So much for the tolerant left.
Jay Jones is the Democratic Party’s candidate in the race to be the next attorney general of Virginia. He’s a former Virginia state assemblyman, and during his time in the state legislature, he expressed some horrifying and violent thoughts about a colleague — and also about children.
This news broke over the weekend, as screenshots of text messages he sent back in 2022 were leaked to the media. Jones said particularly nasty things about Todd Gilbert, who was at that time the Republican Speaker of the house of delegates. Jones said if Gilbert was in a room with Hitler and Pol Pot, Gilbert would “get two bullets to the head.”
He also expressed support for the idea of Gilbert’s kids dying, because “only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.” He also called the kids, two little boys, “young fascists.”
And by the way, he wrote these text messages to a Republican colleague, whom he had texted accidentally. But even though that colleague told him directly that he was making her uncomfortable, he continued to vocalize his bizarre revenge fantasy.
This behavior is creepy, and weird, and obviously a disqualifier from higher office.
But Jones is remaining in the race.
He issued a statement in which he acknowledged he had “sent messages that I regret and I believe that violent rhetoric has no place in our politics.” He then went on to attack his opponent, incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, for “dropping smears through Trump-controlled media organizations to assault my character.”
I don’t know about that. Don’t the voters of Virginia deserve to know this information?
If anything, non-conservative media is covering the scandal reluctantly, as the mainstream knows that it’s bad for Jones and makes it a bit more likely that the Republican Miyares could win reelection. The GOP’s slate of candidates for Virginia are currently behind in the polls, and gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor, is facing the prosect of losing her race. Here she was addressing the Jay Jones controversy
Meanwhile, CNN covered the story in the following manner: “Virginia’s Democratic nominee for attorney general facing pressure over resurfaced text messages.” What was in the text messages, guys? Put it in the headline! He fantasized about children dying!
Abigail Spanberger, who is running against Earle-Sears in the governor race, has refused to call on Jones to pull out of the race. She said in a statement only that she was disgusted with his comments and expected him to take full responsibility.
I think we should demand a bit more from those who advocate violence in response to political disagreement, and think the upside of dead kids is that someone you don’t like will feel emotional pain. Ghoulish stuff.
Robby Soave is co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising” and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column is an edited transcription of his daily commentary.