CNN was mercilessly mocked on social media after one of their field reporters was schooled by a shirtless man drinking beer at a pro-Trump boat parade.
Showing exactly what the leftist elites truly think, a CNN reporter questioned why a shirtless man at a MAGA boat parade is concerned about the economy when he owns a boat — proving what many already believed: Democrat elites think that as long as they’re doing well, it shouldn’t matter how the rest of the country, especially the middle class, is suffering.
On Thursday, CNN correspondent Elle Reeve approached Joe Harner, who was standing shirtless near his boat while holding a beer in one hand and a red solo cup in the other, to ask him for his opinions on the most important issues going into the November election.
“What’s your most important issue?” she asked.
He immediately responded: “The economy. Getting interest rates down. Getting it where we can afford to live in America. Right now it’s too expensive.”
“Ok, now, let me maybe ask a slightly impolite question,” Reeve followed up. “But, you know, if you can afford a boat, you’re not hurting so bad, right? Because a boat costs a lot of money and it’s a lot of upkeep —”
Harner didn’t even let her finish her attempted gotcha question, firing back: “Listen, nobody gave me sh—t! I earned everything that I’ve got. I’m retired military, retired power plant, and I am successful and retired with boats, jet skis, because I did it right, and everybody has that chance. Whether they choose or not, that’s up to them.”
Reeve attempted to pretend that she didn’t mean to offend him, but then doubled down on her question: “I would never try to take anything away from you in that way. What I’m asking is … groceries are probably a smaller part of your budget than, say, you know, someone who’s like, a little worse off. I think it’s interesting that people who are a little bit more comfortable are still so concerned about the economy.”
Harner paused before responding, appearing to just be frustratedly staring at Reeve from behind his mirrored sunglasses, prompting her to ask again: “Do you see what I’m saying?”
He then responded by pointing out that he cares about other people’s financial plight too, and he also wants his own finances to “go further.”
“Because I want my money to go further,” Harner said. “I want inflation to go down, I want interest rates to go back down, I want all that, but that covers everybody in the economy. Not just me, not just the poor, not just the rich, it covers everybody.”
That response apparently wasn’t enough for Reeve, as she continued to press him, this time asking about his family’s finances.
“Now something that I’ve heard from some people, tell me if this applies to you, is like, they’re worried their kids aren’t able to afford a house or a car,” the reporter asked.
“No,” Harner replied flatly. “I trained my kids and taught my kids properly. They have great educations and they’re both successful in their careers. Actually, they’re doing better than me.”
NEW: CNN reporter suggests to a Trump supporter that he shouldn't be concerned about the cost of living under the Biden/Harris adm. because he owns a boat
CNN: “if you can afford a boat, you’re not hurting so bad, right? Because a boat costs a lot of money and it’s a lot of… pic.twitter.com/sfSWJgI3ab
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) September 19, 2024
Harner received lots of praise on social media for how he schooled the CNN reporter, including from The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway, who wrote: “I love this American man and this journalist woman was particularly annoying and dim-witted.”
I love this American man and this journalist woman was particularly annoying and dim-witted. https://t.co/pWZOIWC1j3
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 19, 2024
“CNN having a harder debate with a shirtless rando than with the Democratic Party nominee is just about perfect,” wrote podcast host Stephen Miller.
CNN having a harder debate with a shirtless rando than with the Democratic Party nominee is just about perfect. https://t.co/QkP3Ob5a1Y
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) September 19, 2024
Another user pointed out that the CNN reporter was essentially saying “you shouldn’t care about poor people,” joking that this “was a hell of a confession from that cat lady.”
"you shouldn't care about poor people" was a hell of a confession from that cat lady
— Infidel🇺🇲 (@Oreallynow1) September 19, 2024
“I love the part where he’s like you do know inflation applies to everyone in the economy, not just me, right?” author Mary Katherine Ham replied.
I love the part where he’s like you do know inflation applies to everyone in the economy, not just me, right? https://t.co/ys8MvLCIVv
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) September 19, 2024
