CNN's Chris Cuomo squashes Carter Page's praise of alternative facts

CNN's Chris Cuomo was willing to admit that having a difference of opinion is one of the beautiful things about democracy during an interview Tuesday with former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, but the New Day host sharply drew the line at a difference in facts. The debate arose from Cuomo's insistence that Russia interfered in the U.S. election. "Was Trump or any of his people involved? Then you start getting different opinions," Cuomo said. "But not on whether or not the Russians were here."

"Yes, you're absolutely right, we have totally different perspectives on things, but that's the beauty of democracy, Chris," Page replied.

"No," Cuomo immediately interrupted. "No, no, no, the beauty of democracy is the [John Milton] 'Marketplace of free ideas,' I'm with you on that. Not on facts. You can have your own opinion, you can't have your own facts." He added: "The Russians tried to interfere in the election. That's a fact. That's a fact by everybody who looks at it objectively. To fight it raises suspicions of motivation."

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Page attempted to argue that "all I know is what I've personally experienced," but Cuomo nipped that one in the bud, too. "But that's not the basis for opinion. You're too smart for that, Carter," the host shot back. Watch the exchange below, which heats up around the 8:00 mark. Jeva Lange