Democratic candidate in Virginia bashed parents, said they were incapable of deciding curriculum for their kids



A Democratic candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates is facing a firestorm from parents after a video resurfaced showing her insulting them as incapable of deciding the curriculum for their children.

Jessica Anderson posted a video during the 2021 gubernatorial race where she mocked the parents whose votes she is now seeking.

"I’m sorry, but I’ve seen some of the parents that live in Virginia," Anderson said on the TikTok video. "You should not be dictating what your daughter and son’s curriculums look like."

\u201c\ud83d\udea8Jessica Anderson, a Democrat running for Delegate in District 71, recorded a TikTok trashing Virginia parents who are involved in their children\u2019s education as \u201ccrazy.\u201d\n\nWe need to elect Republicans who believe #ParentsMatter \u2013 just like Governor @GlennYoungkin famously said.\u201d
— ROOZ (@ROOZ) 1683237206

She went on to insult homeschooling parents as well.

"If you want to do that, there’s a thing called homeschool. Indoctrinate them there, but not in my kids’ public schools," she added in the video.

When asked by Fox News Digital to comment on the resurfaced video, Anderson objected that critics were dishonestly claiming she called parents "crazy" when she never used the word.

"I would never state that as someone who loves my students and their families in this community," Anderson responded. "As a mom to three daughters, two of which are still in public school, I absolutely believe we should be able to question our students' education, push back if necessary, and have an active role in the education process."

She appeared to walk back the comments she made about parents.

"I support EVERY parent, every step of the way. I've also seen incredible communication between our teachers and parents in my district, when concerns arise," Anderson continued.

The controversy over control of public school curricula led to a school group calling on the Biden administration to investigate parents as a "domestic terror" threat. The group later apologized for the request.

Here's more about the battle over curricula:

Virginia Gov. Tells Parents to Report Concerns About Schools | NBC4 Washington www.youtube.com

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Mehdi Hasan argues that a black GOP candidate's win in Virginia's lieutenant governor contest does not discount notion that racism fueled Youngkin's gubernatorial victory



Winsome Sears, a black Republican, won the lieutenant governor election in the state of Virginia, seemingly undermining any suggestion that racism among GOP voters helped propel Republican Glenn Youngkin to win in the state's gubernatorial contest.

But Mehdi Hasan, the host of "The Mehdi Hasan Show," is rejecting that line of argument.

"The argument that white supremacy & racial resentment couldn't have helped power Youngkin to victory in VA because the Republicans elected a black lieutenant governor - Winsome Sears - is as convincing as saying Trump isn't a racist because he made Ben Carson his HUD secretary," Hasan tweeted.

The argument that white supremacy & racial resentment couldn't have helped power Youngkin to victory in VA because the Republicans elected a black lieutenant governor - Winsome Sears - is as convincing as saying Trump isn't a racist because he made Ben Carson his HUD secretary.

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) 1635960174

Hasan continued to stand by his statement amid pushback.

Responding to Bloomberg opinion columnist Eli Lake, who had noted that racists and white supremacists do not vote in favor of electing minority candidates, Hasan wrote: "Racists happily voted for Trump who appointed Ben Carson and Nikki Haley to high positions. You need to stop thinking of racists as just KKK members. Plenty of 'ordinary' Americans have racially resentful views. Stop being so reductionist."

Actually you\u2019re playing word games Eli. Racists happily voted for Trump who appointed Ben Carson and Nikki Haley to high positions. You need to stop thinking of racists as just KKK members. Plenty of \u2018ordinary\u2019 Americans have racially resentful views. Stop being so reductionist.https://twitter.com/elilake/status/1455978635828072457\u00a0\u2026

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) 1635968937

Lake pressed the matter further: "So are you saying @WinsomeSears is an avatar of racial resentment and white supremacy? What about @JasonMiyaresVA? Or do you think the racists who voted for @GlennYoungkin split their ticket and @TerryMcAuliffe voters voted for the GOP Lt. governor and AG?"

Hasan fired back: "Are you saying that running on fake 'critical race theory' campaigns isn't racist? Because that's what I am saying. And yes, lots of people of color give cover to, and enable, racism all the time. See Carson, B. Haley, N. Or are you saying people of color can't be racist??"

