UPDATE: Don Lemon tweeted out a non-apology Thursday afternoon. Learn extra under.

A number of alternative for readers. Is Don Lemon:

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

The query arises after Lemon’s pitiful efficiency on Thursday’s CNN This Morning. Responding to Nikki Haley’s name on Wednesday 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 aren’t 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 perhaps 40s. Prime, for those who look it up. In the event you Google, when is a girl in her prime?, it’s going to 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” customary 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 would one way or the other be a double-edged sword for her. That, you already know, she may very well be out of her prime indirectly. 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 operating 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 prompt that Haley shall be alienating older voters by suggesting that folks over 75 be examined for psychological competency. Cornish shrugged that off, saying that older voters are sensible and might determine whom to vote for. Lemon’s declare additionally runs counter to my private expertise. After I ran for mayor of my small city some years in the past, I did a number of door-to-door campaigning. My opponent, the incumbent mayor, was 72, and issues about his age and the necessity for a youthful particular person in workplace had been continuously raised . . . by older voters I met!

Together with his ignorant feedback about girls 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 latest 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 Thursday afternoon, Lemon tweeted out a non-apology, preserving his feedback targeted on girls on the whole with no point out of the previous U.N. Ambassador. “The reference I made to a girl’s ‘prime’ this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and family members have identified, and I remorse it. A girl’s age would not outline her both personally or professionally. I’ve numerous girls in my life who show that daily,” he wrote.

The reference I made to a girl’s “prime” this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and family members have identified, and I remorse it. A girl’s age would not outline her both personally or professionally. I’ve numerous girls in my life who show that daily.

— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023

On CNN This Morning, Don Lemon Nikki Haley will not be in her prime was sponsored partly by AT&T, Normal Motors, Downy, and Dove. 

This is the transcript.

CNN This Morning 
2/16/23
6:25 am ET

POPPY HARLOW: Many Democrats say that he’ll be operating towards his age partly till a Republican nominee is chosen. In reality, 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 complete speak about age makes me uncomfortable. I believe that, I believe it is the fallacious highway to go down. She says individuals, you already know, politicians or one thing aren’t 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 perhaps 40s.

HARLOW: What are you speaking about? Wait.

LEMON: That is not in accordance with me.

HARLOW: Prime for what?

LEMON: It relies upon. It’similar to prime. In the event you look it up. In the event you Google when is a girl in her prime, it’s going to say 20s, 30s, 40s.

HARLOW: 40s! Oh, I acquired 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 a must 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. All people at dwelling, when is a girl in her prime? It says 20s, 30s, and 40s. And I am simply saying Nikki Haley she ought to be cautious about saying that politicians aren’t of their prime and, they have to be in prime once they serve. As a result of she would not be in her prime in accordance with —

HARLOW: Google?

LEMON: Google, or no matter it’s.

And it’s important to 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 assume it’s sensible? We had the dialog earlier about do you assume it is sensible for her to try this? As a result of in that, proper, she’s, she’s going to show off a number of older individuals. And, in fact, these are her phrases. She’s bringing this up. That politicians are now not of their prime. Proper? And that was in accordance with 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 would really feel ageist about this. And it stings, once 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 often are older.

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

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

LEMON: These aren’t my phrases. These are Nikki Haley’s phrases.

CORNISH: No, yeah, however to be clear, like, you, you raised the query of that would one way or the other be a double-edged sword for her. That, you already know, she may very well be out of her prime indirectly. That is not the way it works. 

I imply, individuals are actually taking a look at of us 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 type of signal of one thing. That is very totally different than saying —

LEMON: It’s a must to have the identical power 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 assume 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 assume 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 operating for workplace [laughs.} I think that is the thing. Political prime is what we’re talking about.