On Thursday night, CNN analyst Angela Rye attacked Trump campaign adviser Gina Loudon for mentioning her special needs minority son. Rye is seen on air rolling her eyes when Loudon brings up her adopted son and proceeds to scold the Trump adviser, “You should feel completely ashamed of yourself!” Meanwhile, host Erin Burnett looks on silently.
Discussing the reputed lack of racial diversity within the Trump Administration, Rye, as her typically heated self, used her identity as a black woman to highlight her authority to speak on the issue. “My black life matters and so does my voice, so you’re going to do right now is listen to what I’m saying to you,” she told Loudon.
“My point is this: you’re not going to be able to successfully name one black person who works in the West Wing, because you know what, Omarosa [Manigault] didn’t even work in the West Wing,” she continued. Rye explained that it’s “slim pickings” for black staffers within the administration “because no one wants to go work for a racist” and dismissed HUD secretary Ben Carson as inadequate representation.
“This whole administration is nonsense, just like your talking points,” said Rye.
Loudon, attempting to relate to Rye, responded, “Angela, I understand your feelings on this.”
“No, you don’t,” interrupted Rye.
“I have an adopted minority son — yes, I do — who happens to have Down Syndrome,” said Loudon. Rye, stunningly, is seen in the split-screen rolling her eyes and turning away from camera while sighing in disgust.
“He experiences bigotry every single day in a myriad of ways, not just because of his skin color but also because of his disability,” continued Loudon. “I understand that you and I don’t agree, but I would not support a president that I believed would be a threat to his future.”
Rye, again, interrupted, “You are.”
Loudon, impressively staying calm, said she’d like to have a “constructive conversation” with Rye about the issue. “I think points like yours that are only focusing on the negative and not even acknowledging 700,000 new jobs for black people in this country, record low unemployment, and the rest of it, it’s tantamount to what Andrew Cuomo said today … that America has never been great,” she said.
Rye decided to agree with Cuomo and slam Loudon for mentioning her non-white son, though, bizarrely, Rye had used her own black identity earlier in the segment.
“America has never been great,” declared Rye, “and it’s not great because people like you come on and lie for the president of the United States and then tout, bring out your son as an example. Like, you gotta be completely ashamed of yourself.”
Loudon has since spoken out about the incident, telling The Daily Caller that her family is used to such “bullying” and that she invited Rye to meet her son.
“I’m used to enduring judgment and bullying, and so is my son. We are pretty good at letting things roll off our backs. If she were open to knowing Samuel, I would love it if Angela could meet him — he really has a way of teaching people about love in ways that other people simply can’t. Maybe CNN would want to do a segment on that. He doesn’t understand political hatred, partisan bickering, or identity politics,” she said. “But his understanding of what matters in life could teach all of us a lesson.”
“I will not stop advocating for my child and others like him, simply because of people who will roll their eyes or dismiss me as ‘just a mom.’ I chose Samuel because I have worked with people with Down Syndrome my entire life, and I wanted my other children and my friends and family to know this kind of love. People will always criticize. And Samuel will always outshine their darkness,” Loudon added.
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