CNN panelist calls out Beto O’Rourke as shining example of white privilege: ‘How does he think he’s qualified?’

CNN's Nia-Malika Henderson on Thursday called out Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke and said he would have to "grapple" with the way white privilege has paved the way for his White House bid.

While discussing O'Rourke's newly announced presidential campaign, Henderson looked back on an earlier essay she wrote where she discussed the ways that O'Rourke "benefited from white privilege."

In particular, she wrote that she couldn't imagine a woman or a candidate of color embarking on a soul-searching odyssey the way that O'Rourke did after he lost his Senate bid against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) last fall and still get taken seriously as a presidential hopeful.

"He only felt emboldened and free enough to do that is because he was white and because he was male and because his wife could, in fact, stay at home and look after the kids," she said. "There couldn't be a female candidate or an African-American candidate who could do that kind of exercise and get so much praise for it."

Henderson went on to say that O'Rourke really needs to answer why voters should pick him other than the fact that he's an inspiring and charismatic speaker.

"How is it that someone who did raise $80 million but then lost against Ted Cruz, how is it that, all of a sudden, he thinks he's qualified?" she asked.

Watch the video below.