This really was a remarkable moment in Cable News. The New York Times' Charles Blow stating the fact of Donald Trump's bigotry and misogyny, and refusing to "debate" another "side" to that because there's no point.
The producers at CNN have a formula: have "side one" and "side two" on television and watch them fight. Charles Blow exploded that formula last night, because we have to.
There is no "on the other hand" with a candidate whose campaign displays the bigotry and hatred of non-white people that the Trump campaign does. There is no "both sides" or "but the Democrats" when it comes to the cold stone racism of Trump's stated policies. Both. Sides. Don't.
The other service Charles Blow provides is to pin Donald Trump directly to The Republican Party. It's not "Trumpism" or some other non-Republican entity that voted for him primary after primary. It's not the "Trump" convention that nominated him. Trump represents Republicans because THEY chose HIM to be their standard bearer.
Here's the transcript via CNN, emphasis added:
But also, Charles, I just want to say something real quick, I noticed that you didn't disagree when I said that democrats had failed policies in a lot of these cities. I'm glad you do agree with that.
LEMON: He said he's written about it before.
LEVELL: The second thing is...
LEMON: He said he's written about it before.
LEVELL: Well, OK.
(CROSSTALK)
BLOW: Let him go, Don. he's just trying to base. You're just to base.
LEVELL: No, it's not, sir.
BLOW: I'll get to it.
LEMON: One at a time. Go ahead.
LEVELL: I get to it.
BLOW: I know your eyes, you smirk, but I get to it.
LEVELL: But here is my question since we're on the topic -- since we're on the topic of African-American subject -- that's what we're on, name one statement that you've heard Donald Trump say about African-Americans. Name one.
LEMON: Yes, I've got a short amount of time. Go ahead, Charles.
BLOW: No, first of all, I don't know I totally listen to the phrase.
LEVELL: No, no, sir. Exactly.
BLOW: No, no, first of all, be quiet. The way I was being quiet when you were talking. Right? That's how this works.
LEMON: Go ahead, Charles. We're about to run out of time.
BLOW: So, here's the deal.
LEVELL: Name one.
BLOW: Here's the deal.
LEVELL: No, no, name one.
LEMON: Bruce, it's his turn.
BLOW: You want to talk about race -- you talk to him.
LEMON: Bruce, let him.
BLOW: Because I won't do that.
LEMON: OK. If he doesn't want to answer your question you don't have to do that.
BLOW: OK. I won't do that. All right.
LEMON: Go ahead, Charles.
BLOW: Because he can't. That's why. Thank you.
LEMON: Charles, Charles.
BLOW: Who is this person? And why is he on TV?
LEVELL: Why are you on TV?BLOW: Listen. Here's the deal, right? So Donald Trump is a bigot. There's no other way to get around it. LEVELL: Wow.
BLOW: Anybody who supports, accepts that, supports it. Anybody who supports it is promoting it. And that makes you a part of the bigotry itself. Now you have to decide whether or not you want to be part of the bigotry that is Donald Trump.
You have to decide whether you want to be part of the sexism and misogyny that is Donald Trump. You have to decide whether you want to be part of the bullying that would allow him to make fun of one of my disabled colleagues at The New York Times. You have is to decide that.
There is no other space for you. There is no place for you to say, I'm going to put that to the side because I believe in conservative principles. I can't put that to the side because I believe that I do not want to vote for Hillary.
You have to make a decision because your party has now decided that this is the person, this con man is your front man. And you have to decide whether or not you're going to follow that.
LEMON: That's a lot. First, I'm literally running out of time. So, go ahead, I'll give you the last word.
LEVELL: Well, Charles, you know, I'm sorry you can't answer the question because you know that you can't. You know...
(CROSSTALK)
BLOW: I don't know you, and I don't want to talk to you and I don't want to answer your question.
LEVELL: OK. Well, that's fine.
BLOW: Give me question somebody else who is interested -- because I don't.
LEMON: Bruce, make your point. And this is your final point, Bruce. Go ahead.
LEVELL: Well, the point is we knew back last year that the Clinton campaign was going to try to bait and create, this false facade of Donald Trump being someone that he's not.
BLOW: I'm not part of the Clinton campaign.
LEVELL: And -- well.
BLOW: I'm a black man in America
LEVELL: I hope -- OK.
BLOW: And I know a bigot when I see a bigot. And you are supporting a bigot and that makes you part of the bigotry that's Donald Trump.
LEVELL: I know someone who doesn't tell the truth on national TV when I see it, sir.
BLOW: Right. And I know this. A bigot is a bigot. You're supporting a bigot. That makes you part of the bigotry. And you are part of the problem that black America faces. That what black people don't need is not somebody to solve our problems like we are some sort of algebraic equation. What black people need is dismantling...
(CROSSTALK)
LEVELL: We are trying to -- Charles.
BLOW: ... and that is not what Donald Trump is offering.
LEVELL: Charles, Charles.
BLOW: And that means I don't have to answer your questions.
LEVELL: Charles.
BLOW: Which -- because you're not the moderator here. You're not the person who is asking...
LEMON: OK.
LEVELL: OK. But you can't sit on national TV...
(CROSSTALK)
BLOW: No, no, no,
LEVELL: ... you can't sit on national TV and call someone a racist, sir.
BLOW: I called him a bigot and I called you a supporter of that bigotry, and therefore part of that bigotry. And you are part of what the problem with African-Americans.
LEMON: Let him get in. Let him get in. Go ahead, Bruce.
BLOW: Yes, I said that to you.