Are you saying that running on fake \u2018critical race theory\u2019 campaigns isn\u2019t racist? Because that\u2019s what I am saying. And yes, lots of people of color give cover to, and enable, racism all the time. See Carson, B. Haley, N. Or are you saying people of color can\u2019t be racist??https://twitter.com/elilake/status/1455986518636511232\u00a0\u2026

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) 1635971999

Tim Graham of the Media Research Center was also among those who pushed back against Hasan.

"Except the 'white supremacy' Republicans VOTED for Sears. If they were a pile of racists, she would have lost," Graham wrote.

Hasan responded: "Yes it's a new rule of American politics! If you have ever voted for, liked, or befriended a Black person you can never again be accused of holding any racist views or supporting any racist policies. You're immunized, to borrow a phrase not so beloved to Republicans. Gotcha."

Yes it\u2019s a new rule of American politics! If you have ever voted for, liked, or befriended a Black person you can never again be accused of holding any racist views or supporting any racist policies. You\u2019re immunized, to borrow a phrase not so beloved to Republicans.\n\nGotchahttps://twitter.com/timjgraham/status/1456025866606157828\u00a0\u2026

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) 1635984552

Debra Messing says Republicans 'still defend the Nazis' from Charlottesville rally in reaction to hate hoax targeting Glenn Youngkin



Actress Debra Messing attempted to draw a parallel to the hate hoax carried out by alleged Democratic activists against Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin on Friday to the white supremacist "Unite the Right" rally that took place in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The actress turned Democrat activist reacted to the bizarre political stunt by claiming that "Republicans still defend the Nazis" from the Charlottesville rally.

A political scheme with a mission to embarrass Youngkin and hurt his election prospects was executed on Friday. Alleged Democratic activists were planted in front of Youngkin's campaign bus. The four men and one woman wore khakis and white button-down shirts while holding tiki torches – the same aesthetic that white supremacists had during the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 11, 2017. Anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project took credit for the race hoax – but only after reports that the alleged white supremacists were Democratic activists.

These men approached @GlennYoungkin’s bus as it pulled up saying what sounded like, “We’re all in for Glenn.” Here… https://t.co/MwHz1ix5ud

— Elizabeth Holmes (@holmes_reports) 1635518197.0

Several Democrats tripped over themselves to attack Youngkin over the stunt that appears to have used Democrat activists posing as white supremacists – including Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwellof California and members of McAuliffe's campaign team.

WCTI-TV reported on McAuliffe campaign members who pushed the hate hoax before deleting tweets.

McAuliffe's spokesperson Christina Freundlich retweeted a post from the local reporter who covered the incident. Freundlich said in her retweet that "The Unite the Right rally was one of the darkest days in the Commonwealth's history. this is who Glenn Youngkin's supporters are."

"This is disgusting and disqualifying," said Jenifer Goodman, a communications staffer for McAuliffe, in another retweet of the local Virginia reporter's initial coverage of the incident. Both tweets have since been deleted.

Charlie Olaf – McAuliffe's social-media manager – also treated the race hoax as a real white supremacy demonstration by writing on Twitter, "Disgusting reference to the 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville."

Do you see how casually Democratic operatives play with racism and race accusations, like it's their little private… https://t.co/HXcJZhO6zF

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) 1635545414.0

Messing alleges that she did not fall for the race hoax, but she did use the political stunt to make an unsubstantiated attack on Republicans.

"Oh I didn't fall for it, nor do I approve of it, but the POINT is Republicans still defend the Nazis with tiki torches at #Charlottesville, & now there is faux outrage bc they don't want voters reminded of their most loyal ( and welcomed) supporters," Messing tweeted on Friday.

Following the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, every major Republican denounced the hateful demonstration – including, but not limited to, then-President Donald Trump, then-Vice President Mike Pence, then-Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, then-House majority leader Kevin McCarthy, former Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, and then-White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

Messing continued to utilize the Lincoln Project chicanery to link Youngkin to the Charlottesville Nazis from 2017.

"Interesting. The reminder that @GlennYoungkin tacitly approved of the #Charlottesville Nazis is making more people outraged than the actual Nazis," the former "Will & Grace" actress said.

Interesting. The reminder that @GlennYoungkin tacitly approved of the #Charlottesville Nazis is making more people… https://t.co/lqwhmlz12a

— Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) 1635545638.0

Messing did appear to fall for a tongue-in-cheek article from the satirical website Babylon Bee.

