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

McAuliffe spokesperson Renzo Olivari apologizes for past offensive tweets: 'I am ashamed and I profoundly regret what I tweeted'



Renzo Olivari, a spokesperson for Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, has apologized for past Twitter posts.

"Terry McAuliffe's comms guy kinda sounds like a racist," Arthur Schwartz tweeted, along with images of two 2012 tweets from Olivari.

One tweet said "#TweetLikeAGuy going out with da nigguhs" and another said "#ThingsBlackFolksNeverThrowAway broken lamps."

Terry McAuliffe’s comms guy kinda sounds like a racist. https://t.co/7IE32ECWGE

— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) 1635545330.0

Fox News reported that the tweets have been deleted, but the outlet said it obtained screenshots prior to when the tweets were taken down.

"As a person of color, I have tried to live my whole life fighting for communities like mine," Olivari said in a statement to the outlet. "When I was in high school student, I tweeted things that were clearly unacceptable."

He also noted, "I am ashamed and I profoundly regret what I tweeted. I take full responsibility and I want to profoundly apologize and use this as a moment to grow and learn from my mistakes. I will continue working to fight for communities like mine in every way that I can."

Olivari's Twitter bio says he does "Comms for @TerryMcAuliffe." He also describes himself as an "Alum of @JoeBiden , @Mike2020 , @KamalaHarris , @NVDems , @VADemocrats , & @JMU."

McAuliffe, who previously served as governor of Virginia from early 2014 until early 2018, is aiming to defeat Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin during the state's gubernatorial election on Tuesday next week.

Virginia churches air Kamala Harris endorsement of Terry McAuliffe in apparent violation of federal law



Vice President Kamala Harris is being accused of helping Virginia churches break federal law prohibiting tax-exempt churches from engaging in overt political activity.

What is Harris doing?

More than 300 "black churches" across Virginia will reportedly view a pre-recorded message from Harris over the next several weeks urging them to vote for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the upcoming Virginia gubernatorial election.

According to CNN reporter Eva McKend, the message began airing Sunday and will be continue to be broadcasted through Nov. 2. The message "will air during morning services as part of outreach effort aimed to boost @TerryMcAuliffe," McKend reported

NEW -- More than 300 Black churches across VA will hear from @KamalaHarris btwn Sun. and November 2 in video messag… https://t.co/Js6QXX3STk

— Eva McKend (@evamckend) 1634425134.0

In her message, Harris does not hide her endorsement of McAuliffe. Not only does she urge parishioners to "vote after today's service," but Harris tells church-goers that, "I know that you will send Terry McAuliffe back to Richmond."

What is the problem with Harris' message?

The explicitly political message, which certainly endorses a political candidate, seemingly violates the Johnson Amendment.

The Internal Revenue Service explains:

In 1954, Congress approved an amendment by Sen. Lyndon Johnson to prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations, which includes charities and churches, from engaging in any political campaign activity. To the extent Congress has revisited the ban over the years, it has in fact strengthened the ban. The most recent change came in 1987 when Congress amended the language to clarify that the prohibition also applies to statements opposing candidates.

Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one "which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."

The IRS further explains that tax-exempt organizations that violate the law are subject to losing their tax-exempt status.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.

Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.

Tax-exempt organizations, however, are permitted to engage in "certain voter education activities" and "other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process" so long as they are "conducted in a non-partisan manner." Harris' message clearly goes beyond such permitted activity.

Anything else?

White House press secretary Jen Psaki appeared to skirt the Hatch Act last week when she seemingly endorsed McAuliffe during a press briefing from the White House.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed an ethics complaint over Psaki's remarks.

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.