CNN's Mudd Slams RNC's Spicer: 'Doesn't Know His A** from a Hole in the Ground'

December 12th, 2016 10:55 PM

Appearing as a panel member on Monday's New Day, CNN counterterrorism analyst Philip Mudd reacted angrily to video of the RNC's Sean Spicer dismissing reports that CIA members believe the Russian government hacked the DNC for the purpose of helping Donald Trump get elected, as the CNN analyst declared that he would like to "jump through the TV" and take him "behind the shed." He then derided the Republican official as "someone who doesn't know his a** from a hole in the ground" for suspecting partisan motivations by CIA members against Trump.

A few minutes into the 6:00 a.m. ET hour of New Day, during a report on the Russia hacking story by CNN correspondent Barbara Starr, a soundbite of Spicer was included in which he questioned the story:

If the CIA is so convinced of this, why won't they go on the record and say that it was, as they did with the DNC? This is, I mean, I believe that there are people within these agencies that are upset with the outcome of the election and are pushing a personal agenda. But the facts don't add up-

At 6:05 a.m., as the group got ready for discussion, co-host Alisyn Camerota turned to Mudd and posed: "Phil, when you heard Sean Spicer of the RNC say, 'If the CIA is so sure, why don't they come out on the record?' why did you react there?"

Mudd began with some over the top complaining about Spicer's reaction to the story:

I feel like jumping through the TV screen and taking this guy on out behind the shed. Let me be clear. Talk to President Bush 43 -- a noted Republican, as far as I remember -- about the service he received from the CIA for eight years. Talk about -- talk to his father, one of the most staunch defenders in the Republican party of the CIA. This guy who doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground is telling me that the CIA is political after all those years of service to Republicans. I don't buy it.

A couple of week ago, Mudd notably reacted angrily to the Trump transition's activities and derided it as a "clown show."

Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Monday, December 12, New Day on CNN:

SEAN SPICER, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: If the CIA is so convinced of this, why won't they go on the record and say that it was, as they did with the DNC? This is, I mean, I believe that there are people within these agencies that are upset with the outcome of the election and are pushing a personal agenda. But the facts don't add up-

(...)

ALISYN CAMEROTA: Phil, when you heard Sean Spicer of the RNC say, "If the CIA is so sure, why don't they come out on the record?" why did you react there?

PHILIP MUDD, CNN COUNTERTERRORISM ANALYST: I feel like jumping through the TV screen and taking this guy on out behind the shed. Let me be clear. Talk to President Bush 43 -- a noted Republican, as far as I remember -- about the service he received from the CIA for eight years. Talk about -- talk to his father, one of the most staunch defenders in the Republican party of the CIA. This guy who doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground is telling me that the CIA is political after all those years of service to Republicans. I don't buy it.

CAMEROTA: You're angry that Donald Trump even has said that, "How can the CIA be trusted? They got the intelligence wrong with Iraq."

MUDD: I'm not angry that he has questions. I'm not even angry that he doesn't take the President's Daily Brief. If you look at the history of presidential engagement with the CIA, very mixed. Sometimes presidents like to read things. Sometimes they like to take information through their advisors, but, look, my mom taught me something that maybe President Trump can learn.

If you have something negative to say about somebody, especially if they're a subordinate, you do it courteously in private. If you want to praise them, do it in public. I don't believe this is the appropriate way to go into the executive branch and tell the FBI and the CIA, "This is how I'm going to manage you."