On Monday's CNN Newsroom, host Jim Sciutto welcomed Vice Chairwoman Karen Watkins of the Gwinnett County Georgia Public School Board on to insinuate that growing conservative opposition to left-wing propaganda being taught in schools is based on racism and that only one side of the debate is being political.
Sciutto's allegations stemmed from his misunderstanding of how campaigns work: "Let me ask you this, because last year a right-wing attack ad, it actually used your image along with two other women of color attempting to paint you as radical liberals. I wonder if it's your concern that this attention that's been focused on you is not accidental, it's been organized."
Attack ads always use the image of the candidates they are attacking, but Sciutto had to make it a racial thing in order to give credence to his flimsy argument. He also portrayed Watkins and her colleagues as non-partisan public servants who are being victimized by right-wing bullies and activists, but they are radicals who are heavily immersed in anti-police rhetoric.
Watkins was more than happy to portray herself as a nonpartisan actor standing up to those trying to politicize education:
I believe it is organized. I do believe that. We see Facebook posts of, you know, families share with us, parent share with us, community members share with us, Facebook posts of how they're going to rally together to disrupt a meeting, to do certain things. There is a lot of organization behind this, and it's unfortunate. This organization is behind a lot of, again, political ideologies and beliefs, things that a school board member, like myself, doesn't have any control over or can change.
Sciutto then moved to his next question where he sounded confused by the concept of elections where "right-wing people" seek to replace left-wing people:
Now, you're elected, of course, your election last fall. Are these efforts working, I wonder? Because it seems like part of the goal here, right, is to get others to replace you, right? Others with beliefs, for instance, against, you know, mask mandates. Are they trying to get right-wing people to replace you I suppose is my question?
Not only did Sciutto ignore the world outside of America on masking children in his question, he also teed up Watkins to again portray herself as the victim: "I think, you know, many people are anxious to remove us from the school board, but, again, you know, it sounds more like it's because of, you know, political-- more political reasons other than student achievement."
The media likes to say that Critical Race Theory is a made-up controversy. That would be news to Tarece Johnson, one the "two other women of color" Sciutto defended against alleged racism. She called Georgia a "racist State where white fragility, privilege, and power reign supreme. This is past and present. #CRT." Just another media narrative proven false.
This segment was sponsored by Applebee's.
Here is a transcript for the October 25 show:
CNN Newsroom with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto
10:52 AM ET
JIM SCIUTTO: Let me ask you this, because last year a right-wing attack ad, it actually used your image along with two other women of color attempting to paint you as radical liberals. I wonder if it's your concern that this attention that's been focused on you is not accidental, it's been organized.
KAREN WATKINS: I believe it is organized. I do believe that. We see Facebook posts of, you know, families share with us, parent share with us, community members share with us, Facebook posts of how they're going to rally together to disrupt a meeting, to do certain things. There is a lot of organization behind this, and it's unfortunate. This organization is behind a lot of, again, political ideologies and beliefs, things that a school board member, like myself, doesn't have any control over.
SCIUTTO: Yeah.
WATKINS: Or can change.
SCIUTTO: Now, you're elected, of course, your election last fall. Are these efforts working, I wonder? Because it seems like part of the goal here, right, is to get others to replace you, right? Others with beliefs, for instance, against, you know, mask mandates. Are they trying to get right-wing people to replace you I suppose is my question?
WATKINS: It seems, it seems like that is the case because of everything that has happened throughout years via complaints. We just start – literally, Dr. Tarece and myself, we just started on the school board this year. How much of an impact could we have made for us to get as many complaints as we get, to get as much attention? So what you're stating is, you know, I think, you know, many people are anxious to remove us from the school board, but, again, you know, it sounds more like it's because of, you know, political…
SCIUTTO: Yeah
WATKINS: … More political reasons other than student achievement.
SCIUTTO: We don't have much time, but you mentioned threats to you and your family. Have you asked for protection? Is anyone offering protection?
WATKINS: So, we do ask for protection, but I think, you know, we do try to work with individuals, you know, within our county. They try. But I think because resources are lacking, it's very difficult. And I think that's part of the reason why the National School Board Association has tried to, you know -- has reached out to the federal government to see if we can get some assistance here.
