CNN Analyst Shreds ‘Meritocracy’ Claim In DEI Brawl — Says She Was Always Lowest Paid Even In Obama White House
CNN political analyst and former Obama staffer Ashley Allison clashed with conservative co-panelists arguing diversity initiatives would be replaced with merit-based hiring, by sharing her own experience with discrimination.
The debate on CNN NewsNight began as conservative panelists Scott Jennings and Alyssa Farah Griffin argued that the resources put into promoting diversity policies were excessive and that, once done away with, the most qualified candidates would be promoted. CNN contributor Cari Champion, in return, argued that affirmative action merely provided access to those like her but that in graduating those who benefited from it proved themselves as worthy as anyone else.
Jennings’ sarcastic jab about “test scores at UCLA Medical” was met with a quick rebuttal from Champion: “My point being, Scott, is that everyone doesn’t have the same access. People like to hire their friends. They like to hire the people that they like to be around.”
Champion pointed to President Donald Trump’s cabinet as an example of people decrying DEI not picking “the best people for the job.”
“Donald Trump hired all of his friends,” she added before Jennings accused her of not understanding how political appointments work.
Allison then weighed in: “Can we just go beyond the cabinet? Because, yes, the president gets to pick whoever he wants. And the senate is now for the Republicans. And I would have hoped that some of them would have had more profiles in courage, but they didn’t.”
She continued: “The issue in this country right now is we live in different realities. I live in a reality where I know I do not have the same opportunity as you. I know I don’t, and you know and I know what.”
As a co-panelists tried to interrupt, Allison raised her voice and pushed on: “And you know that, let me… Let me just tell you about me!”
“I’m not talking about how you feel,” she continued as others continued to talk. “I’m talking about how I feel. Me, a black woman in this country.”
Guest Arthur Aidala protested: “I’m a New Yorker, not in this city. You cannot say that. You can’t say that in this city…”
Allison cut in: “I’m not talking about New York, I’m talking about Ashley Allison. I got a Law degree, a master’s and two bachelors. Probably more education than all of y’all added up together at this table. And I have always been the least paid person on payroll at every institution I have worked in. And it’s not.”
“Even in the White House?” Aidala quipped.
“Even in the White House,” Allison repeated back.
“Well, whose fault is that?” he shot back. “I don’t think you worked for George W [Bush] or Trump!”
As the host called the panelists to calm and Jennings complimented Allison for her work ethic, achievements and ability, she returned to her point: “But let me tell you something about my story and my family’s story is that we have faced discrimination. I have faced… I just said I was the least paid person. Even in this moment, sometimes to my counterparts, it is just the reality of the country we live in.”
“And I’m not saying I do believe I’m qualified,” she added. “I know I’m qualified. You won’t ever tell me I’m not qualified. But the system that I live in doesn’t matter about my qualifications.”
Watch above via CNN.
