Ed Martin, a conservative supporter of President Donald Trump and Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, appalled a CNN panel on Monday when he argued that Moore’s comment about America last being “great” during the time when slavery was legal was no big deal.

While bemoaning all of the media coverage of Moore’s past incendiary remarks, Martin was particularly dismissive of Moore’s suggestion that America was at its peak during the years where black people were enslaved, since at least at that time, black families were purportedly stronger than they are today.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s getting elected to the Senate, when he gets to the Senate, he’s going to have to vote on things,” Martin said in defending Moore. “Slavery is not being voted on in the Senate, and neither is homosexuality.”

“Are you serious?” asked panelist Angela Rye, who was visibly disgusted by Martin’s argument.

Martin, however, was undeterred.

“Let’s be clear, because it’s such a slur against him,” he continued. “What he said was, ‘Families still love each other when they existed… people in bondage. When the Jews were in bondage for years, they still loved each other.”

“Are you kidding me?” Rye asked angrily. “He said America was at its greatest during slavery, when families loved each other!”

Watch the video below.