My little state has never complained. We’ve done all the heavy lifting — we’ve done the mining, we’ve made the steel, we’ve done everything it took for this country to be the superpower of the world. And all of a sudden they took a breath and looked back and we’re not good enough, we’re not clean enough, we’re not green enough, we’re not smart enough, so to hell with you. So, they said, “Well, to hell with you, too.”
Joe Manchin (on his party)
Before Tuesday, both parties were lost in the Trumposphere: Democrats purging “Trump acolytes” and Republicans fearing “cancellation” by Trump. Thus, Virginia’s election schooled both parties. The DNC saw the Trump Resistance lose its legs, and Glenn Youngkin showed the RNC there’s life after Trump. Both parties saw the politics of persuasion trump the politics of identity, and voters rejecting extreme ideas. Hopefully, Republicans learned five lessons
#1 – MAGA Is a Movement And Not a Cult
Re-read the West Virginia senator’s words (above) to grasp how MAGA voters are created. A Democrat is not Virginia’s governor because suburbanites didn’t see an “extreme” Trumpkin. A Republican is governor beccause Youngkin won 66% of rural voters, 68% of non-college white voters, and 58% of voters with a 2-year degree (source: AP News). He ignored the Trump cult, sold Trump’s polices, and out-performed Trump in every single county in Virginia (source: Axios).
Anyone afraid of MAGA voters should walk into any office in America. Most of those salaried employees (bookkeepers, coders, draftsmen, etc.) hold 2-year degrees, because that’s the educational attainment of 49% of the nation. They’re indiscernible from bachelors-degree holders (39% of USA). They’ll say they “went to college” too, and chose to live in the exurbs.
Their needs (good schools, lower taxes, and safe locales) are reasonable and their numbers too great to be a “cult” in anyone’s eyes. Put another way, Glenn Youngkin won 58% of Virginia’s cultural and economic mainstream. Bad news for the left.
#2 – There Are Conservative and Reasonable CEOs
Youngkin, the Carlyle Group co-CEO, is what most Republicans hoped they elected in Donald Trump in 2016: fewer regulations and lower taxes. Full stop. Youngkin looked and talked like the “good leader” Trump wasn’t. His campaign was strategic: grow Virginia’s economy, improve its schools, and reduce crime – and his “market” insight was brilliant. When McAuliffe ham-handedly sided with bureaucrats over parents, the Republican pounced, airing that blunder until Election Day.
In the final debate, on the issue of sexually explicit books in middle schools, Terry McAuliffe blurted, “I’m not going to let parents come into schools…take books out…make their own decision…telling schools what they should teach.” Bam! That sound bite was repeatedly aired in Virginia – smart marketing akin to Lee Atwater’s “Willy Horton” ads or James Carville’s “it’s the economy, stupid!”
Youngkin is the new blueprint for beating Clinton-Obama Democrats. He was more strategic, made fewer intemperate comments, capitalized on his opponent’s gaffes, and sealed the deal. Honestly, who needs Trump?
#3 – The Party of Lincoln Should Look Like America
It’s one dumb Democrat who runs an anti-racist campaign after Republicans tap a black woman (Sears) for lieutenant governor and Latino man (Miyares) for attorney general. As if voters didn’t know two white Democrats (Gov. Northam and AG Herring) had once pranked in black face, Democrats had staged the “racist” scene by Youngkin’s bus, or that 77% of Republicans agreed US History should include “the terrible things that have happened regarding race” (source: WSJ).
Despite his party passing state election laws (no voter ID required), McAuliffe brought in Stacey Abrams to out Virginia’s Jim Crow Republicans. After he decried “too many” Virginia teachers being white, Winsome Sears scolded so-called liberals “who want to divide us” with woke suggestions that “we are back in 1963.” Her victory speech was a reality check for race-card-playing Democrats:
In case you haven’t noticed, I am Black. And I have been Black all my life, but that’s not what this is about. I’m telling you that what you are looking at is the American Dream. We can live where we want. We can eat where we want. We own the water fountains. We have had a Black president elected, not once, but twice. And here, I am living proof.
#4 – Americans Want to Live in a Post-Racial Society
The far-left, married to identity politics, is in denial over two truths from Virginia’s gubernatorial ballot count: (1) McAuliffe lost despite getting the most votes EVER by a Democrat, including record black votes, and (2) Youngkin won by getting 59% of white, 55% of Latino, and 47% of “other race” voters (source: AP exit polls). Then, the identitarian left went to work.
Joy Reid said, “You have to [say] these Republicans are dangerous [and not] just another political party that disagrees with us on tax policy [because] they’re stoking white nationalism.” Jemelle Hill fumed, “It’s not the messaging, folks, this country simply loves white supremacy.” Michael Eric Dyson saw “a Black mouth moving but a White idea [on] the tongue of a figure who justifies and legitimates the White supremacist practices.”
Really? Because, if Virginia proved anything, it’s that Democrats must get their “critical race theory” story straight. In one speech, McAuliffe denied “It” was being taught in schools AND said Youngkin discussing the issue was “a racist dog whistle.” Ahem, a “racist dog whistle” is also using “racist” to describe one’s opponent.
#5 – Democrats Will Act to Keep Control
I’m sure centrist Abigail Spanberger (D-Va) saw local media coverage of the “critical race theory” debate. Democrats, teachers unions, and school boards said “It” was not taught in Virginia’s schools, while parents said “It” was being taught to teachers. She also has access to polls showing Virginia parents support the entirety of US History being taught, but oppose lesson plans that are deterministic about race; specifically, teaching skin color shapes one’s future. Oh, and parents vote.
Spanberger’s in the smart wing of her party (the one that knows a 3-seat majority is not a socialist mandate), and her district just became a toss-up. After watching Biden sink in the polls and the GOP sweep her state, she had harsh words for the President and progressives: “Nobody elected him to be FDR. They elected him to be normal and stop the chaos.” She is, of course, referring to the “chaos” invited by the Trump presidency. Take note, GOP!
Republicans can’t presume Democrat screw-ups. Nancy Pelosi, after progressive dares, called the far-left’s bluff on Friday – and rammed through the infrastructure bill. So, yeah, the RNC must recruit more dream teams, like the one that ran the table in Virginia. This is why I support Nikki Haley (not Donald Trump) in 2024: the party of Lincoln must appeal to all conservatives – and drive a stake through the heart of any man or party that divides us.