Messing shared a Babylon Bee article with the headline: "KKK Member Posing By Glenn Youngkin's Bus Turns Out To Be Ralph Northam," a reference to the allegations that the Democratic governor of Virginia was dressed in racist costumes featured in his 1984 medical school yearbook.

Messing retweeted the fake article with the caption: "Wait WHAT???"

Wait WHAT??? https://t.co/zoWjAXJGN5

— Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) 1635546170.0

Bizarre 'white supremacist' campaign stunt against Glenn Youngkin backfires after online sleuths outed the suspected liberal activists



What appears to be a bizarre campaign stunt against the Republican candidate in the pivotal Virginia governor's race is backfiring after online sleuths exposed the Democratic activists allegedly behind the scheme.

Mainstream media outlets and online liberal influencers pounced on the bait after a photograph surfaced of supposed supporters of Glenn Youngkin with what has been identified as white supremacist paraphernalia.

These men approached @GlennYoungkin’s bus as it pulled up saying what sounded like, “We’re all in for Glenn.” Here… https://t.co/MwHz1ix5ud

— Elizabeth Holmes (@holmes_reports) 1635518197.0

The four men and one women held Tiki torches, which were used by white supremacists at a 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The WVIR report of the incident dutifully reported the incident.

"Tiki torches were used by many white supremist [sic] who marched," the report read.

Jen Goodman, the communications director for the campaign of former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, immediately reposted it and said "This is disgusting and disqualifying."

This is disgusting and disqualifying. https://t.co/EJ9Fk7OeTE

— Jen Goodman (@jengoodman75) 1635519497.0

Online sleuths immediately took up the challenge and begin trying to identify the culprits.

Among the two who suspiciously look like Democrat activists are Colleen Wachenfeld, whose profile said she works for the Virginia Democrats, and Camden Layton, whose profile said he worked as the finance director for the Virginia Democrats.

Camden Layton says he works for @vademocrats as a finance director. Why are you hiring Nazis? pic.twitter.com/JIjGE6kBpi
— Alec Mazo (@Alec_Mazo) October 29, 2021


Also Colleen Wachenfeld says she works for @vademocrats. How is this possible? pic.twitter.com/lRyQtaxrKv
— Alec Mazo (@Alec_Mazo) October 29, 2021

Many also noted that the two identified began scrubbing their social media accounts and going offline or changing their screennames so that they couldn't be searched.

A statement from the spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Virginia denied any involvement in the incident.

"The Democratic Party of Virginia, along with its coordinated partners and its affiliates, did not have any role today in the events that happened outside of the Youngkin campaign bus stop today," the statement read in part. "For anyone to accuse our staff to have a role in this event is shameful and wrong."

Youngkin also responded to the incident.

"I think they work for Terry McAuliffe, and I'm sure he sent them," he said. "They'll do anything to win, and he's doing anything to win, and so he's paying people to show up and act silly at our rallies."

The stunt might be an attempt to smear Youngkin just as recent polling shows the Republican is gaining on McAuliffe. One poll published Thursday showed the Republican beating the former governor by a surprising margin of 8 percentage points.

Here's more on Virginia's gubernatorial race:

Youngkin: The sun is setting on Terry McAuliffe's political careerwww.youtube.com

Barack Obama slapped with reality check after he denounces 'trumped up culture wars,' 'fake outrage'



Former President Barack Obama was slapped with a reality check Saturday after urging Virginia voters to ignore what he called "fake outrage" and "trumped up culture wars" that he claimed are being peddled by "right-wing media."

What did Obama say?

While campaigning for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in Virginia, Obama denounced focusing on cultural issues, instead saying that Americans should be concerned with recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We don't have time to be wasting on these phony trumped up culture wars, this fake outrage that right-wing media peddles to juice their ratings," Obama said.

Former President @BarackObama: "We don't have time to be wasted on these phony trumped-up culture wars, this fake o… https://t.co/k102Jlbu2r

— The Hill (@thehill) 1635024216.0

Obama appeared to be speaking about McAuliffe's opponent, Republican Glenn Youngkin, whose campaign platform includes supporting parents to have a voice over decisions made by school boards.

"Instead of stoking anger aimed at school boards and administrators, who are just trying to keep our kids safe, who are just doing their jobs, stoking anger to the point where some of them are actually getting death threats," Obama said. "We should be making it easier for teachers and schools to give our kids the world-class education they deserve, and do to so safely while they are in the classroom."

