Political consultant Karen Finney confronted GOP strategist Scott Jennings with President Donald Trump's own rhetoric about the government shutdown during an appearance on CNN on Wednesday.
Finney accused Trump of downplaying the significance of the shutdown by making it a political issue. Trump has said he will use the shutdown to fire federal workers and "end" programs supported by Democrats, such as Medicaid.
"I don't think the American people like seeing the president make light of their health care or their jobs," Finney said.
Finney's comments caused Jennings to erupt.
"The democratic constituent constituencies are principally immigration populations and government workers," he shot back. "And right now you are putting one on top of the other."
"I am a Democrat and I am not an immigrant or government worker!" Finney responded.
"This is what your party relies on, and you have closed shop on government in Washington, D.C,. and eventually they're going to get tired of it," Jennings said.
Jennings then went on to claim that Democrats are trying to give free health care to immigrants, a claim that some experts have said is false.
"That's a lie and you know it!" Finney replied.
