CNN Newsroom attempted to come to the rescue of Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday as it was alleged that his now infamous views on education have been "spun out of control."
After being asked by host Victor Blackwell how Republican Glenn Youngkin has made education a central part of his message, national politics report Eva McKend stated he "has landed on this closing argument that it is a fundamental right in Virginia of parents to be engaged in their children's education and that his opponent, Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe, doesn't believe that. Now, that is not the case. A comment McAuliffe made at a debate in September has sort of been spun out of control."
The truth, according to McKend, was that "he said he was not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decision and that he didn't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach."
It is unclear why McKend thinks this explanation is any better. The controversy arose over sexually explicit reading material not any specific political controversy. CNN Newsroom would later focus on Beloved by Toni Morrison, the subject of a recent Youngkin ad, and defend the book as useful to learn about the history and the horrors of slavery. However, one assumes that can be done without graphic depictions of rape and bestiality or at the very least, with a parental notification.
McKend also wondered just how many people actually care about this issue, "Now, Youngkin does seem very comfortable with this narrative. When you go to his rallies, I have been to many, it's filled with parents and grandparents animated by this 'parents matter' message. It's unclear, though, if this is getting him new voters or people in the conservative base who would have likely voted for Youngkin anyway."
Apparently it is getting some new voters as Youngkin is now tied with McAullife despite Virginia's blue-ward shift in recent years. As for McKend, while she may be relatively new at CNN, she fits right in with her new colleagues as her official bio touts her trolling of Sen. Mitch McConnell.
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Here is a transcript of the October 26 show:
CNN Newsroom with Alisyn Camerota and Victor Blackwell
2:58 PM ET
VICTOR BLACKWELL: So, Youngkin is making schooling a major issue in this race. What's he saying?
EVA MCKEND: That’s right Victor. You know, Glenn Youngkin has landed on this closing argument that it is a fundamental right in Virginia of parents to be engaged in their children's education and that his opponent, Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe doesn't believe that. Now, that is not the case. A comment McAuliffe made at a debate in September has sort of been spun out of control. Here’s what McAuliffe actually said, he said he was not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decision and that he didn't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach. Now, he has said he is running a Virginia focus campaign, Youngkin, that is, but has latched on to the national implications of this issue. Listen to Youngkin beating this drum today out on the campaign trail.
GLENN YOUNGKIN: As we hear from parents who e-mail me and text me and call me and say “stand up for our kids too,” it just goes to show that Virginians have a chance to do something for Virginia that's going to have an effect on the whole country.
MCKEND: Now, Youngkin does seem very comfortable with this narrative. When you go to his rallies, I have been to many, it's filled with parents and grandparents animated by this “parents matter” message. It's unclear, though, if this is getting him new voters or people in the conservative base who would have likely voted for Youngkin anyway.