What was the response?

Obama's comments generated sharp rebuke.

Critics pointed out that children's education is not part of the "trumped up culture war" as Obama claimed, especially considering that McAuliffe has said parents shouldn't have a say in school board decisions.

As many others pointed out, Loudoun County Schools also stands accused of "covering up" two sexual assaults as they pushed controversial LGBT policies.

  • "Sorry, but McAuliffe saying that parents shouldn't be in charge of their children's education and the Loudoun County school board lying to parents about sexual assaults in bathrooms isn't 'trumped up cultural wars,'" Ben Shapiro said.
  • "Let's be clear: THEY are waging the culture war. WE are fighting back.Covering up a sexual assault in school restrooms to push a transgender policy in gov't schools is the definition of waging a culture war," radio host Larry O'Connor said.
  • "Barack Obama is telling parents they have fake outrage over school boards covering up sexual assaults and teaching critical race theory," Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) reacted.
  • "The 'right-wing media' tricked Terry McAuliffe into telling parents they should influence school boards. @GlennYoungkin is surging because he's got answers for Virginia's public education's failures," radio host Hugh Hewitt pointed out.
  • "Two girls were sexually assaulted on school property, and school admin officials publicly lied about their knowledge of it to parents," reporter Susan Crabtree pointed out.
  • "My child's education is not a trumped-up culture war," Michael Needham, chief of staff to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), fired back.
  • "Here in WA: I was fired for refusing an experimental vaccine, I saw the COVID pts. Vax passes start Monday in Seattle. An elementary school has a gender unicorn on the wall. A high school handed out a sexual survey asking when kids first had anal. But sure, it's Trumped up anger," another person said.
  • "Gaslighting at its finest," one person observed.
  • "Zero self-awareness. Zero accountability," another person said.
  • "Schools cover up sexual assault. That's not trumped up. That's not culture war. That's a dereliction of public duty. The failure to address it is a failure of leadership. Saying otherwise is a deflection," another person said.

Obama is the latest high-profile figure to stump for McAuliffe. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have also been campaigning for McAuliffe, which signals the race to become Virginia's next governor is much tighter than Democrats anticipated.

McAuliffe and Youngkin are separated by fewer than three points in an average of recent polling, according to FiveThirtyEight.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate calls for all Virginia employers to mandate employee COVID-19 vaccination



Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe wants all Virginia employers to mandate that eligible employees get vaccinated against COVID-19.

"Today, I am calling on every Virginia employer to require all eligible employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. I have long said that the best way to defeat this deadly virus, keep our students in school and keep Virginia's economy strong is by getting every eligible Virginian vaccinated as quickly as possible. Today's announcement puts us one important step closer to reaching that goal," McAuliffe said in a statement. "Together, we can beat this virus once and for all, keep our fellow Virginians safe, and keep our Commonwealth's economy running strong."

BREAKING: Following the full FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine this morning, I'm calling on EVERY Virgini… https://t.co/fR5EdY3ZSf
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) 1629736126.0

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that is has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for individuals 16 and older, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine to secure the agency's full approval.

"The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals," according to the FDA.

McAuliffe, who previously served as governor of Virginia from early 2014 until 2018, is facing off against Republican Glenn Youngkin in the state's gubernatorial contest this November.

"I made the choice to get vaccinated and encourage everyone to join me in doing that, but ultimately it is a personal decision to do so," Youngkin tweeted.

I made the choice to get vaccinated and encourage everyone to join me in doing that, but ultimately it is a persona… https://t.co/ezxjyULcED
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) 1629752139.0

During remarks on Monday, President Joe Biden called for more private sector companies to impose vaccination requirements. The president urged any business, nonprofit, state and local leaders who have been waiting for full FDA approval before instituting a vaccination requirement to move ahead now and impose such a requirement.

"Require it. Do what I did last month. Require your employees to get vaccinated or face strict requirements," Biden said.

The president announced last month that federal government employees would be required to attest to their vaccination status and that those who have not been vaccinated would face once or twice weekly testing, be required to wear a mask, and required to socially distance.

So far 60.2% of the U.S. population ages 12 and older has been fully vaccinated while 71% of that demographic has received at least one dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.