If Democrats Lose in Virginia, ‘Fear Works’ and ‘Whiteness Is a Hell of a Drug’
Gubernatorial election could be test of "critical race theory" as GOP boogeyman
Democrats are on a knife's edge in Virginia, with the election of governor in the Old Dominion just a day away.
And where Democrat Terry McAuliffe, just weeks ago had a comfortable lead, today faces troubling terrain in which rival Glenn Youngkin could become the first Republican to win a Virginia governorship in more than a decade.
Virginia has been trending Democratic for years, going for Joe Biden in last year's presidential election by 10 points.
But a Youngkin victory could have disturbing ramifications nationally, according to prominent Washington Post columnist and political commentator Jonathan Capehart.
Youngkin, in particular, has been campaigning on educational themes tinged with race, conflating critical race theory — which is taught only in law schools — with the teaching of race and racism in history and other classes.
“It would show that fear and anger win the day. The fact that we're having a conversation about critical race theory that is not taught in public schools in Virginia, it just goes to show how Republicans have decided that picking at white grievance and tap-dancing with white supremacy is their way back into power,” said Capehart. “And if Glenn Youngkin wins, yeah, the Democrats should be afraid, because fear works. And I like to say, whiteness is a hell of a drug. And going into the midterm elections, we will see just how successful it can be.”
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