A CNN commentator unloaded on a Republican former gubernatorial candidate on Monday night during a discussion on the upcoming vice presidential debate and former President Donald Trump's increasingly "dark" rhetoric.
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins noted to her panel on "The Source" that the race between Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has been "really personal," and could set it apart from previous vice presidential debates, which are typically substantive. The segment came with the backdrop that Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris as “mentally impaired” and “disabled” during what he called over the weekend a "dark speech.”
Van Jones, a former Obama administration adviser agreed and emphasized the two are both veterans who have real differences in opinion and personality. He urged Walz to be careful and called Vance "p---ed" and looking for "redemption."
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Long Island Republican who ran unsuccessfully for governor, told the panel he expects Vance to attack Walz over cultural issues and his response to civil unrest.
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Collins then played a clip of Trump telling supporters over the weekend that his Democratic opponent is “mentally impaired” and “disabled," as well as clips of Trump trying to tie exceedingly violent crimes to illegal immigrants.
"That's the kind of despicable stuff you're going to see from J.D. Vance," said Jones. "J.D. Vance has no integrity. No dignity. No morals. He changed his whole personality to fit in with Donald Trump."
Jones continued laying into the Republican senator, saying Vance lied to people in his own state for power.
"He has done nothing except write a phony book, suck up to people with big money on Wall Street, be a senator for a year-and-a-half — he is a despicable person and you're going to see the worst in American politics from this guy," said Jones. "He's a racist and he's horrible."
The attack stunned Zeldin, who was momentarily left speechless by the attack.
"Man, Van," Zeldin responded, looking around at the panel.
As Zeldin tried to defend Vance as a man of "integrity," Jones was having none of it.
"Cats and dogs? Cats and dogs? Black people eat cats and dogs? Black immigrants eat cats and dogs? That's integrity?" He fires back over Zeldin.
Zeldin tried to attack Walz over his factual recounting of his military record, insisting to Jones, "He's never served in military combat."
As Zeldin attacks Walz's grammar defense, Jones continues: "I'd rather have bad grammar than a bad soul."
"He is destroying Haitian's ability to go to school because he's a racist," an emphatic Jones said.
He later added: "You're a better man than to defend [Vance.]"
Watch the clip below or at this link.
