CNN's Baldwin Dismisses GOP Guest Criticizing Clinton as 'Talking Points'

April 13th, 2016 11:12 PM

On Wednesday's CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin, as former Virginia Governor and former Republican National Committee chairman Jim Gilmore appeared as a guest to discuss what is likely to happen at the Republican National Convention, when the former RNC chair began listing some of the problems with Hillary Clinton that make it crucial for Republicans to unite and defeat her, host Baldwin dismissively labeled his criticisms as "talking points."

After the CNN host asked if "bridges have been burned" during the Republican nomination process, Gilmore metaphorically referred to Clinton as the "alligator" in the river underneath the bridge who needs to be defeated as he responded:

Yeah, I think that the process has made it very, very hard because of the way that this has gone. I think that the bridge to the presidency has been burned down, but, on the other hand, Hillary Clinton is so bad, and, you know, if you talk about a bridge being burned down across the river, there's something down in the river, and that's an alligator, and it's called Hillary Clinton. And we got to figure out-

Baldwin felt the need to jump in: "Hillary Clinton is the alligator in this metaphor?"

Gilmore then brought up Clinton's ethical problems and foreign policy track record as he continued:

Yeah, she's the alligator. We got to figure out how to get across this river, even though the bridge has been burned because she's the one who really should not be the President of the United States. Her foreign policy is terrible. Her integrity is terrible because of the email issue, because of the Foundation. She should not be the President of the United States, and I'm doing everything I can do to make sure that Virginia gets into the Republican column in November.

Baldwin then labeled his comments as "talking points" leading to a back and forth between the two:

BROOKE BALDWIN: I understand. Those are talking points on the Republican side. And a lot of Democrats will disagree with you, but I appreciate that, you know-

FORMER GOVERNOR JIM GILMORE (R-VA): No, I actually feel that way. It isn't just talking -- I don't have any talking points. I just feel that way.

BALDWIN: I believe you. I believe you, Governor. I believe you. I believe you.