Fox News host Neil Cavuto pushed back on Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy’s attack on Vice President Kamala Harris as a “ding-dong” and a “loon” Monday, questioning if name-calling could backfire on the GOP.
Kennedy joined Cavuto for his afternoon broadcast to share his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s planned overhaul of the Supreme Court, which he said will be “as dead as Woodrow Wilson,” when it gets to Washington. He continued with a tirade that alleged Harris is actually behind the court reform package as a sort-of vendetta against the court for dismantling Roe V. Wade.
He then went on to ridicule her laugh and saying polling shows Americans think Harris is “a bit of a ding dong,” and a member of the “loon wing of the Democratic party.”
Cavuto wasn’t buying it.
“I’m wondering if the strategy to focus on her laugh or the former president calling her nasty and crazy, really promotes that push to show she’s not up to the job. Does it look petty?”Does it say to judge her on this level looks like a strategy that could backfire on Republicans?” Cavuto said. “By all means get her on the issues… but to focus on this other stuff just looks dumb.”
The rebuke seemed to ruffle Kennedy’s feathers more than little. He went on the defensive, doubling down on his remarks to the Fox News host.
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“I’m sorry if that offends you Neil, but I’m just telling you what the people of America…” Kennedy said.
Cavuto interrupted him.
“I’m just telling you what the polls are showing right now,” Cavuto said, referring to polls that put Harris and Donald Trump in a dead heat among voters. “I guess I’m saying all the problems and calling her a loon and all that… ”
“Well I didn’t call her a loon, you’re putting words in my mouth!” Kennedy responded with anger. “She’s a member of the loon wing of the Democratic party.”
“Well what's the difference between the loon wing and being a loon?” Cavuto said. “She is running even with Trump and I’m just wondering about the approach you're taking – it’s going to come back to bite your heinies, isn’t it?”
Cavuto asserted that such attacks may alienate female voters and minorities.
“Well let me say it again. The vice president is a candidate for president of the United States. I don’t care about her gender, maybe you do Neil, but I don’t. I don’t care about her race. I care about her…” Kennedy said, clearly frustrated, as Cavuto cut him off.
“Then why call her a ding dong?” Cavuto pressed.
Kennedy backed up saying he was just “telling you what the polling shows. And I’ll be glad to sit down with you and walk you through the polls.”
“Please do, because I never know when it's constructive to call people names,” Cavuto said.
Watch the clip below or at this link.