Glenn Youngkin made a terrible mistake, I regret it. Since his unexpected elevation to the governorship of Virginia a few years ago, the Republican golden boy has enjoyed high approval from all parts of the GOP. There will always be bumps, and Youngkin’s CNN-hosted town hall hosted by Jake Tapper was one of those.
Before we move on to Youngkin’s answers which many left much to be desired I believe it is important to address the elephant in the room before we can get to Youngkin.
What is the point of a budding Republican star giving free content to CNN? Tapper entrapped Marco Rubio, Dana Loesch and Youngkin over the Parkland shooting. It was one of the most bizarre scenes in modern politics. His decision to make the same mistake again is a puzzlement.
Tapper’s appearance was not surprising in any way. Tapper played the role of a “really professional journalist” who asks biased questions to his audience. Youngkin was not prepared for the task, which leads me to the most viral moment of the evening.
CNN found a 17 year-old girl to berate Youngkin, in case you’re not confused. She claims that using a bathroom with the same gender as her biological sex would make girls feel uncomfortable so she should be allowed to use the boy’s. Because a bowl-cut, hormone treatments and some other methods are all that’s needed to alter genders these days. The governor had an opportunity to speak hard, but necessary truths.
He could have said, “Look, I sympathize your plight but you are a woman and you don’t have the right to use a bathroom for the opposite sex.” He didn’t. Youngkin instead suggested that gender-neutral bathrooms are the best solution.
Is that a problem? It concedes that the whole argument over transgender ideologies is left. It’s an acceptance of the fact that accommodations should be made to accommodate gender dysmorphia in children. Youngkin gives up on that position in a flash. This is puzzling, especially considering that Youngkin has been described as a truth-teller about contentious cultural issues.
Unfortunately, Youngkin’s version was not available at the town hall. Instead, it would have been easy to mistakenly believe that Mitt Romney was there.
Tapper asked Youngkin about gun violence. Youngkin, for example, chose to boast about the strict gun laws in his state, while also praising the red flag provisions. Tapper also challenged the governor, citing The 1619 Project as an example of systemic racism. Youngkin replied that it should be taught in schools.
My assumption is that he was just fumbling through his answer and didn’t know what he meant, but that’s not the point. Youngkin was not ready for this. The easiest way to rectify that is to stop giving his enemies undeserved propaganda. CNN is not your friend. You are allowing them to mislead people and they will not operate in good faith.
Ron DeSantis should teach Republicans that the only way to win is by icing out hostile media. Jake Tapper is a low-rated townhall broadcast only to liberal households and airports. There’s nothing to gain from taking a beating. Youngkin should learn this lesson if he has any future ambitions beyond Virginia, where the moderate schtick that he displayed is actually of political worth. Youngkin is not ready for primetime right now.
