GOP strategist short-circuits after CNN host throws his words back in his face

A GOP strategist melted down on Wednesday after a CNN host threw his own words back in his face.

Shermichael Singleton, a GOP strategist, was a panelist on CNN's "NewsNight" with Abby Phillip, where the panel got into a heated debate about President Donald Trump's actions to thwart federal diversity initiatives. Multiple panelists claimed that the second Trump administration has made its anti-diversity push a central part of its policy platform, and that platform is quickly becoming the center of gravity within the Republican Party.

Singleton pushed back, arguing that people who are anti-diversity are easily confused as racist in the eyes of voters. Phillip found the remark surprising and explained why.

"That's a really important statement you just made there," Phillip said. "I'm not sure people would go that far. But you just suggested that being anti-diversity is equivalent to being racist."

"I think a lot of people would see it that way," Singleton replied.

"Well, this is anadministration that has beenexplicitly anti-diversity," Phillip said, noting examples like the Department of Defense undoing its diversity initiatives and banning celebrations of Black History Month.

Phillip's comments caused Singleton to short-circuit.

"That's not my quarrel!" Singleton shot back. "My issue is calling the entire Republican Party racist. When people say that, it sounds like B.S.!"