CNN analyst says it's “ridiculous” that no one pushed back on Vivek Ramaswamy's conspiracy theories at the fourth GOP debate
Gloria Borger: “It should be disqualifying, but it isn't, in this Republican Party right now”
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From the December 7, 2023, edition of CNN's CNN News Central
BRIANNA KEILAR (CO-ANCHOR): Ramaswamy going after Nikki Haley, really going after the truth —
DAVID CHALIAN (CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR): Because it's a day that ends in “y.”
KEILAR: That's right. Going after the truth as well, because it's a day that ends in “y.” I want to take a look at some of Vivek Ramaswamy's greatest hits — what Chris Christie might consider his most obnoxious hits, if you were to pull a quote from him last night. Here it is.
(VIDEO BEGINS)
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: Why am I the only person on this stage at least who could say that January 6 now does look like it was an inside job? That the government lied to us for 20 years about Saudi Arabia's involvement in 9/11? That the great replacement theory is not some grand, right-wing conspiracy theory but a basic statement of the Democratic Party's platform?
(VIDEO ENDS)
KEILAR: Alright, so, all conspiracy theories, just to be very clear about this. He's — no, he is not the leading alternative candidate, but what does this say, if he's saying this, David, about where a significant part of the party is? Because he is getting a lot of cheers for what once would've been completely invalidating for a candidate.
CHALIAN: Yeah, I mean there is a swath of the far right, of sort of the fringe right, that buys into these conspiracy theories. He sees that, let's call it the Alex Jones crowd or what have you, as a potential pocket of voters and support inside a Republican primary. And so, I mean, he knows exactly what he is doing. I mean, he is playing directly into that to try to and amp up their support for him in this race. He doesn't have a ton of places to go. As you noted, he's pretty far back in the standing in this race. So, he's trying to juice the one segment of the Republican electorate that he thinks he has some sway with.
GLORIA BORGER (CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST): What was notable was he wasn't challenged on any of this, either by the moderators or by the other people onstage with him, which was ridiculous. I mean, he was wading into Alex Jones territory, saying that, you know, January 6 was an inside job. I mean, it should be disqualifying, but it isn't, in this Republican Party right now.