A CNN host refused to acknowledge her guest’s evidence of Critical Race Theory in Virginia schools Monday, resorting to repeating, “it’s not part of the curriculum” like a broken record.
New Day co-host Brianna Keilar was grilling Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida on a variety of issues before bringing up the recent Virginia election. The CNNer downplayed the Republican victory in the state Biden won by ten percentage points just a year ago, by suggesting candidate Glenn Youngkin won because he “ignored” Trump. “[I]s that the GOP playbook [for the midterms],” she asked Scott.
But Scott said he hoped Democrats kept trying to make local races about Trump because it clearly didn’t help them. Keilar didn’t appreciate that. “You don't have control over that,” she said over Scott. “You only have control over the Glenn Youngkin in this case,” she lectured, repeating the question.
That’s when the senator brought up how Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe also burned bridges with parents by lying about what was taught in schools, which Keilar immediately denied:
RICK SCOTT: ....I think Republicans continue to talk about issues. Glenn Youngkin won his face because he talked about issues and I think that's what's going to happen. We're going to see just like in Virginia Terry McAuliffe wanted to say there's nothing about Critical Race Theory. We know it's true. Parents know their kids are being indoctrinated with critical race Theory in Virginia and Democrats wanted to deny it. Parents showed up because they don't like being lied to.
KEILAR: Well It’s not in the curriculum. Just to be clear, it's not in the curriculum in Virginia. Just to be clear.
But Scott backed up his claim, citing evidence still on Virginia’s Department of Education website that shows Critical Race Theory has been part of public schools’ curriculum even when McAuliffe was last governor.
But the belligerent CNN host refused to listen, cutting in to repeat, “To be clear, it’s not part of the curriculum!”
SCOTT: Oh Brianna, would you like me to--here let me just read you a few things. In 2015, Terry McAuliffe as governor, the Virginia Department of Education promoting incorporating a Critical Race Theory lens in education. You can still find it on the Department of Education's website, still there.
KEILAR: It’s not part of the--Senator--it’s not
SCOTT: In February 2019 a superintendent memo to the Virginia Department of Education promoting Critical Race Theory and the idea of white fragility.
KEILAR: [frustrated] It’s not, it’s not part of the curriculum.
SCOTT: I just saw it there yesterday. It’s still there, Brianna!
KEILAR: I do want to ask you, just to be clear --
SCOTT: Wait, let's all agree. They were trying to indoctrinate kids, Terry McAuliffe denied it. It's still on the website. It is. This is happening. And I hope Democrats continue to say it's not happening, because parents aren't dumb. They can see it.
KEILAR: You're saying parents are dumb? You said? Aren't dumb?
SCOTT: No, they're not. I think parents are smart. My parents didn't have much of a formal education, but they cared about what I learned--
KEILAR: I just, I just want to be clear, Senator I just have to be clear, it’s not--
SCOTT: Parents are smart. They know Virginia's Department of Education Promoting Critical Race Theory and Terry McAuliffe said they didn't. I hope Democrats keep doing that all across the country.
Frustrated, Keilar repeated again, "It's not part of the curriculum."
The CNN host tried again to badger Scott on the former president. She complained that Trump was "ginning up concern about future elections," as if Democrats weren't doing this very same thing.
Again Scott called out the network's one-sided shaming, by pointing out Stacey Abrams refused to concede her election loss in 2018, and Senate Democrats continue to complain elections aren't fair.
"And Chuck Schumer goes to the floor of the Senate and keeps saying the election laws in this country are unfair, all right, so Chuck Schumer keeps saying that all the time. Why don't you call Chuck Schumer and ask him why he keeps saying that?" he confronted Keilar.
Keilar admitted if Democrats do it, it doesn't matter. "With all due respect I'm talking about your Republican candidates, which is your purview," she said, adding, "This isn't just about what Democrats are doing." And she insisted on bringing up Trump, yet again.
