'The Winner Tonight Seems To Be: Racism'
But factors are such Democrats may want to cool it with the post-Virginia circular firing squad
When it comes to facing disappointing election losses, Democrats are legendary for two things: trying to learn the wrong lessons from the defeats, and their epic circular firing squads — which murder promising political careers nearly overnight.
And coming off their devastating losses in Virginia, in which they they not only lost the governorship but the lieutenant governorship, attorney general's office and — narrowly — one side of the Virginia legislature, Democrats certainly should be poised for the wrong lessons and a powerful firing squad.
But they ought to consider a few relevant facts before they let loose, however.
Number one, as painful as it might be, Republicans actually seem to have had history on their side.
The party that has the White House has lost all but one Virginia governor's race in the last 40-plus years and has lost every time it has also had control of Congress (five for five going into Tuesday).
Or as Business Insider senior politics reporter John Haltiwanger tweeted, “In every gubernatorial election since 1977 (except for 2013), Virginia has elected a governor from the party opposite the president's. In short: Virginia gonna Virginia.”
Which is not to say that there isn't an important political lesson here for Democrats to pick up.
And, no, it's not the tired, “Progressive vs moderate” debate which perennially sparks anew after such electoral debacles — just as some prominent progressives pointed out.
“Very interested to hear what President Manchin will say tomorrow about this repudiation of his leadership,” Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, tweeted Tuesday, mockingly referring to conservative and outspoken Democratic Sen Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has commanded the Washington DC agenda in recent months.
Or as progressive YouTuber and talk show host John Iadarola put it, “‘Moderates’ block a ‘moderate’ President's agenda and then other ‘moderate’ candidates lose so, obviously, progressives are to blame.”
No, the real issue with which Democrats will have to wrestle if they want to successfully counter Republicans is one of race and racism.
“Youngkin’s closing argument ad featured a vow to banish a Toni Morrison novel from Virginia schools. A pro-Youngkin rally featured genuflection to the flag that flew at the insurrection. The text and subtext of his campaign was literally about race, and he clearly did quite well,” tweeted MSNBC host Joy Reid.
Walter Shaub, a former federal ethics official, called out the hypocrisy of The Washington Post’s editorial board, for just having — rightly — pointing a finger at Youngkin for shamelessly lying about the teaching of critical race theory in Virginia but then praising his ability to get things done: “Having threaded a fine needle so proficiently, Mr. Youngkin has given Virginians cause to hope he will be as nimble in office as he was on the stump.”
As Hollywood screenwriter Randi Mayem Singer observed Tuesday, “The winner tonight seems to be: racism.”
Do you find this post of value?
Please share it…