Don Lemon Said Something About Political Violence That Made Steve Scalise's Jaw Drop

Cortney O'Brien | October 30, 2018 2:45 PM

CNN anchor Don Lemon has concluded that Republicans deserve most of the blame for today's current violent political climate. In the past two weeks, two madmen have sent dangerous devices to prominent Democrats around the country, and killed 11 people in a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh. There's a common denominator here, Lemon noted.

“The right-wing group killed the woman in Charlottesville," he said on his program Monday night. "This guy is a right-winger who killed the people in the synagogue. The right-winger sent bombs to CNN and to Democrats. I don’t see Democrats killing people because of political — yeah, there may be democratic operatives who are out there.”

That remark made Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) stop in his tracks.

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— Rep. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) October 30, 2018

Scalise almost lost his life last year when a crazed man shot him during a congressional baseball practice. The shooter, James Hodgkinson, was found to be an ardent Bernie Sanders supporter who had little patience for Republicans. He was clearly targeting the lawmakers based on ideology because on his way to the baseball field he stopped and asked people like Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) if the players on the field were Republican or Democrat.

Lemon's guest Mike Shields, a conservative commentator, mentioned the baseball shooting. But the host insisted they don't compare.

“You’re not being honest,” Lemon said. “This is not equal, and I understand the whole argument about both sides.”