Well, yesterday was Wednesday, America. And we all know what happens on Wednesday, right? CNN anchor Don Lemon — with an able assist from his trusty sidekick, Chris Cuomo — worked himself into a tizzy— bigly — over something Donald Trump.
Of course Lemon works himself into a tizzy over something Trump on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, as well. Just sayin’.
Lemon’s apoplectic meltdown on Wednesday was the result of an announcement by NBC that it will host a town hall with Donald Trump on Thursday night, opposite ABC’s town hall with Joe Biden, as reported by my RedState colleague Jeff Charles on Wednesday.
NBC will also air the Trump town hall on CNBC and MSNBC.
The dueling events were scheduled after the second presidential debate was canceled, following Trump’s rejection of a virtual debate format announced by the Commission on Presidential Debates after the president tested positive for COVID-19.
So Lemon’s Wednesday meltdown occurred while talking with his buddy Fredo during the hand off between their respective shows.
“I gotta tell you,” Lemon said to Cuomo right off the bat.
“The story of the day. Do you know what everyone is talking about? Everyone I know. They are outraged by about what’s happening tomorrow night, ” he ranted.
Cuomo played along: “The dueling town halls?”
“Yes,” the faux-flabbergasted Lemon answered. “Why on earth would NBC agree to do that?
Cuomo again played along. “Okay, I’ll plus-minus it. Fair time. Equal time.”
Lemon continued to wind himself up.
“You can do equal time on a different night! You can do equal time at a different time! You don’t have to do it at the same time and then divide the country further by having them choose!
“How does it help the American people? How does that help the electorate by putting those two people on at the same time and making people choose from one to the other?
“This is an outright embarrassing ratings ploy on behalf of NBC. And I am shocked and surprised that they would allow the president of the United States to do their programming and manipulate them into doing this. This is embarrassing.”
Hold the bus a second, Don. Given that neither town hall is on CNN, what difference does it make to you if NBC and ABC split the ratings, per se, by hosting Biden on one network and Trump on the other?
Why it’s “almost” like you have a dog in the fight and want your dog to receive as much exposure as possible — and the other dog, as little as possible. And we both know that your dog’s name doesn’t start with “Donald” and end with “Trump,” don’t we?
Unhinged! CNN’s @DonLemon yells at NBC for daring to give President Trump a platform to answer questions from voters at a town hall Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/wnRc8sPnfn
— TV News HQ (@TVNewsHQ) October 15, 2020
Lemon suggested that one option would be for MSNBC air an event with Trump on with a host like Rachel Maddow or Joy Reid — both of whom loathe Trump at least as much as does Lemon, “Someone where he can be challenged rather than going on a town hall where he’s gonna take questions and then he’s gonna try to avoid them.”
This is ludicrous on multiple levels.
First, the next time Joe Biden or Kamala Harris sit down with a Fox News host like Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham will be the first. Second, NBC host Savanah Guthrie will be at least as hard on Trump Thursday night as ABC’s George Stephanopoulos will be on Biden.
Lemon also went off on the Trump town hall during the opening segment of his program. “You should be embarrassed, NBC,” he said.
Lemon then “discussed” NBC’s decision with fellow Trump-loathers Brian Stelter and David Swerdlick.
NBC is facing criticism for its decision to schedule a town hall with President Trump at the same time as Joe Biden’s on ABC https://t.co/YlNTsXCtoj pic.twitter.com/lA7fRnu1nk
— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) October 15, 2020
The only one person who should be embarrassed here is pretend-journalist Don Lemon — by his childish hissy fit. But, hey — Trump Derangement Syndrome is a cruel and debilitating disease.
