Now that the race for Virginia’s next governor has kicked into high gear, NBC News’ Chief White House Correspondent has decided to be partisan and sharply criticized the Republican ticket.
On his May 20 edition of The Daily Rundown, the MSNBC anchor hammered the GOP’s nominee for Virginia Lieutenant Governor, African-American pastor E.W. Jackson, as extreme and someone who “might make Todd Akin look like a moderate.” "Can the GOP win in 2013 with a ticket of candidates who are best known for being very conservative and very outspoken on social issues?" Todd rhetorically asked before playing several clips of Jackson in a manner worthy of a liberal attack ad. [See video after jump. MP3 audio here.]
Nowhere in the segment did Todd feel it necessary to mention the passionate speech Jackson gave at the convention, instead choosing to mock the candidate as worse than Todd Akin, the U.S. Senate candidate last year now infamous for his "legitimate rape" remarks. It's worth noting that the extremely controversial and socially liberal Democratic candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe, has received a pass from Todd.
Towards the end of the segment, Todd continued to highlight the liberal objection to Jackson, observing that, “Of course L.G. is more of a running mate feel to it and it will be more difficult for Cuccinelli to shield himself from Jackson if indeed Cuccinelli wants to shield himself from Jackson.” Todd concluded his partisan commentary by claiming of McAuliffe campaign staffers that they were "licking their chops over the weekend over what Virginia Republicans did at their convention."
Sounds like Todd and his left-wing producers were too.
See relevant transcript below.
MSNBC
The Daily Rundown
May 20, 2013
9:09 a.m. Eastern
CHUCK TODD: Finally, a big, shocking development over the weekend in the Virginia Governor's race. Virginia Republicans held their state party convention on Saturday and appeared to be conducting an intriguing experiment in a state that Obama has twice carried in presidential contests. That’s elected Democrats to the U.S. Senate seats the last three times that senate elections have been held. Can the GOP win in 2013 with a ticket of candidates who are best known for being very conservative and very outspoken on social issues? Attorney General and governor candidate Ken Cuccinelli did his best to play to an audience that was wider than the 14,000 conservative delegates who packed the Richmond coliseum.
KEN CUCCINELLI: When did it become extreme to protect children from predators and human traffickers? When did it become extreme to guard our constitution from overreach? And when did it become extreme to ask government to spend a little less so our economy can grow? My friends, it is not extreme to fight for the people of Virginia and as your next governor that is exactly what I'm going to do.
TODD: But, meet the unintended effect of Republican maneuvering to hold a convention to ensure that Cuccinelli would win the nod for new governor. His name is E.W. Jackson. And he’s an African-American minister with a history of very conservative statements and he’s now Cuccinelli’s running mate. After an upset win over businessman Pete Snyder on the fourth ballot of the day for the Lieutenant Governor spot. Jackson joked to "Washington Post" this weekend, "We’ve already been told the knives are coming out at us. I might even be more extreme than Ken." He, himself, said that. He may have said it facetiously, but it's probably true. Virginia Republicans have nominated a guy that makes, might make Todd Akin look like a moderate with a history of statements that look like this.
E.W. JACKSON: Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was and the Democrat Party and their black civil rights allies are partners in this genocide.
TODD: Jackson also has a history of anti-gay statements that could alienate suburban women right here in northern Virginia for one.
JACKSON: I know that people say, well, it's unfair to associate homosexuality with pedophilia or some of these other perversions, but I believe that there is a direct connection because what they really want is absolute, complete and total sexual freedom.
TODD: This morning, Cuccinelli’s up with a new ad which features the widow and daughter of a Virginia police officer killed in the line of duty endorsing him.
UNKNOWN WOMAN: Every time I was in the hospital, I would see Ken Cuccinelli. I will never forget that.
UNKNOWN #2: Ken Cuccinelli really cared about us and that meant a lot to me.
UNKNOWN #3: He's a very genuine guy who has a deep commitment to helping other people. I think ken would make a great governor.
TODD: By the way, for what it's worth, the nomination of Ken Cuccinelli as Attorney General four years ago was seen by some Republicans as a problem and that at the time a potential opportunity for democrats. Turned out the top of the ticket could shield itself at the time. Of course L.G. is more of a running mate feel to it and it will be more difficult for Cuccinelli to shield himself from Jackson if indeed Cuccinelli wants to shield himself from Jackson. Terry McAuliffe's campaign and what will be the potential Democratic ticket, they’re actually holding a primary, they were licking their chops over the weekend over what Virginia Republicans did at their convention.
