As long as you’re promoting Democrats, there’s nothing wrong with sloppy, fake news. Or that’s the spin from MSNBC anyway. According to host Craig Melvin, Georgia’s Raphael Warnock is the first black senator from the South since Reconstruction. This, of course, ignores Republican Senator Tim Scott. Melvin did not issue a correction.
It all began with Melvin asking, "Perdue came close in November, as you know, how worried should Senator Warnock be?"
Former counsel for the Congressional Black Caucus Angela Rye responded by urging "the historic Senator Warnock" to "focus on, is what his legacy is. What does he need to accomplish in the United States Senate?" That legacy, according to Rye, includes focusing on historic "shortcomings because the South has not had a black senator since Reconstruction. Where does he need to show up and how can he perform in committee and vote in the interest of Georgians and the whole of America?"
Rye concluded her remarks by claiming that "Senator Perdue did not serve Georgians well while he was elected."
Melvin certainly knows that Rye's claim was false. Tim Scott is frequently mentioned as a potential 2024 candidate and Melvin himself has had run-ins with him before, wondering if he was just a "token" who was being used by the party.
But, on Tuesday, Melvin did not issue a correction and instead wondered if Iowa is too white to be the first state on the primary schedule:
This may feel or sound a little too soon, but if it's going to change it needs to happen early, this idea that that Iowa goes first in our caucuses and primary system. The New York Times recently asked former DNC Chairman Tom Perez whether he thinks Iowa should keep its first in the nation status. Perez said, quote, “a diverse state or states need to be first. The difference between going first and third is really important. We know the importance of momentum in Democratic primaries.” What say you, Angela Rye?
Ironically, Rye answered by suggesting that Scott's South Carolina would be a good choice to replace Iowa as the first primary or caucus state.
This segment was sponsored by Verizon.
Here is a transcript for the February 16 show:
MSNBC
MSNBC Live with Craig Melvin
11:38 AM ET
CRAIG MELVIN: Another person who may run in '22 former Georgia Senator David Perdue, of course lost to Democrat Jon Ossoff in that runoff, now Perdue has filed to take on Georgia's other new Democratic senator, Reverend Raphael Warnock. Perdue came close in November, as you know, how worried should Senator Warnock be?
ANGELA RYE: Well, I think what Senator Warnock, the historic Senator Warnock should focus on, is what his legacy is. What does he need to accomplish in the United States Senate? Where have there been shortcomings because the South has not had a black senator since Reconstruction. Where does he need to show up and how can he perform in committee and vote in the interest of Georgians and the whole of America? The best way for him to run against Senator Perdue or Senator Perdue to run against him is with the stealth record and what we know is that Senator Perdue did not serve Georgians well while he was elected.
MELVIN: This may feel or sound a little too soon, but if it's going to change it needs to happen early, this idea that that Iowa goes first in our caucuses and primary system. The New York Times recently asked former DNC Chairman Tom Perez whether he thinks Iowa should keep its first in the nation status. Perez said, quote, “a diverse state or states need to be first. The difference between going first and third is really important. We know the importance of momentum in Democratic primaries.” What say you, Angela Rye?
