CNN’s Erin Burnett Calls Out Sean Hannity for Giving GOP Candidate ‘Cover’ After Debate Gaffe

CNN’s Erin Burnett called on Sean Hannity on Friday after the Fox News host applied different standards to two politicians who committed very similar gaffes.

During Tuesday’s Republican U.S. Senate primary debate in South Carolina, Sen. Darline Graham fielded a question about whether Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues for the U.S.

“I’m not that informed on national security,” she replied. “My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military. My dad was in the Army. I’m not a polished politician up here. National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I support the military.

On Friday’s OutFront on CNN, Burnett noted that Graham sought to do damage control by going on Hannity the following day.

“So the next day she goes on Fox News’ Sean Hannity,” Burnett said, teeing up a clip of Hannity’s interview with Graham:

HANNITY: So, this issue of Taiwan came up last night. And I know people have made a big deal about it. And I’m like, “I wonder how many people around the country, if I gave them a map, could pick out Taiwan?” I don’t think many. And not just– I mean the whole country, never mind South Carolina.

GRAHAM: Right. I think you’re 100% right, Sean.

Burnett then pointed to a jumbled response about Taiwan from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) at the Munich Security Conference in February. The host played a montage of Republicans mocking her for it, saving Hannity for last.

“And the very same Sean Hannity, who gave Darline Graham cover this week saying, ‘Well, people don’t know where Taiwan is’ and, and all that, said this back in February after AOC’s comments,” Burnett said, teeing up another clip:

HANNITY: Prodigal “Squad” leader AOC simply could not answer basic questions about global affairs.

“Well, Sean Hannity, of course, was right at the time. It is important to be able to answer questions about global affairs if you want to be in Congress or you want to be in the Senate. It’s just a gating factor. You just have to be able to do it. But I guess the standards have changed.”

Watch above via CNN.

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