August 29, 2022 2:36pm EDT
MSNBC, CNN, Democrats largely defend Biden’s ‘semi-fascism’ comment, slam Trump Republicans
Some media figures felt Biden's comments did not go far enough
By Nikolas Lanum | Fox News
Left-leaning media figures on MSNBC, CNN, as well as number of Democrats, have attempted to defend and unpack President Biden’s comments in which he referred to "extreme MAGA" Republican philosophy as "semi-fascism."
"What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy," Biden said during a Thursday Maryland fundraiser. "It’s not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to say something, it’s like semi-fascism."
Several reporters and guests over the weekend attempted to decipher Biden’s statement, often clarifying that they did not believe it was a criticism of all, or even most Republicans. CNN national politics reporter Eva McKend said it seemed like Biden was attempting to "bring in" some Republicans to the fold with his words.
"It almost seemed like he was trying to call in some Republicans by delineating between MAGA Republicans and mainstream Republicans and try to bring them into the fold," she said.
CNN political commentator Errol Louis also provided his thoughts on Biden’s critique, arguing that despite being perhaps "harsher" than anticipated, it really just happened to be the "truth."
"I think the president is laying out the terms of the debate in very stark terms. A little harsher than maybe some of us expected, but that happens to be the truth. It happens to be what’s at stake here," Louis said.
The topic was also discussed at length on CNN Newsroom with Pamela Brown, in which the host asked CNN political commentator Maria Cardona if she felt that Biden’s "semi-fascist" comment aimed at millions of Americans was a mistake.
"No, because the president actually didn’t call millions of Americans semi-fascists," Cardona said. "He called the Republicans that are supporting the big lie that Joe Biden did not legitimately win the election—
"But that’s milli—that’s a lot of people," Brown interjected.
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