Scott Jennings felt the ire of Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who took a blowtorch to him after he appeared to suggest on CNN NewsNight that the southern California wildfires are worse because there are not enough white men working as fire fighters.
Jennings was attempting to make a point against diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI), swiping at a 2023 report about a training program that aimed to diversify the ranks of California fire departments, which are dominated by white males. His response was part of a Republican kneejerk reaction that included President-elect Donald Trump blaming “liberals” and state Governor Gavin Newsom. The Gov. accused Trump of trying to “politicize” the tragedy.
“In California, you might have recalled a news story from last year,” Jennings said on Wednesday’s CNN NewsNight. “There was some interest in the fire departments and the firefighters in California.
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“And the interest was that there were too many white men who were firefighters. And we need to have a program in California to make sure we don’t have enough white men as firefighters.”
The comment caused an immediate reaction among the panel, including with host Abby Phillip, but Jennings continued. “We have DEI, we have budget cuts, and yet I’m wondering now if your house was burning down, how much do you care what color the firefighters are?” he added.
This caused Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett to go nuclear, launching into a passionate response. “We are looking at qualifications. What diversity, equity, and inclusion has always been about is saying, ‘You know what, open this up. Don’t just look at the white men. Open it up and recognize that other people can be qualified,‘” she said.
Crockett added that “if we have been good enough to build this country, we are good enough to serve and die overseas, we are good enough to serve in other ways.”
She then said that Jennings needs a reality check. “The fact is, stop trying to act as if only white men are the ones that are capable because right now, you’re sitting at a table with three very capable black women,” she said.
Jennings protested that he was not saying that only white men are capable. “I’m not,” he said. “I’m just simply saying that as a matter of public policy in California, the main interest in the fire department lately has been in DEI programing and budget cuts.”
“But Scott, are we really blaming the fire department?” host Abby Phillip asked. “The L.A. fire department?”
“No, I’m blaming the Democrats who run the state,” he said.
According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 2,000 homes, businesses, and buildings have burned down in Los Angeles County. At least five people have died as the fires continue to scorch across the area, authorities said.
A new fire also erupted Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills.
