Jake Tapper Confronts GOP Senator For Calling All Democrats ‘Socialists and Antisemitic’: ‘You’re Painting With a Broad Brush’

CNN’s Jake Tapper confronted Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) for painting Democrats “with a rather broad brush” in his comments on Monday’s The Lead.

Tapper first played video of Vice President JD Vance disparaging the Democratic nominee for Senate in Florida.

“When Angie Nixon calls herself a socialist, I think the right response is to say, ‘Then get the hell out of here! You don’t belong in America if those are your views!” Vance said while campaigning for the Republican candidate.

Tapper repeated Vance’s words, then asked Scott, “Is that the right way to speak about somebody you disagree with these days?”

“Well, I think the point is, you know, the Democrats have all become socialists. They’re antisemitic, they’re anti-police. They want open borders. They want bigger and bigger government. They hate fossil fuels,” Scott said.

“So, you know, it’s not where I can tell you where Floridians are. That’s not, you know, and that’s not how I won my races,” Scott continued. “I talked about balancing the budget and reducing regulation and focus on jobs. And that’s what, that’s how we’re going to win in November. And I’m still, Jake, I’m optimistic. We’re going to win. We have great candidates. We’ve raised money. So, as long as they get their message out, we’re going to win.”

“You think congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is antisemitic?” Tapper asked. Wasserman Schultz is known for helping to establish Jewish American Heritage Month each May.

“I can tell you that that [New York Mayor Zohran] Mamdani is. And they’re all — a bunch of them have campaigned with Hassan Piker, who’s antisemitic.”

“I get it, but you just said ‘Democrats,'” Tapper said, waving his arm to indicate a broad category.

“Not one Democrat has called him out for that,” Scott said.

“Not one Democrat has called who? Called out who? Mamdani?” Tapper asked.

“Well, Hassan Piker wants me and every capitalist murdered,” Scott declared. “Not one Democrat I know of has said that’s wrong. I mean, and look at what Mamdani’s done. I mean, look at the anti-semitism that’s going on in New York now. I mean, the Democrats aren’t calling Mamdani out for that.”

“Okay, my point is just I think you’re painting with a rather broad brush in terms of ‘Democrats are all socialists and antisemitic.’ But let’s move on,” Tapper said.

For the record, Mamdani, who’s Muslim, has published a plan to “Combat Antisemitism.” While Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed campaigned with popular streamer Piker, he has called antisemitism “a scourge” that must be addressed “it in all its forms,” after Piker made disparaging comments about Jews.

Watch the clip above via CNN.

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