On Monday, NBC’s 3rd Hour Today show openly campaigned for a left-wing Florida teenager running for a seat on the Broward County School Board and making radical Critical Race Theory one of his top issues. The glowing profile piece, which amounted to an in-kind political donation, dismissed “conservative” concerns about CRT and touted the high school student’s long-term goal of being elected president.
“This morning, we are introducing you to a south Florida teen who’s vying to win a seat on the local county school board,” co-host Dylan Dreyer announced in the 9:00 a.m. ET hour. Fellow co-host Craig Melvin excitedly chimed in and touted a key part of the 17-year-old candidate’s platform: “Yeah, and he’s taking on some big issues like educational infrastructure, mental health resources, even Critical Race Theory, which highlights historical racism and it’s impact on laws today.”
The anchor confidently predicted that the young politician would be undeterred in pushing a leftist agenda: “Florida banned teaching it altogether but the ambitious teenager that you’re about to meet, not easily discouraged.”
Reporting live from Florida, correspondent Sam Brock kept up the network’s cheerleading: “That’s right. It’s just one of the many issues that a Broward County School Board candidate is running on as he looks to give a platform to people who might feel powerless....you’ll see why for Raymond Adderly the election season here is likely just the beginning.”
Hailing Adderly as a “stellar student” about to enter his senior year at Fort Lauderdale High School, Brock swooned:
Never raising his tone too high or too low, Raymond has brought an impactful voice to the Broward County School System. Currently, he’s serving as student adviser to the board....But now, he’s setting his eyes on a larger stage, the District Eight seat in the nation’s sixth largest school system....When you engage Raymond on his platform, don’t expect platitudes. He’ll summon real-world experience and gaping problems that need to be addressed...
The reporter was particularly excited by Adderly advocating CRT: “On the hot topic of Critical Race Theory, Raymond doesn’t shy away from that, either.” Brock derided critics: “From the conservative standpoint is this, ‘Well, we’re not racist. Why are we telling our kids that we’re racist?’ Do you believe that’s true?” Adderly rejected the opposition to his controversial ideology: “No, it’s not true at all. What Critical Race Theory asks for and is calling for is simply that more people being engaged in this fight, by understanding that this is what’s happening.”
“He says this despite the recent ban on Critical Race Theory in Florida, supported by the Governor,” Brock noted. A soundbite ran of Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announcing in March: “Let me be clear, there’s no room in our classrooms for things like Critical Race Theory, teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other.”
That clip was followed with more ranting from Adderly:
It’s not calling people racist. It’s not saying or indicating that people were oppressed. It’s simply putting truth to the textbook and saying that this is what happened and this is the truth. People are tired of the whitewashing of American history.
After promoting the teenager’s campaign slogan, Brock wrapped up the sycophantic segment by proclaiming: “His ultimate goal, getting to the Oval Office, but he’s not exactly eligible for a few more years.” Dreyer gushed: “Not yet....He’s on his way. That’s how you start.”
When can NBC viewers expect the network to offer similar free campaign advertising to one of the numerous conservative candidates running in local school board races across the country? Of course the only coverage CRT opponents can expect to get from the liberal media would likely be negative and outright hostile.
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Here is a full transcript of the July 19 segment:
9:15 AM ET
DYLAN DREYER: This morning, we are introducing you to a south Florida teen who’s vying to win a seat on the local county school board.
CRAIG MELVIN: Yeah, and he’s taking on some big issues like educational infrastructure, mental health resources, even Critical Race Theory, which highlights historical racism and it’s impact on laws today. Florida banned teaching it altogether but the ambitious teenager that you’re about to meet, not easily discouraged. In fact, NBC’s Sam Brock met up with him to talk about that and much more. Sam?
SAM BROCK: Guys, good morning. That’s right. It’s just one of the many issues that a Broward County School Board candidate is running on as he looks to give a platform to people who might feel powerless. In today’s Generation Next, you’ll see why for Raymond Adderly the election season here is likely just the beginning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Generation Next: Student Hopes to Change Education System]
In the hallways of Fort Lauderdale High School, you’ll find a stellar student who looks like your typical rising senior, interested in debate, prepping for college, a class president two years running. And then Raymond Adderly speaks about high school.
RAYMOND ADDERLY: I realized that there were huge disparities in our community. So I began talking to students and there was just one thing that was super common. And that was that all these people felt voiceless.
BROCK: Never raising his tone too high or too low, Raymond has brought an impactful voice to the Broward County School System. Currently, he’s serving as student adviser to the board.
ADDERLY: She told me my school has been under renovation since 2017.
BROCK: But now, he’s setting his eyes on a larger stage, the District Eight seat in the nation’s sixth largest school system.
Are people surprised when they find out that you’re 17 years old?
ADDERLY: Well, most people are, Sam. And most people think that the way in which I speak and reason, most people actually think I’m at least 36.
BROCK: In those 17 years of life, Raymond has already experienced more than many adults, starting at the age of seven, with the tragedy of watching his father get killed when he and his family were victims of a home invasion.
ADDERLY: And I remember my mom reaching over and covering my mouth. And in an instant, my life changed. My father’s final words were, “Please don’t hurt my kids.” And ever since then, I always had that understanding that the most selfless thing one can do is help and assist others in your community.
BROCK: When you engage Raymond on his platform, don’t expect platitudes. He’ll summon real-world experience and gaping problems that need to be addressed, from crumbling buildings...
ADDERLY: Just a couple weeks ago, at a middle school, a roof collapsed.
BROCK: ...to mental health resources.
ADDERLY: If students aren’t getting the help that they need, they’re overburdened and this exacerbates generational poverty. We don’t afford enough opportunities to these students. So mental health is a very crucial and important thing in this district.
BROCK: On the hot topic of Critical Race Theory, Raymond doesn’t shy away from that, either.
From the conservative standpoint is this, “Well, we’re not racist. Why are we telling our kids that we’re racist?” Do you believe that’s true?
ADDERLY: No, it’s not true at all. What Critical Race Theory asks for and is calling for is simply that more people being engaged in this fight, by understanding that this is what’s happening. He says this despite the recent ban on Critical Race Theory in Florida, supported by the Governor.
GOV. RON DESANTIS [R-FL]: Let me be clear, there’s no room in our classrooms for things like Critical Race Theory, teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other.
ADDERLY: It’s not calling people racist. It’s not saying or indicating that people were oppressed. It’s simply putting truth to the textbook and saying that this is what happened and this is the truth. People are tired of the whitewashing of American history.
BROCK: Still a full year out from the August 2022 election, Raymond is turning his insight into action, campaigning on a simple but essential slogan, “Raymond Takes Notes.”
ADDERLY: When you study and you review and you take notes, you get better results. That is what this candidacy seeks to do. We want better results.
BROCK: And for those who might be wondering how is Raymond Adderly going to be serving on a school board and going to college at the same time, he says he’s only applying to local colleges and universities so that he is just a drive away from campus or from a school board meeting. His ultimate goal, getting to the Oval Office, but he’s not exactly eligible for a few more years.
MELVIN: Yeah.
DREYER: Not yet.
BROCK: That’s the latest in south Florida, let me send it back to you guys.
MELVIN: Alright, Sam. Sam, thank you.
DREYER: He’s on his way. That’s how you start.
MELVIN: Raymond takes notes.
