CNN’s Jake Tapper slams Texas governor's ‘losers’ insult on flood deaths
CNN's Jake Tapper issued a forceful rebuke of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's assertion that questions about who is to blame for the deadly flood in Texas are the "language of losers."
During a press conference on Tuesday, Abbott told a reporter that their question about who is to blame for the flood that has killed over 100 people in Kerr County is the "language of losers." Abbott then went on to describe how a championship football team never asks who is to blame, even though he said, "Every football team makes mistakes."
Those comments didn't sit well with Tapper, who issued a response on his show "The Lead with Jake Tapper."
Tapper began by playing a clip from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who said on Tuesday that improved flood warning systems could have saved lives.
USA Today reported Tuesday that Kerr County officials applied for a $1 million grant to improve their emergency response system, but were denied by the state emergency preparedness agency.
"Despite sensible and logical questions about this tragedy and where the blame may lie...the Texas Governor just minutes ago suggested that asking about who is to blame is 'the language of losers," Tapper recounted.
"We don't think that questioning officials in the Texas government about warnings that were not heeded and advice from experts that was not taken, we do not think that is the language of losers," Tapper continued.
Questions about Texas's emergency preparedness systems have swirled since the flooding began over the weekend. State and federal officials have both said the flooding was unprecedented, although they have deflected questions about accountability.
"We think it is the duty of accountability, of all of us, after such a horrific tragedy," Tapper said.