"Let’s leave my child out of this." CNN anchor shames Moore apologist during vile interview

When Janet Porter appeared on CNN Tuesday morning to attack the reputations of the mostly Republican women who have accused Republican Roy Moore of sexual harassment and assault, the candidate’s surrogate made it clear she would do her best to drag the Q&A into truly contemptible territory.

CNN anchor Poppy Harlow held her ground, though — “I ask the questions here, OK,” she reminded Porter — and helped shine a light on the odious practices that now permeate all corners of the GOP. Harlow did this even as Moore’s spokeswoman made repeated, and wildly inappropriate, references to Harlow’s current pregnancy.

“Thank you, it’s great to be with you. And by the way, congratulations on your unborn child,” was how Porter began her shameful CNN interview. “That’s the reason why I came down as a volunteer to speak for Judge Roy Moore, because he’ll stand for the rights of babies in the womb when his opponent will support killing them up until the moment of birth.”

A vile moment indeed, trying to blatantly politicize the pregnancy of a television news anchor.

Porter then tried to unfurl a nearly 15-minute attack on Moore’s accusers, comparing them to “criminals” who are seeking “revenge” and making “false, baseless allegations.”

When Porter tried to smear the Washington Post, Harlow stepped in. “The job of reporters, because I am one, is to follow leads and ask questions and that is what the Washington Post did.”

Later, when Porter again referenced Harlow’s unborn baby, the CNN anchor had had enough:

PORTER: Here’s a question that should be asked. If you care about child abuse, you should be talking about the fact that Judge Roy Moore stands for protection, not only of our Second Amendment rights so we can protect ourselves against predators, for the rights of babies like your 8-month baby that you’re carrying now. Doug Jones says you can take the life of that baby, and we should pay for it —

HARLOW: Let’s leave my child out of this. Let’s leave my child out of this.

PORTER: Well, it’s really the children of Alabama that we’re talking about, and the Alabamians understand that we’re talking about what’s at stake here. We’re talking about fake allegations and concocted stories about an innocent man, versus the real threat of child abuse, not only in the womb but also in the locker room.

HARLOW: Janet, I have respect for you for coming on this show and taking the time, but I want to make it very clear so everyone understands. You believe that all eight of these women, whom CNN has vetted their stories, are lying. That these are, in your words, fake allegations. Women that do not know one another, where dozens of people have corroborated their accounts. Yes or no? Yes or no? Do you believe any of them?

PORTER: Eight of the people are non-accusers that did not accuse Judge Moore of any sexual misconduct.

HARLOW: Do you believe any of these women? Would you like me to name them? All right, I’m going to name them.

During the interview, Porter actually stressed as a point of emphasis that there are women in Alabama who are not accusing the Republican of “any sexual misconduct or anything illegal.”

So he’s got that going for him.