CNN’s Cuomo Loves Attack on Trump Judicial Nominee: ‘You Could Be a New Day Anchor!’

December 19th, 2017 1:29 PM

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo on Tuesday absolutely gushed over video of Louisiana Senator John Kennedy grilling one of Donald Trump’s judicial nominees. Cuomo hailed the Republican’s questions as “classic” and “wise.” 

In the wake of Kennedy’s hammering, Matthew Peterson withdrew his own nomination as a judicial nominee. Cuomo was practically beside himself: “Senator, that was really classic what you did there. I was joking before the segment —  I'm really not joking —  you could be a New Day anchor the way you were —  you were interviewing that judge nominee. It was really interesting.” 

 

 

In the clip, which has now gone viral, Peterson, who was lacking in any legal experience, could be seen fumbling several questions. 

Cuomo marveled at the take down: “I liked your line about how watching My Cousin Vinny doesn't qualify you to be a federal judge! It's good that you put that controversy to rest.” 

The CNN anchor showered praise, cheering, “You are a wise man, Senator Kennedy.” 

Cuomo, who regularly hammers conservatives and Republicans, declared he found a GOP member he could get along with: 

You are an enduring example of how people can disagree, they can have different ideas, but they can do it with decency, and you prove that time and again on this show. and you are always welcome here.

Earlier in the show, Cuomo knocked the Republican tax plan. This prompted Kennedy to call out biased coverage of the bill. 

A partial transcript is below: 

New Day
12/19/17
7:30

[Clip of Senator John Kennedy and Matthew Peterson sparring over his judicial nomination.] 

CUOMO: Senator, did you anticipate taking this man down the way you did when you went in there?

KENNEDY: No, sir. Look, I had read Mr. Peterson's FBI background check. He's a very smart guy. He's honest, lots of integrity. But he doesn't have any trial experience and that's what a trial judge —  federal district court judge —  does. I think the president has made some outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary. Nobody's perfect. My job on the Judiciary Committee is to help catch mistakes that might come through and I just don't -- I say this respectfully, but I just don't think Mr. Peterson is ready to be a be a trial judge. I tried -- I didn't -- I don't think they were gotcha questions. 

Your clip didn't show this but one of the questions I asked him about the Daubert ) case. 

CUOMO: Right. Daubert Dobear.

CUOMO: Right. 

KENNEDY: That's like Marbury versus Madison or --

CUOMO: Right. It's about whether or not —  when you have the exceptions to when a federal court will review —  

KENNEDY: Yes.

CUOMO: -- state court decisions and it carved out certain things, as did Pullman.No, no, no, I get it. I get why you were asking the questions. I was just shocked at the answers. I mean — 
KENNEDY: Well, frankly I wish --

CUOMO: -- is something you learn in law school. It's just — it was weird.

Now, is it true that the president contacted you to say — 

KENNEDY: He did.

CUOMO: What did -- what did he say?

KENNEDY: He called me Friday. He said “Look, Kennedy, you know, do your job, man. I'm not upset. He said, do your job.” 

He said, “What do you think we ought to do?” And I said, “Mr. President, I would -- I would ask Mr. Peterson to step down.” I don't want to see him suffer any more. And he said I think that's what we'll do. And he said just keep doing your job, and I said, “I really appreciate that, Mr. President.” And then we —  I said, “I understand you don't interview these candidates.” I brought it up, he didn't, and he doesn't. Presidents don't interview federal district court judge nominees. They're busy doing other stuff. But I said, “Look, I appreciate it, Mr. President.” And then we started talking about taxes. We talked about tax reform, mostly.

CUOMO: Well, Senator, that was really classic what you did there. I was joking before the segment. I'm really not joking. You could be a New Day anchor the way you were —  you were interviewing that judge nominee. It was really interesting.

KENNEDY: Thank you.

CUOMO: I liked your line about how watching My Cousin Vinny doesn't qualify you to be a federal judge. It's good that you put that controversy to rest.

KENNEDY: Well, it wasn't personal. It wasn't personal. And let me say again, I think Mr. Peterson's a very smart guy and he's very capable. But, you know, you're smart too, Chris, but I wouldn't ask you to transplant a kidney in the morning, you know. Experience matters.

CUOMO: You are a wise man, Senator Kennedy, especially if it was your kidney that we were talking about.

KENNEDY: Amen.

CUOMO: I wouldn't ask me to do that, too. Listen, the best to you and your family --

KENNEDY: You, too, Chris.

CUOMO: — for Christmas. You are an enduring example of how people can disagree, they can have different ideas, but they can do it with decency, and you prove that time and again on this show and you are always welcome here.