CNN political analyst Angela Rye echoed New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) during a fiery debate late Wednesday, saying “America has never been great.”
The comments came during a discussion on “Erin Burnett Outfront” with conservative commentator Gina Loudon, a staunch supporter of President Trump, who attempted to make the argument that she would never “support a president that I believed was going to be a threat” to her son’s future.
{mosads}Rye retorted by calling Loudon a liar.
“I have an adopted minority son who happens to have Down syndrome,” said Loudon. “He experiences bigotry every day in a myriad of ways, not just because of his skin color, but also because of his disability.
“And I understand that you and I don’t agree, but I would not support a president that I believed was going to be a threat to his future,” Loudon added.
“Well, you are,” Rye responded.
“So I would like a constructive conversation,” Loudon replied. “And I think points like yours that are focusing only on the negative and not even acknowledging 700,000 new jobs for black people in this country, record low unemployment and the rest of it, it is tantamount to what Andrew Cuomo said today that upset me too, that America has never been great. Let’s focus on what we have done.”
“America has never been great,” Rye retorted, adding that Loudon should be “completely ashamed” for mentioning her son during the discussion.
“And it’s not great because people like you come on and lie for the president of the United States and then tout, bring out your son, as an example?” she said. “You should be completely ashamed of yourself.”
“Can we focus on what — what America is doing well?” Loudon said in response. “And how about we look at what we can agree on and we agree to build on it, rather than to call each other names, and cut each other down and be divisive. I don’t think that this is — I think America is tired of the division, Angela.”
“Starts at the top, Gina, guess what? As soon as your president stops calling people names, maybe he will set a better example for everyone else,” Rye replied.
Burnett ended the segment there before going to commercial break.
The debate came after Cuomo said “America has never been great” during a speech.
His office later walked back the comment. In a statement, Cuomo’s spokeswoman said that he does believe America is great, but has yet to reach its “maximum potential.”
“The Governor believes America is great and that her full greatness will be fully realized when every man, woman, and child has full equality,” said Dani Lever. “America has not yet reached its maximum potential.”
President Trump slammed Cuomo, saying on Twitter that he was “having a total meltdown.”
“’WE’RE NOT GONG TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, IT WAS NEVER THAT GREAT,'” Trump tweeted to his 53.8 million followers Wednesday night. “Can you believe this is the Governor of the Highest Taxed State in the U.S., Andrew Cuomo, having a total meltdown!”