Politics

CNN’s Chris Cuomo Says Antifa Fights For ‘A Good Cause’

CNN

David Krayden Ottawa Bureau Chief
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In an on-air debate over the merits of Antifa, CNN nighttime host Chris Cuomo claimed the anarchist group represented “a good cause.”

Cuomo was locked in disagreement with CNN political analyst Steve Cortes over President Donald Trump’s comments on the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia, riots when he stated that there were “very fine people, on both sides” in reference to those who were apparently in attendance to protest the demolition of a statue of Civil War General Robert E. Lee.

The president has clarified his remarks the next day after receiving backlash and emphasized that he “condemns all types of racism and acts of violence,” saying, “If you look at what I said, you will see that that question was answered perfectly. And I was talking about people that went because they felt very strongly about the monument to Robert E. Lee, a great general. Whether you like it or not, he was one of the great generals.”

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - August 12, 2017: White nationalists and counter protesters clash in during a rally that turned violent resulting in the death of one and multiple injuries. SHUTTERSTOCK/ Kim Kelley-Wagner

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – August 12, 2017: White nationalists and counter protesters clash in during a rally that turned violent resulting in the death of one and multiple injuries. SHUTTERSTOCK/ Kim Kelley-Wagner

Cuomo apparently does not blame Antifa for the violence as he said, “There are certain aspects of [Antifa] that are true to a cause. That is a good cause. They want social justice,” (RELATED: CNN’s Chris Cuomo Excuses Antifa’s Violence Because ‘All Punches Are Not Equal Morally’)

That brought this response from Cortes: “Antifa is not a good cause. Antifa does not have good aims. Antifa wants power, wants political power, taken through force. That’s what Antifa is all about.”

Cuomo insisted he was “not here to espouse Antifa,” which Cortez responded with, “Sure sounds like it.”

For the CNN host, the debate was all about Antifa having some values that are intrinsically American and therefore “you don’t draw a moral equivalency between neo-Nazis and the people that are there to fight against them.” (RELATED: Ex-Skinhead: White Supremacists And Antifa Both Violent)

Cuomo also suggested that radical Islam is “nowhere near responsible for what we’re dealing with here in terms of death and attacks as the right-wing extremists.”

Antifa members and counter protesters gather during a rightwing No-To-Marxism rally on August 27, 2017 at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Berkeley, California. / AFP PHOTO / Amy Osborne

Antifa members and counter-protesters gather during a rightwing No-To-Marxism rally on August 27, 2017, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Berkeley, California. / AFP PHOTO / Amy Osborne

Cuomo has repeatedly defended Antifa since the Charlottesville riot — even after the group plainly admitted that it utilizes violence to push its political program.

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