I’m not sure why folks still try it with Angela Rye, the political commentator who has lit up many ideological foes on TV, but former Congressman Joe Walsh certainly tried. Walsh, who’s been peddling racially charged, anti-Obama sentiments since he was booted out of Congress after one term, got into a Twitter spat with Rye on Tuesday, and the pair carried the conversation to CNN.
It all began after Rye commented on the double standard between President Obama and Donald Trump. Had Obama’s administration been rife with scandals just three months into his presidency, Rye contended folks would be calling for his head. Instead, she argued, “Barack Obama had to be the next best thing to Jesus,” and yet he was still criticized harshly by many on the Right.
While it’s clear Rye wasn’t actually comparing Obama to Jesus, Walsh decided to call her out anyway.
.@angela_rye: "Barack Obama was the next best thing to Jesus."
Huh? Angela, that's why u can't be taken seriously. https://t.co/MGIeQNddr0
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) March 28, 2017
And let’s just say it didn’t go well for him.
Try again, you LAME! You guys STAY TWISTING WORDS! https://t.co/WYjgCFWOMw
— a. rye (@angela_rye) March 28, 2017
.@angela_rye Its ok to be pro-Obama. But Angela, it's never good to WORSHIP any politician. No politician can be compared to Jesus. Cool? https://t.co/NJM3XgxkSl
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) March 28, 2017
This is why you served ONE term in the house, playboy. You're listening skills? Wack. Reading comprehension? More wack. #trollELSEWHERE https://t.co/HaC4O2pOI2
— a. rye (@angela_rye) March 28, 2017
.@angela_rye And your way wrong on your main point Angela. We LOWERED the bar for Obama. He was held to a lower standard cuz he was black. https://t.co/OMXphLZUTj
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) March 28, 2017
Despite being dealt with on Twitter, Walsh decided to spar with Rye on CNN and let’s just say he got way more than he bargained for.
Exhibit A:
Wow, @angela_rye absolutely went off on Joe Walsh about the double standard that exists when it comes to Obama vs. Trump. pic.twitter.com/Sruf5ZVKXa
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) March 29, 2017
Exhibit B:
Whoa! @angela_rye just straight-up crushes Joe Walsh. This is fantastic. pic.twitter.com/52SnP8jqQh
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) March 29, 2017
After his problematic tweets were read on air, Rye admonished CNN for giving Walsh a platform.
“I’m not giving him the time of day. I’m interested in having conversations, Brooke [Baldwin], that will move racial people of all races forward in this country. I’m interested in having a conversation that will help us to admit the wrongs that were done in this country and how we move forward. I am not interested in trying to convince and change the mind of a bigot,” Rye said. “Someone who will openly troll me and say things that are offensive, that he knows are not true.”
She continued: “I mean, it’s very frustrating and I’m tired of people telling me that black people are beneath a standard when we have to be twice as good all the time. And that is why I said, I’m not interested in having a dialogue with someone like Joe who has demonstrated a propensity towards bigotry. And he did that on Twitter yesterday in 140 characters or less.”
Walsh tried to jump in, asking if he was allowed to speak, but Rye quickly and efficiently shut him down with one slick question, “Are you going to say something while your mouth is moving?”
Yowza!
Check out the entire exchange between Angela Rye and Joe Walsh below:
