CNN anchor Elex Michaelson faced criticism on social media after suggesting that Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff might not be perceived as Jewish as compared to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. This remark came during a discussion on their potential candidacy for the 2028 Democratic presidential race.
In a segment of CNN’s “The Story Is” aired late Tuesday, Michaelson suggested that Ossoff could be a formidable contender in the 2028 primaries. He praised Ossoff for his adept messaging and disciplined approach, though he noted that Ossoff has yet to make an appearance on a debate stage.
Eric Messersmith, a radio host and YouTuber, and a guest panelist on the program, commented that while Ossoff hasn’t frequently appeared in media settings, he might be an ideal candidate to bridge the Democratic Party’s divided position on Israel.
Messersmith elaborated, “Ossoff, despite being Jewish, has been vocal in his criticism of the Israeli government and Benjamin Netanyahu. This gives him credibility on the issue, suggesting he could navigate the divide within the Democratic party’s opposing views.”
Michaelson further remarked, “As a member of the Jewish community, some individuals may embody Jewish characteristics more prominently than others. Jon Ossoff, for reasons open to interpretation, may not present as Jewish as Josh Shapiro, raising his hands in a manner that implied a non-threatening gesture.
Pundits on both sides of the aisle were quick to slam Michaelson’s comments.
Meghan McCain, a conservative commentator and daughter of late Sen. John McCain, wrote in a post on X: “What exactly are we doing?”
In a nearly identical post, Ryan Grim, the lefty co-founder of Drop Site News, wrote: “What are we doing??”
David Friedman, who formerly served as President Trump’s ambassador to Israel, wrote: “Most dangerous and offensive words in the modern vernacular: ‘As a Jew…’”
Podcaster Josh Barro seemed to side with Michaelson’s analysis, writing: “I think Josh Shapiro’s high level of religious observance – he is, yes, more obviously Jewish than some other Jewish pols – helps to code him as moderate and appeals to certain swing voters. He’s about to win a landslide re-election, after all.”
Ron Kampeas, a retired journalist for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, on the other hand, bashed the CNN journo’s comments.
“My job for 21 years was to write about how Jews ‘read,’” Kampeas wrote. “Ossoff and Shapiro both ‘read’ as Jews – we’re a diverse bunch. Let’s drop this litmus test crap and assess on policies, integrity etc.”
Dan Senor, who served as a foreign policy advisor to former Sen. Mitt Romney during his presidential campaign, remarked: “Crazy that this just counts as normal punditry these days.”