Virginia GOP Tweet Targeting Virginia's First Black Speaker Leads to Apology; Annual Press Dinner; Cia Price on Contraception; Funeral Details for Judge Onzlee Ware
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Message on Social Media Attacking Speaker Scott from Virginia GOP Leads to Apology from GOP Chair
Is it any surprise that @DonScott757 spent 8 years in federal prison for peddling drugs to college kids, and now he’s obsessed with legislation to cut breaks for drug dealers? Anything for your buddies, right? — the X account of the Virginia Republican Party at noon on Feb. 15, 2024.
The Republicans official party account featured a defamatory message on the fifteenth day of Black history month directed at Virginia’s first Black Speaker of the House. The Virginia GOP’s account has won attention in the past for other caustic messages directed at Virginia’s Black public officials.
Even in a time of derisive political declarations on social media, the words above from the “@VA_GOP” account, the official X account of the Virginia Republican Party, won swift negative attention by many in Richmond.
Speaker Scott’s background includes an experience that makes his political ascendency stand out among almost all others in American politics: He served time in prison. But Speaker Scott’s story is feature film worthy as an example of perseverance as the confident Portsmouth lawmaker serves as Virginia’s first Black Speaker and is also one of the most successful trial attorneys in Virginia. Speaker Scott’s personal story brought many to tears as his mother Helen watched her son be sworn in from the floor of the Virginia House only 37 days ago.
As in so many official political communications in the era of continuous non-stop messaging, there is always something to react to on social media. Much of it inaccurate and deliberately defamatory since social media companies are protected by Section 230 of the Federal Communications Act protecting the platforms from legal liability. In the era of disinformation, lying has become standard political communications strategy.
“They go behind my back and don’t have the balls to come to my face to say stuff like that. And then, what’s really sad about it is, if I am what they say I am, how the hell do they keep losing to me?” Speaker Scott told reporters as news of the Virginia GOP’s message on X circulated.
The U.S. has led the world in they rate of incarceration for 22 years, since 2002, with over 1.2 million people behind bars. The U.S. prison industry is big business and it has been particularly punitive and focused on Black men. From the school to prison pipeline, to documented racial profiling of traffic stops by police, to officer involved shootings and lengthy mandatory minimum sentencing, the data indicates across the board that Black males are the disproportionate target of law enforcement in the U.S.
Life debilitating felony charges — all at an annual cost to taxpayers of over $80 billion annually, have damaged the life chances of millions of people of all backgrounds. Virginia spends over $800 million a year on state related incarceration.
RELATED: Virginia Traffic Stop Data Show Racial Disparities, (Richmond Times Dispatch, Aug. 2, 2023)
In a rare moment, several GOP Republican leaders pushed back on the communication made by the official Republican Party X account.
“Today, I learned of a very personal attack on @DonScott757 that does not reflect my values or that of our party. I had neither seen nor approved the tweet—but the buck stops with me. I directed its immediate removal and will be making personnel changes effective today. I have seen a story of redemption play out in my own family, so this is personal for me and compels me to express my sincere regret and apology. We will battle on the policy front, but in Virginia certain things are off limits,” wrote Republican Party Chairman Rich Anderson three hours after the initial attack from the Republican Party X (formally known as twitter) account.
The tweet attacking Speaker Scott by the Virginia Republican Party X account has since been deleted.
“This comment is unforgivable. Today, I’ve personally expressed to Speaker Scott my deep respect for him and his life journey, this kind of personal attack has no place in Virginia or anywhere,” wrote Gov. Glenn Youngkin from his political X account.
“This kind of garbage comment has no place in our discourse. Speaker Don Scott’s personal story of redemption is something to behold and admire. He and I have disagreed on policy and process and will continue to do so, but he has earned respect and he certainly has mine,” wrote Speaker Scott’s predecessor, former Republican House Speaker and current Republican Leader Todd Gilbert.
But some Democrats weren’t having it. The message below was written on Feb. 14, a day before the attack on Speaker Scott, questioning the intelligence of Black State Senator Mamie Locke of Hampton.
“For years, this account has exclusively targeted Black officials for some of the most vile, racist comments. @DonScott757 is the latest target. Me, @SenLouiseLucas and so many more. If @cToddGilbert and @GlennYoungkin are seriously remorseful, they will fire @RichAndersonRPV,” wrote Delegate Candi King who represents parts of Prince William.
Fifteen minutes before GOP Chair Anderson posted his apology to Speaker Scott, State Senator L. Louise Lucas wrote, “everyone knows the state party is always controlled by the Governor of their party. We will hold him accountable for every bit of trash like this we read.”
The attack on Speaker Scott and the apologies that followed come at a time when a record number of Black members are serving in the Virginia General Assembly. The number includes seven Black members in the Virginia Senate, the most ever in Virginia’s history, as well as a record number of Black members in the Virginia House.
The moment also arrives as it has been noted that a number of Republican members of Congress who support Trump have mainstreamed anti-Black hate speech during the course of legislative business.
RELATED: On Capitol Hill, Republicans Use Bigoted Attacks Against Political Foes (NYT, Feb. 13, 2024)
Blacks represent twenty percent of the population in Virginia and are the most decisive voting block for the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Photos: The Annual Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association Dinner
RICHMOND, VA — Last night in Richmond, journalists and elected leaders gathered for the annual Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association Dinner. Speaker Don Scott and Republican State Senator Travis Hackworth kept people laughing in the packed event space at the Capital Ale House in downtown Richmond.
Richmond Times Dispatch columnist Jeff Schapiro addressed attendees and Cardinal News reporter Markus Schmidt was elected the new Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association President after the successful reign of Associated Press’ Sarah Rankin.
Also in attendance were Congressman Bobby Scott, Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, State Senator Aaron Rouse, State Senator Angelia Williams Graves, former Delegate Jay Jones; Delegates Vivian Watts, Alfonso Lopez and Irene Shin, and Virginia Democratic Party Chair Susan Swecker.
It was a very fun evening.
Video: Del. Cia Price on Contraception Policy
Yesterday Delegate Cia Price spoke at a press conference on contraception. She was joined by State Senator Ghazala Hashmi.
February 25: Funeral Arrangements for the Honorable Judge Onzlee Ware
On February 10, 2024, the Honorable Judge Onzlee Ware passed away. He was born on January 4, 1954, to the late Onzlee McCrimmon and Edna Taylor.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at the Berglund Performing Arts Center located at 710 Williamson Rd NE, Roanoke, VA 24016. More details will be posted to www.hamlar-curtis.com soon. Condolences may be sent to info@hamlar-curtis.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Blue Ridge Mountain Council Boy Scouts of America, P. O. Box 7606, Roanoke, VA 24019 on behalf of the Honorable Judge Ware.
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