CNN’s Scott Jennings Slammed Over His Reaction to Jenna Bush Hager Interviews

Scott Jennings
CNN

What To Know

  • Scott Jennings disagreed with fellow CNN analysts about Jenna Bush Hager’s recent conversation with the four living former presidents.
  • His commented about Democrats believing that “America is rotten to its core” frustrated his fellow panelists.

Scott Jennings shocked some of his CNN colleagues during a roundtable discussion on April 21. The group discussed Jenna Bush Hager‘s interview with the four living former presidents (George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden), and Jennings brought up some takes that Kasie Hunt and the rest of the panel found incredulous.

“I like it when our leaders talk about a hopeful future. I think that’s good for the country,” Jennings began. “I guess I sort of reject the premise of the conversation a little in that these are somehow ‘dark times’ and we’re living through this ‘uncertain rough patch.’ I mean, I’m pretty happy, and I think a lot of people are.”

Hunt then brought up a recent NBC poll that asked Americans, “Do you expect life for your generation to be better, worse, or about the same?” The results were 30%, 48%, and 22%, respectively. “I think in many ways the numbers you see on the screen helps explain why some of the messaging that Donald Trump and other populists like Bernie Sanders, why what they have brought to the table has been resonating,” Hunt explained.

She continued, “I take your point, you don’t want to take the premise that people are going to be optimistic. But, bottom line, that’s not a number about politics. That’s people feeling the promise of America isn’t what it used to be.”

Hunt then pulled up another poll that asked responders, “The United States is: the greatest country in the world, one of the greatest countries in the world, or not one of the greatest countries.” The responses were 36%, 41%, and 23%, respectively.

Jennings then jumped in to ask, “If you looked at that split by politics, what would you find? If you looked at the splits on how people feel about America, the promise of America, if you look at whether they’re proud of their country or not, Gallup has measured this, Republicans and conservatives are proud to be Americans and Democrats and liberals are not.”

Hunt admitted, “This is the opposite of where I wanted to go with that,” but Jennings continued, “You’d find the lines on the graph going [opposite ways], and honestly, I think there’s a political movement in this country right now built on telling people that America is rotten to its core, and its not the Republican ideology.”

Kate Bedingfield was frustrated with Jennings at this point and began, “I think this point about partisan divide and the way you’re bringing up partisan divide is exactly the problem.” As she continued, he cut her off to say, “The problem to tell you the truth about the numbers?” Bedingfield replied, “Scott, give me a break,” which prompted the conservative pundit to tell her, “I’m not gonna give you a break about the math.”

She was able to continue her thought by adding, “The fact that we are in an era where our politics are so personally vicious … even if you are willing to concede the idea that Americans are not optimistic about the future, you must be willing to concede that our politics right now is personal, vicious, divided, ugly, in a way that turns regular people off.”




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  1. J

    Jena

    "I sort of reject the premise ... that these are somehow ‘dark times’ and ... ‘uncertain rough patch.’ I mean, I’m pretty happy, and I think a lot of people are.”

    REALLY. Read the room, buddy.

    1. A

      Arben70

      Seriously.

      (I don’t know if you’re familiar with the classic Really?!? bits on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, Jena, but thanks for making me think of them.)

      1. J

        Jena

        I don't necessarily remember Really?? from SNL Weekend Update. And while I never watched Grey's Anatomy, didn't they do (or overdo) that Seriously?? thing? Interesting how those two words, both used to convey the disbelief or skepticism, are connected with different TV shows.

        1. A

          Arben70

          Hmm. I don’t remember “Seriously?!?” being a particular thing on Grey’s Anatomy. I watched for what I think were several seasons before checking out but the show’s been on so long that there have been articles recently about two actors/characters leaving after many, many years and I believe they joined the cast after I stopped watching.

          1. T

            Truth

            Jena thinks “The Room” is composed of all liberal leftists. They will whine and complain no matter what.I guess they want the govt. to ramp up on even more “free” stuff. 🙄

            1. J

              Jena

              ?? I have no idea what you're talking about. What is The Room?? And for the record, I don't watch CNN so if you're referring to a show on that network, I have no preconceptions of what any of them are. So.... your comment is irrelevant to me.

              1. T

                Truth

                Um the amnesia really flaring up for you huh. YOU said in your first comment: Read the room buddy. No need to thank me for helping you. We’re used to helping Liberals, Allot.

                1. J

                  Jena

                  Oh, I see. I use a common phrase and you take it literally. Okay, don't get so emotional about it.

                  1. T

                    Truth

                    Not emotional at all. And your “common phrase” was used in a very deliberate snarky context. So I called you on it. And you very obviously tried to imply that Everyone or Most in the room disagree. Own it. Now go do like main stream media does and conduct a poll of 98% liberal minded people so you can change the narrative.

          2. J

            Jena

            LOL, you caught me in the crime of 'assuming.' I never watched Grey's, but on the show Supernatural, there was a spoof of the show, and all the nurses and doctors said "Seriously?" about a million times, so I assumed that was a 'thing' on Grey's. :-p 😀 (I miss the emojis!)

        2. A

          Arben70

          Really?!? began with Seth (Meyers) & Amy (Poehler) but it’s recurred a few times since then with at least one of them guesting.

  2. B

    bluesky1963

    jennings is why i no longer watch CNN

  3. S

    sandra

    woke lot gets it's panties in a twist now, but when their dearest obama deported illegals in droves https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/deporter-chief & bombed other countries with bs excuses, crickets https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/09/america-dropped-26171-bombs-2016-obama-legacy. woke lying hypocrites

    1. T

      Truth

      Bravo well said and backed with the receipts !!

  4. T

    Truth

    Well Jennings who I admit I don’t know much about seemed to be telling the Truth. I mean the Liberal Left raised Cain about having the Military Parade. You see them burning Our National Flag while flying the flags of foreign countries, all the while standing on American soil. Young people putting checkered table cloths on their heads supporting Hamas and Iran on American city streets. I could go on and on. But in the end I see very little American patriotism on the Left. They seem loyal to everyone But America.

    1. M

      mschiefsfan

      I see MAGA loyal only to Trump and not America.

      1. T

        Truth

        Well your vision is pretty poor. But that’s a common condition for liberal leftists. That and the ability to rationalize.

    2. M

      MaiTai

      There's plenty to go on and on about how ugly the Republican party under Trump has become. Being a Trumper isn't being a patriot it's the opposite! Most die hard Trumpers are fine with stomping on our Constitutional rights and laws.

      1. T

        Truth

        LOL !! What a Hypocrite You are !! Stomping on our Constitution ??!!?? LOL the Liberal Socialist Dems are Masters at that. We won’t even Have a Constitution if enough of them get elected !! 🙄