Even before the polls closed in Virginia Tuesday night, the liberals on CNN were chaffed by the exit polls and the obvious enthusiasm gap going into the day. Liberal commentator Van Jones was so irked that he took to comparing Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin to the delta COVID variant spreading the “disease” of Trumpism. But he almost immediately got slapped down by Republican Scott Jennings who called out the media’s hypocrisy in attacking Youngkin.
“First of all, it is not over. You do have the grassroots folks out there fighting for this on the Democratic Party side,” Jones said in an attempt to keep liberal hopes up that Democrat Terry McAuliffe could somehow pull out a win. He then dropped his disgusting smear of Youngkin:
When this election is over in Virginia, we will know have we seen the emergence of the delta variant of Trumpism. The delta variant of Trumpism. In other words, Youngkin same disease, but spreads a lot faster and can get a lot more places.
“That’s implying that Youngkin is more dangerous than the president – former president,” host Anderson Cooper wondered. Jones responded by suggesting Youngkin was better at subtly pushing racism than Trump.
He expanded on his argument by suggesting Youngkin was “playing footsie with the worst of Trumpism” and was just a racist who was playing the role of a warrior for parents:
He’s putting himself forward as a champion of parent – this is a referendum on parents right. But he’s not talking about, but he is using all of the critical race theory head fakes and head nods, which is a softer version of a very, virulent kind of anti-black posture.
“And so, I think this is a very big deal, because if this is a pathway – if you can flirt with Trumpism if you can flirt with Trump and still win in the suburbs, that’s a new development for us,” he cautioned.
Jennings was up next and he wasted no time in slapping down Jones’ vile attacks by pointing out how the left and the media had “demanded, asked for, begged for, pleaded for Republican candidates who would not do what you just said which is, you know, embrace Trumpism and sort of run the kind of races and style that he runs.”
Adding: “So, a Republican comes along and does exactly what everybody says they want which is hey let's have Republicans who don't act like Donald Trump. And you still beat them about the head and neck and claim they are Donald Trump.”
After noting that President Joe Biden had ridiculously said Youngkin was a white supremacist in a fleece vest, Jennings drove his point home. “This kind of beating up Republicans over Donald Trump is not going to work. That's why this race is so close. Youngkin’s on the issues, Democrats are on Trump,” he said.
And that seemed to be the winning strategy for Youngkin. As of the writing of this piece, Decision Desk had called the race for Youngkin.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN’s Election Night in America
November 2, 2021
6:48:43 p.m. Eastern(…)
VAN JONES: First of all, it is not over. You do have the grassroots folks out there fighting for this on the Democratic Party side. The stakes are high. When this election is over in Virginia, we will know have we seen the emergence of the delta variant of Trumpism. The delta variant of Trumpism. In other words, Youngkin same disease, but spreads a lot faster and can get a lot more places. The suburbs if they fall to him --
ANDERSON COOPER: That’s implying that Youngkin is more dangerous than the president – former president.
JONES: No, more easy to spread.
COOPER: Okay.
JONES: More easy to spread, because if you are looking at what he’s doing. He is playing footsie with the worst of Trumpism. He’s putting himself forward as a champion of parent – this is a referendum on parents right. But he’s not talking about, but he is using all of the critical race theory head fakes and head nods, which is a softer version of a very, virulent kind of anti-black posture.
And so, I think this is a very big deal, because if this is a pathway – if you can flirt with Trumpism, if you can flirt with Trump and still win in the suburbs, that’s a new development for us.
COOPER: Scott?
SCOTT JENNINGS: I am sorry, I have to totally disagree with virtually everything that you said.
JONES: Okay, tell me why.
JENNINGS: I’ll tell you why. Because Democrats since January the sixth -- Really since Donald Trump got elected, but let's go back to January 6. Have demanded, asked for, begged for, pleaded for Republican candidates who would not do what you just said which is, you know, embrace Trumpism and sort of run the kind of races and style that he runs.
Youngkin has rejected it. He has said it was wrong, he wasn't part of it. Donald Trump hasn't been in Virginia campaigning for him. In fact, there is a pent-up demand, in my opinion, to make America boring again. With standard-issue run-of-the-mill conservative Republican candidates like Glenn Youngkin, and like the candidates who did well down-ballot in 2020.
So, a Republican comes along and does exactly what everybody says they want which is hey let's have Republicans who don't act like Donald Trump. And you still beat them about the head and neck and claim they are Donald Trump. And then, Joe Biden takes it a step further and says, ‘hey, watch out, people wearing sweater vests are white supremacists.’ Have you been in Virginia in October? Everyone's wearing fleece vests.
This kind of beating up Republicans over Donald Trump is not going to work. That's why this race is so close. Youngkin’s on the issues, Democrats are on Trump.
