In a Monday exchange on CNN, anchors Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon discussed President Trump’s border policy.
They noted that there’s an un-American tinge to the way Trump seems to seek punitive living conditions for those detained at the U.S.-Mexican border. The two hosts also pointed out the importance of immigration to the American identity and prosperity. But Lemon also proved that he has an unbalanced focus on Trump’s moral failings. It came when he referenced Trump’s recent comment that America is at capacity, positing “What’s next? Are we going to stop families from having children if we’re all full up?”
Yes, ordering people not to have children is an apex act of political immorality. But while Lemon’s anger here is righteous, it is wrongly directed at Trump. After all, while Trump has not endorsed such a ban, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. has. Discussing climate change in February, Ocasio-Cortez claimed that “There’s scientific consensus that the lives of children are going to be very difficult. And it does lead young people to have a legitimate question: Is it okay to still have children?”
It’s actually not a scientific consensus that “the lives of children are going to be very difficult.” But Lemon should have called out Ocasio-Cortez for her comments here. It’s a nice example of the media’s casual tolerance of the congresswoman’s more extreme comments and positions, the likes of which would be pounced upon ferociously if they came from Trump.
Considering AOC’s influence in the evolving Democratic Party, her weak knowledge of history, and how negative her proposals would be if enacted, Ocasio-Cortez needs more skeptical coverage. Hopefully Lemon will make that point on his next show. But I’m not betting on it.
