Youngkin was recorded saying he can't campaign on his abortion beliefs because he would lose necessary voters, Wilder continues to knock McAuliffe, and Herring joins suit against Google
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In a secretly recorded video, Youngkin discusses avoiding the abortion topic on the campaign trail
In a secretly recorded video, Republican candidate for governor Glenn Youngkin discussed his opposition to abortion while also having to avoid the topic on the campaign trail in order to not drive away Independent voters. The video was recorded by Lauren Windsor, a progressive activist and creator of The Undercurrent, a grassroots political web show for investigative and field reporting.
The conversation was filmed at a Northern Virginia fundraiser in June and was first published by the progressive cable news network MSNBC and the digital publication American Independent. In the video, Windsor and her partner push Youngkin to agree to extreme anti-abortion statements and take it to the “abortionists,” but Youngkin only outright agreed to oppose taxpayer-funded abortions and to walk back new policies passed by the Democrats.
Although Youngkin noted it would drive important swing voters away from his campaign if he discussed doing anything to limit abortion access prior to election day. He implied that could change after election day, however.
“When I’m governor, and I have a majority in the House, we can start going on offense,” Youngkin said in response. “But as a campaign topic, sadly, that, in fact, won’t win my Independent votes that I have to get. So you’ll never hear me support Planned Parenthood — what you’ll hear me talk about is actually taking back the radical abortion policies that Virginians don’t want. And in fact, they’re the radicals.”
Jamie Lockhart, the Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia responded to the video. “For months, Glenn Youngkin has claimed he’s a moderate who won’t interfere with Virginians’ freedom,” she said. “But his comments make it abundantly clear that Youngkin is out-of-touch by any standard. He wants to ban abortion, and he’ll lie to Virginia voters so he can do so from the governor’s desk. ”
Matt Wolking, a spokesperson for Youngkin’s campaign said that he was staying consistent in his comments on the video. “Glenn Youngkin tells everyone he meets the same thing: he can’t wait to go on offense for the people of Virginia by building a rip-roaring economy, creating more jobs with bigger paychecks, restoring excellence in education, prioritizing public safety, and making Virginia the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family,” he said. “This deceptively recorded audio demonstrates that Glenn Youngkin says the same thing no matter who he is talking to, unlike Terry McAuliffe who knowingly makes false allegations and decides what to say based on whatever poll is in front of him.”
Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee accused Youngkin of wanting to defund Planned Parenthood — a concept that Youngkin neither denied nor agreed to do in the recording. “Glenn Youngkin wants to defund Planned Parenthood and ban abortion,” McAuliffe tweeted. “If that wasn’t bad enough, he’s now admitted he’s lying to voters about his radical views. Virginians deserve to know: what other right-wing positions is Glenn Youngkin hiding from us?”
Lockhart continued to say that Youngkin’s policy ideas are not what Virginians want and that his administration would take the Commonwealth backward. “Virginians want abortion to be legal and accessible — not subject to the obstacle course that Youngkin and his Republican colleagues want to rebuild,” Lockhart said. “There’s no doubt that Youngkin will halt Virginia’s progress and take it backwards. This year, Virginians must vote as if their right to make decisions about their own body depends on it– because it does.”
Wilder accuses McAuliffe of flip-flopping on Virginia Democrats’ blackface scandals - Washington Times
Former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder this week said voters “deserve answers” from gubernatorial nominee and fellow Democrat Terry McAuliffe about seemingly withdrawing his condemnation of party leaders for wearing blackface.
Mr. Wilder, the nation’s first Black governor, accused the candidate of reversing his criticism of current Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, both Democrats who in 2019 were revealed to have worn blackface years ago at high school and college parties, respectively.
Attorney General Mark Herring joined a coalition in a lawsuit against Google
Attorney General Mark Herring has joined a coalition of 37 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Google. In their suit, Attorney General Herring and his colleagues allege exclusionary conduct relating to the Google Play Store for Android mobile devices and Google Billing. This antitrust lawsuit is the newest legal action against the tech giant, claiming illegal, anticompetitive, and unfair business practices. Attorney General Herring and his colleagues accuse Google of using its dominance to unfairly restrict competition with the Google Play Store, harming consumers by limiting choice and driving up app prices.
“Google has really become a major player in the tech market, so much so that its products play a role in almost every aspect of Virginians’ daily lives, including their cell phones and the apps that they use on a regular basis,” said Attorney General Herring. “Because of this market dominance, Google has allegedly been able to tightly control app distribution – and the loss of competition here has cost Virginians hundreds if not thousands of dollars more than necessary when they buy phone apps and make in-app purchases on the apps they use. As attorney general, I take my obligation to protect Virginia consumers and maintain competitive markets seriously, and that means making sure that massively influential companies like Google act fairly and comply with the law.”
State removes statue of segregationist Byrd from Capitol Square - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Patrick Wilson
Grindly Johnson attended segregated schools. Virginia’s Massive Resistance to school integration forced her high school in Chesapeake to close.
On Wednesday, she was among state government leaders overseeing the removal of a statue honoring the man behind the scheme: Harry F. Byrd Sr.
Helicopters, cash payments and a new public health lab: How state agencies propose spending Virginia’s rescue fund money - Virginia Mercury
By Graham Moomaw Kate Masters Sarah Vogelsong Ned Oliver
Virginia has $4.3 billion in federal aid to spend and no shortage of ideas.
State agencies hoping to tap into American Rescue Plan funds have submitted wish lists that top more than $18 billion, floating proposals ranging from new helicopters for Virginia State Police to $1,000 cash payments for essential workers.
Gay physician challenges anti-LGBTQ incumbent in Va. House race - Washington Blade
by Lou Chibarro jr.
Doug Ward, a physician in private practice for 34 years with a specialty in HIV medicine, is running as a Democrat for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in a rural district held by Republican incumbent Michael Webert, who has repeatedly voted against LGBTQ supportive legislation.
Ward, 71, states on his campaign website that he and his husband, Rev. Earl Johnson, have been married for 22 years. He acknowledges he is facing a “very tough race” in the November general election in the GOP leaning 18th District that includes large sections of Rappahannock and Fauquier Counties.