Backlash against former President Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonBarr says Ginsburg 'leaves a towering legacy' Trump reacts to Ginsburg's death: 'An amazing woman who led an amazing life' Jimmy Carter remembers Ruth Bader Ginsburg as 'a beacon of justice' MORE's confrontation with Black Lives Matter protesters this week continued Friday night with a heated argument among CNN commentators.

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Van Jones slammed Clinton for telling protesters at a campaign event: "You are defending the people who kill the lives you say matter," his attempt to defend Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhat Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE's controversial "super predator" comment during the '90s.

"That was horrible. It wasn’t just the tone of what he said. The content of what he said, that super predator tag was a racial dog whistle that did untold damage. He’s got to know that. He’s not a dummy.”

Angela Rye said Bill Clinton has no idea what the Black Lives Matter movement is trying to achieve and called the scene an "epic fail" that could undo his wife's progress on racial justice issues and negate her apology for her past comments and vote for the 1994 crime bill.

Fellow commentator Bob Beckel came to Clinton's defense and said he was only referring to the drug dealers that sell to kids and create violence in communities. But Rye and Jones lashed out hard at Beckel for continuing to use the word "predator," which Rye said is "playing into dangerous rhetoric."

"That language has to die," she said.

Jones said Clinton was doing damage to the Democratic base - Hillary Clinton's rise in the presidential race has been boosted by widespread support from black voters.

"This does not make any sense. Bill Clinton himself just months ago took this off the table. Hillary Clinton said that this was a bad thing. Bill Clinton, then under pressure, it turns out he thinks it’s a good thing to call children super predators," Jones said. "He defended the indefensible racially coated term super predators. We thought that had been taken off the campaign. They put it back in play.”

Jones also criticized Clinton for saying "I almost want to apologize" for the heated scene with protesters on Friday.

"You can't just give a straight apology? We’re triangulating an apology; they’re not even in the White House yet," Jones said.