The media blame game for Tuesday’s Democratic election losses intensified on Thursday as ABC’s Jon Karl pinned the losses in Virginia on Republicans “exploiting parents's fears” when it came to issues like crime. What, specifically, could Karl be referring to? Perhaps the rape of a young teen by a boy in the girl’s bathroom? Karl didn’t explain and the networks have been hiding the Loudoun, Virginia rape story that galvanized the governor’s race in Virginia.
All three networks speculated on the meaning of Tuesday’s results, which saw Democrats lose Virginia’s governor’s seat, lieutenant governor’s spot, the attorney general race and control of the state house. However, Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos wondered, “So many messages coming out of the elections. One of the big ones, you gotta focus on crime. You gotta focus on education.”
Karl huffed, “Especially in the suburbs where the battle will be fought for control of Congress. Republicans were able to exploit fears, parents's fears with crime.” How, exactly, were Republicans exploiting crime? Could it be the two sexual assaults in Loudoun County Schools and the cover-up? Again, Karl didn’t say.
Karl found the meaning of the elections, which saw Democrats also come perilously close to losing the governor’s race in deep blue New Jersey, unclear: “To some Democrats it was that Joe Biden and congressional leadership was trying to do too much. To others it was that they accomplished too little.”
Over on the Today show, Kristen Welker offered a blunt take: “Glenn Youngkin's defeat of Terry McAuliffe in the race for governor widely viewed as a rebuke of president Biden's performance so far.” Regarding New Jersey, she described it as simply avoiding “further embarrassment.”
Democrats avoided further embarrassment overnight with a slim victory in New Jersey at the governor's race there.
On CBS Mornings, Ed O’Keefe described the bind Democrats find themselves in after the elections:
In Washington, Democrats are still feuding over Mr. Biden's social spending and climate change plan. The impasse is holding up passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill.
...
But because that social spending plan has paid family leave in it, West Virginia Senator Manchin, the key moderate in the Senate, says, “Not so fast. Not a fan of that.” If that passes in the House, it may not clear the Senate, and the back and forth will continue. Gayle?
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Partial transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
Good Morning America
11/4/2021
7:05GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: There is a debate about what the Democrats should do on those packages going forward. Some say cut back, go for the bipartisan package. Scale back the progressive ambitions. Others say full speed ahead.
JON KARL: Well, it comes to what was the message that voters were sending in these elections, George? To some Democrats it was that Joe Biden and congressional leadership was trying to do too much. To others it was that they accomplished too little. They agreed that voters — that this is a wake-up call for Democrats. The party has to get their act together but there is a split. You're right, about what to do about it and makes it harder to see how they get this accomplished. Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi are saying full speed ahead and Pelosi wants to see a vote on the full two bills as early as today but I think passing both of those bills just got a heck - of a lot harder.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So many messages coming out of the elections. One of the big one, you gotta focus on crime. You gotta focus on education.
JON KARL: Absolutely. Especially in the suburbs where the battle will be fought for control of Congress, Republicans were able to exploit fears, parents' fears with crime and, look, we are in the third straight — third consecutive school year in the Covid era and parents are frustrated. Republicans played into that, said that they had a solution. Now Republicans are talking about running on a so-called parents' bill of rights. Democrats need an answer on both.
CBS Mornings
11/4/2021ED O’KEEFE: In Washington, Democrats are still feuding over Mr. Biden's social spending and climate change plan. The impasse is holding up passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill.
...
But because that social spending plan has paid family leave in it, West Virginia senator Manchin, the key moderate in the Senate, says, “Not so fast, not a fan of that.” If that passes in the House, it may not clear the Senate, and the back and forth will continue. Gayle?
Today
11/4/2021KRISTEN WELKER: We are learning this morning behind the scenes Democrats are reeling and reassessing their strategy with just one year until the critical midterm elections. Some Democrats privately grumbling saying the White House doesn't have a clear enough legislative strategy.
...
WELKER: Glenn Youngkin's defeat of Terry McAuliffe in the race for governor widely viewed as a rebuke of president Biden's performance so far.
...
WELKER: Democrats avoided further embarrassment overnight with a slim victory in New Jersey at the governor's race there.
