In a recent broadcast of MSNBC's "Morning Joe," host Joe Scarborough made a striking statement regarding Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate for attorney general in Virginia.
Scarborough asserted that Jones "should probably be forced to withdraw from the race." This comment followed revelations that Jones had previously sent text messages advocating for the assassination of former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and making light of the potential murder of Gilbert's family.
According to The Post Millennial, the controversy stems from a series of text messages Jones sent in 2022 to GOP House Delegate Carrie Coyner. In these messages, Jones wrote, "Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, hitler and pol pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head. Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time."
When Coyner urged him to cease such communications, Jones reportedly called her and "suggested he wished Gilberts wife could watch her own child die in her arms so that Gilbert might reconsider his political views," leading Coyner to terminate the call in disgust.
Despite the uproar over these messages, the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee has stood firmly behind Jones. They declared their unwavering support, stating they are "lined up, ten toes down, ready to organize, mobilize and deliver voters for Jay and our entire Democratic ticket."
This steadfast backing comes even as major Democratic figures who have endorsed Jones remain silent on withdrawing their support. Notably, Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Virginia, has condemned Jones's conduct but stopped short of urging him to exit the race.
Scarborough's remarks have resonated with conservative circles, with many interpreting them as a signal for Democrats to reconsider their stance on Jones. Conservative commentator Erik Erikson remarked, "Joe Scarborough has been pushing Democrats on crime and this sort of stuff. He's a pretty big indicator that the Democrats have gone too far left and they might want to pay attention."
Similarly, Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA took to X to express his agreement, noting, "Even MSNBCs Joe Scarborough calls for Democrat Jay Jones to withdraw from the Virginia AG race: 'He should probably be forced to withdraw from the race, and probably is doing a lot there.' Good for him."
The situation raises questions about the Democratic Party's response to internal controversies and the potential impact on their electoral prospects. As the race for Virginia's attorney general continues, the party's handling of this issue may serve as a litmus test for its commitment to addressing misconduct within its ranks.
Login