A number of selection for readers. Is Don Lemon:

1. Intellectually challenged.
2. A misogynist.
3. A supine shill for Joe Biden.
4. The entire above?

The query arises after Lemon’s pitiful efficiency on at the moment’s CNN This Morning. Responding to Nikki Haley’s name yesterday for candidates over 75 [looking at you, Biden and Trump!] to be examined for psychological competency, Lemon made a pathetic try to show the tables on Haley, saying:

“She says individuals, you already know, politicians or one thing will not be of their prime. Nikki Haley is not in her prime—sorry. A girl is taken into account being in her prime in her 20s and 30s and possibly 40s. Prime, for those who look it up. In case you Google, when is a lady in her prime?, it will say 20s, 30s, 40s.”

Lemon’s inane declare triggered a shocked response—”What are you speaking about? Wait.”—from co-host Poppy Harlow [age 40], who celebrated [see screencap] simply making it below the “prime” commonplace Lemon had set. 

Within the present’s subsequent hour, Lemon was schooled by CNN commentator Audie Cornish. Cornish, previously of NPR, is a confirmed liberal. However she’s additionally a grown-up who runs mental rings round poor Don. 

Actually laughing at one level at Lemon’s absurd assertion, Cornish knowledgeable Lemon in no unsure phrases:

“You raised the query of that might someway be a double-edged sword for her. That, you already know, she might be out of her prime ultimately. That is not the way it works . . .Nobody goes have a look at Nikki Haley and say, is she in her prime or not? She’s in her prime for working for workplace [laughs.] Political prime is what we’re speaking about.”

Cornish did not trouble to cap her remark by saying, “Don, you nincompoop!”—although the implication was there!

Lemon repeatedly steered that Haley might be alienating older voters by suggesting that folks over 75 be examined for psychological competency. Cornish shrugged that off, saying that older voters are good and may determine whom to vote for. Lemon’s declare additionally runs counter to my private expertise. Once I ran for mayor of my small city some years in the past, I did numerous door-to-door campaigning. My opponent, the incumbent mayor, was 72, and issues about his age and the necessity for a youthful individual in workplace have been continuously raised . . . by older voters I met!

Along with his ignorant feedback about ladies being previous their prime, Lemon certainly did nothing to endear himself to his co-hosts, Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, or assist heal the unhealthy blood after Lemon reportedly lashed out at Collins after a current present. If Collins is in “her prime,” why does he demean her as a babe within the woods?

Then there’s this: Somebody must ask Lemon simply how far previous their primes are Nancy Pelosi [82], Hillary Clinton [75], and Michelle Obama [59]? 

On CNN This Morning, Don Lemon Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime was sponsored partially by AT&T, Common Motors, Downy, and Dove. 

Here is the transcript.

CNN This Morning 
2/16/23
6:25 am ET

POPPY HARLOW: Many Democrats say that he’ll be working towards his age partially till a Republican nominee is chosen. The truth is, one central message in new Republican candidate Nikki Haley’s marketing campaign is that the U.S. wants youthful management.

NIKKI HALEY: Within the America I see, the everlasting politician will lastly retire. We’ll have time period limits for Congress! And obligatory psychological competency exams for politicians over 75-years-old.

. . . 

HARLOW: Elder statesmen right here?

DON LEMON: This entire discuss age makes me uncomfortable. I believe that, I believe it is the mistaken highway to go down. She says individuals, you already know, politicians or one thing will not be of their prime. Nikki Haley is not in her prime. Sorry. A girl is taken into account being in her prime in her 20s and 30s and possibly 40s.

HARLOW: What are you speaking about? Wait.

LEMON: That is not based on me.

HARLOW: Prime for what?

LEMON: It relies upon. It’similar to prime. In case you look it up. In case you Google when is a lady in her prime, it will say 20s, 30s, 40s.

HARLOW: 40s! Oh, I received in below the tape [throws up hands in celebration.]

LEMON: I am not saying I agree with that. So, I believe she needs to be cautious about saying that, you already know, politicians aren’t of their prime.

HARLOW: It’s important to qualify it. Are you speaking about prime for, like, child-bearing or are you speaking about prime for being president?

LEMON: I am simply saying what the info are. Google it. Everyone at house, when is a lady in her prime? It says 20s, 30s, and 40s. And I am simply saying Nikki Haley she needs to be cautious about saying that politicians will not be of their prime and, they should be in prime after they serve. As a result of she would not be in her prime based on —

HARLOW: Google?

LEMON: Google, or no matter it’s.

And you must watch out as a result of older individuals vote. Older individuals watch linear tv. Proper? And so she needs to be cautious about turning off a sure constituency who could also be her strongest set of supporters.

. . . 

Look, she is elevating this. Do you suppose it’s good? We had the dialog earlier about do you suppose it is good for her to try this? As a result of in that, proper, she’s, she’s going to show off numerous older individuals. And, after all, these are her phrases. She’s bringing this up. That politicians are now not of their prime. Proper? And that was based on her. And so I believe she’s gonna, she’s alienating  —

. . . 

I’ve to stay up for older individuals right here. As a result of it feels — there’s something that might really feel ageist about this. And it stings, whenever you say somebody is of their prime of their 20s, 30s and 40s. It stings! 

. . .

I am simply merely wanting on the individuals who that historically present as much as the polls. They normally are older.

AUDIE CORNISH: Yeah, however they’re good and so they, you already know, they make these choices about who to vote for. 

And to your level earlier, you already know, the thought of prime that you’d Google on the web. That is about sexual and preproductive prime. That is not, really, about psychological well being and growing older. And there have been so many advances —

LEMON: These will not be my phrases. These are Nikki Haley’s phrases.

CORNISH: No, yeah, however to be clear, like, you, you raised the query of that might someway be a double-edged sword for her. That, you already know, she might be out of her prime ultimately. That is not the way it works. 

I imply, individuals are actually people who’re of their 80s, higher tier, and who they questioning each remark they make, each stumble, each stutter, and pointing to that within the political wars, and a few form of signal of one thing. That is very completely different than saying —

LEMON: It’s important to have the identical vitality for that. As a result of there are individuals who really feel offended by that. And once more, I am simply, and I believe it is particular person. I do not suppose it is based mostly on —

CORNISH: Yeah, however nobody goes have a look at Nikki Haley and say, is she in her prime or not?

LEMON: Effectively, I do not know. I imply, there could also be some individuals who would say, as a result of, once more, I do not suppose individuals can be saying that if she did not convey it up. It was her, her phrases.

CORNISH: Yeah: she’s in her prime for working for workplace [laughs.} I think that is the thing. Political prime is what we’re talking about.