Atlantic Columnist: Trump Stoking Republican 'Crazy Fringe'

"Republicans have a crazy fringe and the polite thing to do is not speak to them."

For CNN's Inside Politics, a new poll measured the differences between all Republicans and just the supporters of Donald Trump in regard to President Obama's birthplace and faith. Though host John King wasn't sure why these questions are still being asked, his guest from progressive outlet The Atlantic was more than happy to call out the "crazy" Republican fringe who still eat it up.

The poll showed that among all Republicans, 70% believe Obama was born in the U.S. Only 61% of Trump supporters believe the same. On whether Obama is a Muslim or not -- an idea that confounded King -- 43% of all Republicans believe this to be true, while slightly more for Trump supporters, at 54%.

King, aiming to use "more polite language," said Trump supporters are obviously "more anti-Obama than most Republicans." However, The Atlantic's Molly Ball was less polite.

"Well, this is the heartburn that the Republican establishment has about Trump is that he is stoking this crazy fringe," she told King.

Though she casually mentioned that both parties have a crazy fringe, it's the Republican fringe that is the worst. Her best advice is to avoid them all together:

The Republicans have a crazy fringe and the polite thing to do is not to speak to them and be sane and be grown ups.

"But Trump," Ball continues, "is sort of openly going out there and stoking the anger and the fear and courting these people and amplifying the crazy things that they believe."

"We should specify that President Obama is not a Muslim," Ball said laughing.

She concluded saying that Trump is "riling these people up" and potentially inflicting "lasting damage to the party."

King ended the segment reaffirming that Obama was born in Hawaii to his Kansas mother. "We've said that a lot, I think, over the last seven years. It doesn't sink through with some people for some reason," he quipped.

CNN has the video.

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