CNN Anchor Stuns With Reason Why Jon Ossoff Could Become President: He Doesn’t ‘Read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro’
CNN anchor Elex Michaelson raised eyebrows this week with his closing comment moderating a panel discussion on possible contenders in the 2028 Democratic Party presidential primary, offering his take on what might differentiate Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) – how Jewish they “read” to voters.
As the Tuesday evening conversation wound down, panelist and YouTuber Eric Messersmith argued, “But on the Jewish thing, because he is Jewish, he might be the Democrat that can thread the needle. Because even though he’s Jewish, he’s very critical of the Israeli government, very critical of Benjamin Netanyahu. He has credibility on that issue. So it’s possible—I think he could fill that lane in between the two extremes of the Democratic Party.”
Michaelson then wrapped up the discussion, “Yeah, as a Jew, some people read a little more Jewish than other people, and John Ossoff may not read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro does, for whatever that’s worth.”
Michaelson’s comment was clipped by The Forward’s Jacob Korbluh, and it gained steam on social media as many on the left and right expressed dismay.
Conservative commentator Meghan McCain and hard-left DropSite pundit Ryan Grim offered nearly the same take, replying on X, “What exactly are we doing?”
Trump’s former ambassador to Israel, David Friedman replied, “Most dangerous and offensive words in the modern vernacular: ‘As a Jew . . .’”
Below are some more reactions from across the political spectrum:
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