Over the weekend, ABC and NBC finally discovered the close gubernatorial race in Virginia between institutional Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican outsider Glenn Youngkin. And with the polls showing a dead heat between them, the networks adopted the talking points of the McAuliffe campaign as they railed against Youngkin as some kind of Donald Trump mini-me. At the same time, they ignored McAuliffe lashing out at Virginia parents for daring to try to have a say in their children’s education.
On Saturday, NBC Nightly News and White House correspondent Monica Alba gushed about former President Barack Obama stumping for McAuliffe and allowed him to preach to their viewers:
ALBA: Former President Obama back on the campaign trail today, rallying for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the most closely watched political contest of the year.
OBAMA: So, we’re in a turning point right now.
ALBA: Reminding Virginia voters just how tight the governor's race is.
OBAMA: Some of you are plain tired. [Transition] We can't afford to be tired.
ALBA: A Monmouth poll showing McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin neck-and-neck.
OBAMA: You’re going to decide this election and the direction of Virginia and the direction of this country for generations to come.
Fearing the “neck-and-neck” status of the race, Alba pitched McAuliffe to viewers as the “former governor of the commonwealth, running against a businessman backed by former President Trump.”
She followed up with a soundbite of the Democrat proclaiming: “Glen Youngkin is not a reasonable Republican.” But Alba didn’t share a similar swipe from the Republican. Instead, she read a quote where the campaign mocked how the Democrats felt scared and needed to bring in Obama.
Despite how education had become a major part of the Virginia election, NBC refused to mention it at all. That’s because McAuliffe lashed out at parents during a September debate and suggested “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” It was a point he repeatedly doubled down on afterward until it started to hurt him in the polls.
ABC’s Good Morning America and correspondent Elizabeth Schulze were brave enough on Sunday to mention education, but omitted McAuliffe’s attack on parental rights and kept the focus on Youngkin’s opposition to Critical Race Theory:
SCHULZE: Youngkin is gaining ground in polls among women and independents. The former private equity executive and first-time candidate putting education front and center, making the issue with Critical Race Theory a rallying cry.
YOUNGKIN: Critical Race Theory, in fact, forces the division of people based on race, and it's the exact opposite of what we should be doing.
SCHULZE: Republican voter Carla Lanzara says the message resonates with parents frustrated after more than a year of remote learning.
CARLA LANZARA (Virginia voter): For the first time in a very long time, parents saw what their children were learning and they were very concerned about it.
Schulze also gushed about Obama and parroted the anti-Youngkin talking points. “A fiery former President Obama stumping for Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe, a former governor who calls his Republican opponent Glenn Youngkin the Donald Trump of Virginia,” she said.
The omission of Terry McAuliffe’s attacks on parental rights and the smears against Glenn Youngkin were made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from CarMax on ABC and Fidelity and NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
October 24, 2021
8:13:26 a.m. EasternVICTOR OQUENDO: We turn now to politics. Democrats sending former President Barack Obama out on the campaign trail to beef up their chances in the tight race for Virginia's governor. Republicans seeing that contest as a referendum on President Biden and his agenda. ABC's Elizabeth Schulze is outside of the early voting location in Arlington, Virginia with more. Elizabeth, good morning.
ELIZABETH SCHULZE: Victor, good morning. We are less than two weeks out from Election Day here in Virginia, but this razor-thin race for governor is about more than just one state. It's seen as a bellwether of the national political landscape.
[Cuts to video]
This morning, in the final stretch of a tightening race to decide Virginia's next governor, Democrats bringing out one of their heaviest hitters.
BARACK OBAMA: You're going to decide this election in the direction of Virginia and the direction of this country for generations to come. Don't sit this one out.
SCHULZE: A fiery former President Obama stumping for Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe, a former governor who calls his Republican opponent Glenn Youngkin the Donald Trump of Virginia.
TERRY MCAULIFFE (Democratic candidate): We cannot afford to return to the division, the culture wars, and the conspiracy theories.
SCHULZE: With early voting under way, a new Monmouth University poll of Virginia registered voters shows McAuliffe and Youngkin in a dead heat. Fivethirtyeight's polling average finds the Democrat leading by just 2.5 points.
How important is the turnout in this race?
DONNA STOWE (Virginia voter): Well, this race it's incredibly important. It's always important.
SCHULZE: Youngkin is gaining ground in polls among women and independents. The former private equity executive and first-time candidate putting education front and center, making the issue with Critical Race Theory a rallying cry.
GLENN YOUNGKIN (Republican candidate): Critical Race Theory, in fact, forces the division of people based on race, and it's the exact opposite of what we should be doing.
SCHULZE: Republican voter Carla Lanzara says the message resonates with parents frustrated after more than a year of remote learning.
CARLA LANZARA (Virginia voter): For the first time in a very long time, parents saw what their children were learning and they were very concerned about it.
[Cuts back to live]
SCHULZE: Democrats fear a loss in this Virginia race could be an ominous reflection of their chances in the midterm elections one year from now. Whit?
WHIT JOHNSON: All right, Elizabeth Schulze, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
October 23, 2021
6:39:15 p.m. EasternJOSE DIAZ-BALART: It is the most closely watched election this year. Many view it as the first real sign of what may happen in the midterm elections. Today, President Obama brought his star power to the effort. Monica Alba now on the governor's race in Virginia.
[Cuts to video]
BARACK OBAMA: Hello Richmond!
MONICA ALBA: Former President Obama back on the campaign trail today, rallying for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the most closely watched political contest of the year.
OBAMA: So, we’re in a turning point right now.
ALBA: Reminding Virginia voters just how tight the governor's race is.
OBAMA: Some of you are plain tired. [Transition] We can't afford to be tired.
ALBA: A Monmouth poll showing McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin neck-and-neck.
OBAMA: You’re going to decide this election and the direction of Virginia and the direction of this country for generations to come.
ALBA: The 44th President, the latest top Democrat to stump for McAuliffe. In a big test ahead of the 2022 midterms. A crucial bellwether for the party in power, which traditionally loses seats. As President Biden's job approval continues to slip in Virginia and nationwide.
McAuliffe, a former governor of the commonwealth, running against a businessman backed by former President Trump.
TERRY MCAULIFFE (Democratic candidate): Glen Youngkin is not a reasonable Republican.
ALBA: Trump hasn't campaigned for Youngkin in person. The GOP candidate walking a fine line to motivate the Trump base without alienating his most loyal supporters. His campaign slamming Obama's appearance today as, quote, “calling in these big-name politicians to try to drum up support and enthusiasm in places where Terry McAuliffe has none.”
[Cuts back to live]
DIAZ-BALART: And Monica joins us now. Is the President expected to hit the campaign trail in this race again?
ALBA: The President will rally for McAuliffe on Tuesday a full week before polls close since Mr. Biden will be overseas at key summits in the final days of this off-year election. Jose?
DIAZ-BALART: Monica Alba at the White House, thank you.
