Why a pride parade? Because Republicans have been preying and using this issue -- this anti-LGBTQ issue to spread fearmongering...
She further took aim at Republicans:
it is repulsive to me that Republicans are using and manufacturing a culture war in order to drive people to the polls through fear for, you know, "Oh, now, they're coming for your children." They're not coming for you children. Nobody's coming for your children!
Blaming Republicans for the plot to target a gay pride parade, Navarro also attacked former President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign:
Alice, it happened because Republicans have been going on this anti-LGBTQ message now for months. They've been using -- listen, we've seen this before, Alice. You and I are both Republicans. We saw it during the Bush campaign in 2004 when it was used as a very effective wedge issue to drive people to the polls through fears. And it is the exact same playbook. That's why people -- white supremacists are going to a gay pride parade -- because we are feeding this into their brains.
This episode of Don Lemon Tonight was sponsored in part by Arby's. Their contact information is linked.
Transcript follows:
CNN's Don Lemon Tonight
June 15, 2022
10:41 p.m. Eastern
DON LEMON: So the executive order coming in response to anti-LGBTQ legislation being introduced and passed by Republican-led state legislatures around the country. ... Ana, I'm going to start with you. LGBTQ advocates are applauding this executive order.
This is what it's supposed to do -- protect children from conversion therapy, safeguard programs to prevent youth suicide -- includes a new initiative to protect foster youth. It aims to safeguard inclusive health care and housing. What do you think? Do you think this will be effective?
NAVARRO: I think it matters because for the last few months, it feels like there's been this manufactured culture war by Republicans targeting LGBTQ, right? So whether it's "don't say gay" in Florida -- now it's all about -- it's all about drag shows. You know, "What angle to the LGBTQ thing can we pick?" -- targeting people who talk about it as pedophiles -- as "you're grooming kids." It's so ignorant -- it's so wrong.
(...)
LEMON: These kids would need the consent of their parents anyway. It just seems like they're making laws for no reason.
NAVARRO: Alice, I know you, and I know you're a decent person. This is indefensible. And, listen, we just saw this week where 31 white supremacists were arrested in Idaho wanting to go attack and riot at a pride parade. Why a pride parade? Because Republicans have been preying and using this issue -- this anti-LGBTQ issue to spread fearmongering...
(...)
it is repulsive to me that Republicans are using and manufacturing a culture war in order to drive people to the polls through fear for, you know, "Oh, now, they're coming for your children." They're not coming for you children. Nobody's coming for your children!
STEWART: Look, clearly what happened with the gay pride parade out in Idaho is reprehensible. That should not have happened.
NAVARRO: But why did it happen, Alice?
STEWART; Well, because there are people that are filled with hate and specifically against members of the gay community, and it's reprehensible. I don't know how much more plainly I can say that. That should not have happened, and they need to be held accountable.
NAVARRO: Alice, it happened because Republicans have been going on this anti-LGBTQ message now for months. They've been using -- listen, we've seen this before, Alice. You and I are both Republicans. We saw it during the Bush campaign in 2004 when it was used as a very effective wedge issue to drive people to the polls through fears. And it is the exact same playbook. That's why people -- white supremacists are going to a gay pride parade -- because we are feeding this into their brains.
(...)
It is, yet again, another manufactured culture war for political purposes. And if you are getting your medical advice from Ted Cruz or Ron DeSantis or Marco Rubio, you got a real problem.