CNN anchor shreds Democrats for 'cynical and hypocritical' midterm strategy

CNN anchor John Avlon shredded Democrats for "meddling" in Republican Party primary elections on Tuesday, saying the left-wing party was deploying a "cynical and hypocritical" strategy that could backfire in November.

In recent weeks, news reports have picked up on how Democratic-aligned groups are purchasing ads to support GOP candidates who have echoed former President Donald Trump's claims that the 2020 election was stolen in primary contests against more moderate or incumbent Republicans. Democrats appear to believe that if these so-called extreme candidates win primary elections, they will be easier for the left to beat in November's general elections.

In California, for example, Democrats have funded ads against Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), who voted to impeach Trump. In Colorado and Pennsylvania, Democrats have boosted the names of candidates perceived to be "far-right" because they have challenged the 2020 election results.

Avlon, a political analyst for CNN, covered these reports on his show "Reality Check" and ripped Democrats for hypocritically claiming that "democracy" is threatened by 2020 election skeptics while helping such candidates beat moderate Republicans.

“There’s a lot of righteous talk, especially from Democrats, about how we need to build the biggest possible coalition to defend democracy,” Avlon said. Noting that the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in 2020 were under attack from both the left and right, the CNN anchor slammed Democrats for trying to unseat these lawmakers in GOP primaries even as they have lifted them up as "profiles in courage."

“Handpicked by Trump to run for Congress, Gibbs called Trump ‘the greatest president’ and worked in Trump’s administration with Ben Carson,” the ad states. It also calls Gibbs "too conservative for West Michigan," which is meant to make him more favorable among GOP primary voters.

Noting that Meijer's "independent minded, common sense conservative principles perfectly fit the district once held by Gerald Ford," Avlon slammed the Democratic strategy as "incredibly cynical and hypocritical."

He said that Democratic attempts to "kneecap" certain "honorable Republicans" are a "dangerous game" that could backfire badly if the Trump-supported candidates go on to win in a wave election year that looks increasingly dire for Democrats.

"Some principles are bigger than partisan gain," Avlon said.

"Our democratic republic depends on people putting country over party. But our usually zero-sum partisan political system rewards the opposite, and in Washington, D.C., getting reelected is held in higher regard than trying to do the right thing," he concluded.

Watch:

(h/t: Mediaite)