Scott pointed out how Democrats wanted to make elections less secure, but Keilar sounded like a DNC spokesperson:
SCOTT: Look, Democrats are saying that the election laws in this country are unfair. How does that not -- how is that different? They're saying that oh, what Florida and Texas and Georgia are doing are unfair. If you look at what Republicans are doing, their goal is 100% participation and zero percent fraud. That's not what Chuck Schumer is saying about it on the floor. I watch it and have to vote on this stuff he proposes, basically a federal takeover of election laws. Get rid of I.D., get rid of, you know, allow balance lot harvesting allow same-day registration. Which basically creates fraud in the next election. That's what Democrats are doing--
KEILAR: That's a different thing, senator. They are questioning laws that will restrict the access to vote for many people. They are not questioning the integrity of elections. They are questioning vote access.
Flabbergasted, Scott shot back, "You should have to show your I.D. ... Your signature has to match if you do mail-in ballots. You should [sic] have same-day registration, there shouldn't be ballot harvesting. That's not talking about the security of elections? The integrity of elections? There's no difference!"
But just like with CRT, Keilar couldn't budge from her talking points. Ignoring what he said, she again whined about Trump.
CNN sticking their heads in the sand to hammer home a partisan agenda is sponsored by Liberty Mutual, contact them at the Conservatives Fight Back page linked.
Read the transcript below:
CNN New Day
11/8/21
BRIANNA KEILAR: The Virginia governor's race, is that the GOP playbook for the midterms, basically ignore Donald Trump?
RICK SCOTT: Well, I hope the Democrats continue to do what Terry McAuliffe did. Terry McAuliffe ran his campaign and did two things--
[Keilar interrupting]
KEILAR: You don't have control over that.
SCOTT: He said it's all about Donald Trump--
KEILAR: You only have control over the Glenn Youngkin in this case. As someone from the Republican perspective, because I'm sure you're not advising Democratic candidates, is this the playbook for Republicans?
SCOTT: I think what, I think what Democrats continue to do is talk about Donald Trump. I think Republicans continue to talk about issues. Glenn Youngkin won his face because he talked about issues and I think that's what's going to happen. We're going to see just like in Virginia Terry McAuliffe wanted to say there's nothing about Critical Race Theory. We know it's true. Parents know their kids are being indoctrinated with critical race Theory in Virginia and Democrats wanted to deny it. Parents showed up because they don't like being lied to.
KEILAR: Well It’s not in the curriculum. Just to be clear, it's not in the curriculum in Virginia. Just to be clear-
SCOTT: Oh Brianna, would you like me to--here let me just read you a few things.In 2015, Terry McAuliffe as governor, the Virginia Department of Education promoting incorporating a Critical Race Theory lense in education. You can still find it on the Department of Education's website, still there.
KEILAR: It’s not part of the--Senator--it’s not
SCOTT: In February 2019 a superintendent memo to the Virginia Department of Education promoting Critical Race Theory and the idea of white fragility.
KEILAR: [frustrated] It’s not, it’s not part of the curriculum.
SCOTT: I just saw it there yesterday. It’s still there, Brianna!
KEILAR: I do want to ask you, just to be clear --
SCOTT: Wait, let's all agree. They were trying to indoctrinate kids, Terry McAuliffe denied it. It's still on the website. It is. This is happening. And I hope Democrats continue to say it's not happening, because parents aren't dumb. They can see it.
KEILAR: You're saying parents are dumb? You said? Aren't dumb?
SCOTT: No, they're not. I think parents are smart. My parents didn't have much of a formal education, but they cared about what I learned--
KEILAR: I just, I just want to be clear, Senator I just have to be clear, it’s not--
SCOTT: Parents are smart. They know Virginia's Department of Education Promoting Critical Race Theory and Terry McAuliffe said they didn't. I hope Democrats keep doing that all across the country.
KEILAR: Senator fine. It's not part of the curriculum. I would like to move on with you.
