CNN Panel Melts Down in Debate on Biden’s Cognitive Ability: ‘Everything You Are Saying, I’m Sorry, Is Speculation!’
A CNN panel devolved into aggressive crosstalk as the subject of President Joe Biden’s cognitive ability became a debate topic.
On CNN NewsNight, Abby Phillip and a panel dove into Vice President Kamala Harris’s newly-announced presidential campaign following Biden announcing he was dropping his reelection bid amid concerns about his age and stamina.
Reihan Salam, president of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, kicked off a tense debate when he argued Biden is “manifestly incapable of doing an exceedingly difficult job,” questioning Biden remaining in office after dropping his reelection bid.
“Tell me how you know he’s manifestly incapable?” a doubtful Tim Naftali, presidential historian, pushed back.
“I’m sorry to say, but this is a sensitive matter, where there are a lot of folks who have been talking about this for some time —” Salam began before Nafalti dismissed the thinking.
“Oh, yes, I’ve heard them too. My doctor tells me he thinks he might have something, but he also says, but he’s also not my patient,” he said.
“The deeper question is who is actually in charge at any given time? You know, this notion that he’s only sharp for six hours a day? This is an incredibly volatile moment, in part because of his failures,” Salam responded.
CNN contributor and The View co-host Ana Navarro jumped in, dismissing Salam’s reference to reports on Biden’s state as pure “speculation.”
“Everything you’re saying, I’m sorry, is speculation!” she said.
As Salam pushed back, Navarro cited her own time with Biden.
“No, it is speculation! It is speculation! Because actually, unlike you, I’ve actually seen the guy at 9:00 at night. I have seen him after he has had five different events in 24 hours,” Navarro said.
Former NY Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey also questioned Biden’s cognitive state, saying he was clearly “unable” to answer certain questions at a CNN debate with Donald Trump last month.
As the panel turned into heavy crosstalk and debate, CNN political commentator Ashley Allison tried steering things back by arguing neither McCaughey nor Salam could make any definitive statements on Biden’s health because they hadn’t been interacting with him.
“This is the story…. I appreciate that the enthusiasm that Kamala Harris has sparked in the Democratic Party has made some people nervous, but the story that Joe Biden is lying to the public is not — when was the last time you were with Joe Biden?” she said.
Watch above via CNN.
