Don Lemon asks Democrats why they are 'so bad at politics': 'It’s not our job to sell your agenda for you'

On Don Lemon Tonight Wednesday, the host chatted with fellow CNN anchor Chris Cuomo about how the Senate Republicans voted against a motion to debate voting rights legislation earlier in the day. And Lemon, who grew increasingly more frustrated during the talk, said it isn’t the Republicans’ fault this is happening, but rather the Democrats who can’t seem to get their message out.

“Why are you so bad at politics, Democrats?” Lemon asked. “When you have the winning message, when you have the senate and you have the congress and you have the White House and you can't win with a winning message, something is wrong.”

In this case, the “message” is the latest iteration of the voting rights bill, aimed at strengthening voting rights and overhauling the nation's election systems. And Lemon said his enthusiasm for the issue stems from not wanting America to lose its democracy, or be a country of minority rule.

“So, I have this platform that I have now, and I am speaking very passionately about it,” Lemon said. “Democrats, get your butts in gear and get passionate about saving this damn country. You’re not doing it! You’re weak! You are weak! You are weak!”

Video Transcript

DON LEMON: Why are you so bad at politics, Democrats? When you have the winning message, when you have the Senate, and you have the Congress, and you have the White House, and you can't win with a winning message. Something is wrong.

KYLIE MAR: During an extra long cross talk segment on "Don Lemon Tonight" Wednesday, the host chatted with fellow CNN anchor Chris Cuomo about Senate Republicans voting against a motion to debate voting rights legislation earlier in the day. And Lemon said it isn't the Republicans fault, but rather the Democrats who can't seem to get their message out.

DON LEMON: You stop holding events at 2 o'clock in the afternoon when people are at work or in traffic, and start holding them when people are actually at home, and watching, and paying attention, then maybe you may be able to change the narrative.

KYLIE MAR: Along with holding more high profile events, Lemon said another way to improve the messaging for Democrats would be to stop relying so much on the media.

DON LEMON: I'm not just going to sit back and expect the news media to do it for me because it's not our job to sell the narrative. It's our job to discuss what you are doing, and yes, part of what's in it, but it's not our job to sell your agenda for you. They are not selling their agenda.

KYLIE MAR: The agenda being the democrats' bill, which is aimed at strengthening voting rights and overhauling the nation's election systems. And during his final thoughts, Lemon's frustrations seemed to really get to him as he went off on the Democratic Party.

DON LEMON: Democrats, get your butts in gear and get passionate about saving this damn country. You're not doing it. You're weak! You are weak. You are weak. That's it. Good night. Thank you and good night.

CHRIS CUOMO: You can take a-- you can take a deep breath for a second.