'Standards have changed': Hypocrisy of Trump's Graham cleanup exposed by CNN

CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront Host Erin Burnett did not have to work hard to unmask the duplicity of Republicans and their propaganda networks Friday night.

Republican-aligned networks were scrambling on Thursday and Friday to clean up the apparent ignorance of South Carolina Senatorial candidate Darline Graham, after her humiliating gaffe at an interview.

Graham, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump for a senate seat after the untimely death of her brother former Sen. Lindsey Graham, confessed total ignorance of even lightweight international policy topics at a recent debate.

“Are Taiwan and the south China Sea national security issues for the United States, and if so, why or how?” asked a host.

Graham admitted: “I'm just going to be honest here. I'm not on national security, that I'm not that informed on national security. So—but I do support the military.”

She quickly added that, “my brother was in the Air Force for 33 years.

After national and global press piled on Graham for her ignorance, Burnett said Republican subsidiaries on Fox immediately launched into spin mode.

“The next day she goes on Fox News Sean Hannity,” said Burnett.

“So, this issue of Taiwan came up last night. And I know people have made a big deal about it. And I'm like, I wonder how many people around the country, if I gave them a map, could pick out Taiwan?” Hannity told Graham. “I don't think many. And not, I mean, the whole country, never mind South Carolina.”

This, said Burnett, is a far jump from the rage with which those same propagandists — and Trump himself — pounced liberal Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of New York, after a similar question about Tiawan in February.

When asked if the US should commit U.S. troops to Tiawan if China made a move against the semi-independent island nation, Ocasio-Cortez faltered, admitting she didn’t have all the answers on that.

“Her performance was horrible. I was surprised, actually. I didn't know she was stupid. She had no idea. I don't think she knew what Taiwan was,” Trump told reporters, adding that the gaffe could be “death defying” --for unclear reasons.

“That was embarrassing,” said Vice President JD Vance, joining in the scrum. “If I had given that answer, I would say, ‘you know what? Maybe I ought to go read a book about China and Taiwan before I go out on the world stage again.”

Burnett pointed out that “the very same Sean Hannity, who gave Darline Graham cover this week” said after AOC’s comments that “prodigal squad leader AOC simply could not answer basic questions about global affairs.”

Meanwhile, speaking on Graham’s flub, Trump said this week that, “all she was is being honest. She's a very smart. And she was being honest. I mean, she's into the price of groceries, the price of food, the price of beef. And it's not it hasn't been her thing, but she's surrounded by very good people.”

“But I guess the standards have changed,” Burnett concluded.

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