TV host obliterates right-winger over bizarre claims about Pete Buttigieg’s ‘masculinity’, live on air
Rush Limbaugh supporter Ben Ferguson flocked to defend the radio host after comments he issued over Pete Buttigieg. (Screen capture via CNN/YouTube)
A CNN host skewered a conservative commentator for defending right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh’s recent anti-gay attacks against Pete Buttigieg.
Limbaugh’s attempt to hamstring Buttigieg’s campaign drew bipartisan criticism after he questioned how the Democrat kissing his husband onstage would look in a debate against “Mr Man” US president Donald Trump.
Conservative pundits have amplified Limbaugh’s attack against the presidential candidate since. The latest being Ben Ferguson, who appeared on CNN Thursday morning.
What happened?
Ferguson backed Limbaugh, a staunch Trump ally, saying he believes Democrats fear Buttigieg’s sexuality could become a voting issue.
“Is anyone going to look masculine next to Donald Trump on stage?” Ferguson said.
“I think the only Democrat out there would be Joe Biden.”
Radio personality Rush Limbaugh. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Ferguson fired off further by recounting a radio show he hosted on the topic, saying that “a surprising number of Democratic voters” agreed with him.
“The same way we saw that lady try to take back her vote in Iowa after she voted and found out the Mayor Pete is gay,” he said.
Ferguson continued. “[Limbaugh is] saying, there are Democrats who are sitting there worried that this is going to be a bigger issue, just like we saw in California when gay marriage was overturned by voters in a liberal state.”
CNN host Jim Sciutto expertly shut him down, however.
“Let me take issue with your premise,” Sciutto said.
“What’s more manly, volunteering for military service, as Pete Buttigieg did, or avoiding it?”
“Look, I’m talking about appearance here,” Ferguson hit back.
“I was with the president last week in the Oval [Office] and I promise you he looked more masculine next to me than I did, and I consider myself to be a pretty masculine guy.”
“You said the president appears more manly, for I don’t know what reason,” Sciutto said.
“I’m citing an issue of the record. Buttigieg volunteered for military service. The president took great pains to avoid it.
“Which is more manly?”
Ferguson then wonkily said that fellow president hopeful Joe Biden would be considered “more masculine” by Democratic voters,.
“It seems to me you’re justifying bigotry here,” Sciutto said.
“Consultants might have said it’s a negative to be a person of colour. This is the year 2020.
“I’m just curious what you’re justifying here.”
What did Rush Limbaugh say about Pete Buttigieg?
Pete Buttigieg has lightly salted his campaign with kissing his husband, Chasten, much to the chagrin of conservatives.
Chasten Glezman Buttigieg (L) kisses his husband, South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, after he delivered a keynote. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Limbaugh launched an attack against the South Bend, Indiana, mayor on his stindiated radio show.
He said he envisioned Democrats concluding that “despite all the great wokeness and despite all the great ground that’s been covered, that America’s still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage president”.
Nevertheless, when Trump himself was quizzed if Americans would vote for a gay man to be president, he responded: “I think so.”
