Since late last week, several CNN shows have taken the time to hype the campaign of a former Republican-turned-Democrat who is running for governor in Oklahoma against incumbent Republican Kevin Stitt, each one interviewing her.
However, these shows didn’t inform the viewers about the reverse party switch as Jim Justice (who was previously governor of West Virginia) switched from Democrat and Republican just four years ago.
And, in 2019, there was a similar double standard after Michigan Congressman Justin Amash left the GOP and, months later, when New Jersey’s Jeff Van Drew left the Democratic party.
New Day host Brianna Keilar told the story Monday morning.
She was a lifelong Republican until now. Joy Hofmeister (Oklahoma’s top educator) is changing parties to challenge Republican Governor Kevin Stitt at next year’s gubernatorial race. Her decision was largely influenced by Governor Stitt’s handling of the pandemic. Stitt, like many GOP governors across the country has targeted local school board members for mask mandates. Hofmeister has accused him of failing to listen to public health experts…
Joy Hofmeister was then given an open forum by CNN to voice her disapproval of Governor Stitt. Keilar brought up the issue of mask mandates as she followed up:
KEILAR: What about — I know masks were a big issue for you. As the top education official, you know, you’ve been advocating that there shouldn’t be rules against mask mandates. Is COVID a significant factor in his response?
HOFFMAN: No, I wouldn’t sign a law to hinder the ability of the local school boards to prevent COVID outbreaks from their communities as we begin a new school year. This is our third school year in which children face disruption because of the pandemic. And it could have been avoided — 10,000 Oklahoma lives have been lost due to the pandemic and the management by the governor and his toothless health policy.
Hofmeister was not pushed for this angle, but he mainly complained Governor Stitt’s lack of wearing a face mask publically when she appeared last Thursday on Erin Burnett OutFront.
ERIN BURNETT: And you say one of the main reasons you’re running is because of how Governor Stitt has tackled the COVID pandemic. Therefore, he is against mask mandates. He opposes mandates for the COVID vaccine. He calls them complete disregard for individual freedom and states’ rights. You also oppose those mandates, but — but you say that you may not have needed a mask mandate, but that Governor Stitt could have worn a mask?
HOFMEISTER: We needed a leader. We needed a leader who could have prepared Oklahomans for the pandemic. We have experienced unnecessary disruption and loss of life. It is also one where I believe Governor Stitt does not represent the values of Oklahomans, which is hard work, common sense, and courage.
Pamela Brown, Weekend anchor, also spoke with Hofmeister Sunday night. She did not challenge Hofmeister.
By contrast, in August of 2017, after West Virginia’s Governor Justice announced that he was becoming a Republican, New Day was too busy covering the anti-Donald Trump Russia investigation to inform its audience. CNN viewers had to either watch Jake Tapper’s afternoon show or catch Early Start at 4:39 a.m. Eastern to learn about the development.
New Day did the same thing. They informed viewers of “breaking news” that Congressman Amash had left the Republican party, but they ignored Van Drew’s announcement when Amash joined Republicans in December 2018.
This episode of CNN’s New Day was sponsored in part by Zales. Here is their contact information.
You can find transcripts here:
CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront
October 8, 2021
Eastern: 7:37 pm
ERIN BURNETT: New tonight, a lifelong Republican official in Oklahoma saying goodbye to the GOP. Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma’s top public education official, announcing she is joining the Democratic party, and she will then run against the Republican governor, Kevin Stitt. She claims Stitt is, quote, “running Oklahoma into the ground.” Here is part of her first campaign ad.
Clips of Hofmeister campaign advertisement
And state superintendent of public instruction Hofmeister is out front. So, superintendent, lifelong Republican and I know a proud one throughout your life. And now, making a decision not just to leave your party but join the Democratic one. What is the reason?
JOY HOFMEISTER, OKLAHOMA CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: Well, first of all, thank you, Erin, for having me. And, you know, this has not been a swift decision, but one where I’ve had a lot of personal reflection, watching the leadership here in our governor’s office, where, really, Governor Stitt has hijacked the Republican party here in Oklahoma. And the extremism and divisive partisanship has really left a lot of Oklahomans behind, and I think there’s too much to fight for to simply let that go.
(…)
BURNETT: So, you know, because when you talk about extremism, obviously, and the polarization, certainly, in the past — now, almost two years, right? — that has been centered, much of it, in COVID. And you say one of the main reasons you’re running is because of how Governor Stitt has tackled the COVID pandemic. Therefore, he is against mask mandates. He opposes mandates for the COVID vaccine. He calls them complete disregard for individual freedom and states’ rights. You also oppose those mandates, but — but you say that you may not have needed a mask mandate, but that Governor Stitt could have worn a mask?
HOFMEISTER: We needed a leader. We needed a leader who could have prepared Oklahomans for the pandemic. We have experienced unnecessary disruption and loss of life. It is also one where I believe Governor Stitt does not represent the values of Oklahomans, which is hard work, common sense, and courage.
(…)
CNN Newsroom
October 10, 2021
Eastern Time: 8:17
PAMELA BROWN: A lifelong Republican in Oklahoma is saying good-bye to the GOP. Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma’s top education official announced that she’s joining the Democratic party and challenging incumbent Republican Governor Kevin Stitt next year. She claims Stitt is, quote, “running Oklahoma into the ground.” Here’s part of her first campaign ad.
(Clip by Hofmeister ad
Joy Hofmeister joins me now. It’s nice to meet you. You say that your decision to change parties was based on “a lot” of reflection. Why did you decide to do it?
(…)
But I guess, you know, you’re switching now to run as a Democratic governor. We are so many months into this pandemic. Why not now?
JOY HOFMEISTER, OKLAHOMA CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: Well, this has come at the result of seeing a pattern by Kevin Stitt where there is a disregard for experts that have public health wisdom and those experts even in class rooms, those in locally elected positions. All of us should have been working together, and, instead, Governor Stitt has divided communities to the point of neighbor against neighbor, and family against family. Oklahomans can’t take it anymore.
(…)
CNN’s New Day
October 11, 2021
Eastern at 6:48
BRIANNA KEILAR: She was a lifelong Republican until now. Joy Hofmeister (Oklahoma’s top educator) is changing parties to challenge Republican Governor Kevin Stitt. The Governor’s response to the pandemic was an important reason behind her decision.
Stitt, like many other GOP governors across the country has targeted local school boards to enforce their mask mandates. Hofmeister has accused him of failing to listen to public health experts, and Hofmeister is joining us right now. She is Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction… I do want to ask you: Why did you switch parties? Is there a final straw?
JOY HOFMEISTER, OKLAHOMA CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: Well, ultimately, Governor Stitt has hijacked the Republican party, and there’s just been incredible amounts of extremism, divisive partisanship, and, ultimately, ineffective leadership.
KEILAR: What about — I know masks were a big issue for you. As the top education official, you know, you’ve been advocating that there shouldn’t be rules against mask mandates. Is COVID a significant factor in his response?
HOFFMAN: No, I wouldn’t sign a law to hinder the ability of the local school boards to prevent COVID outbreaks from their communities as we begin a new school year. This is our third school year in which children face disruption because of the pandemic. And it could have been avoided — 10,000 Oklahoma lives have been lost due to the pandemic and the management by the governor and his toothless health policy.
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