CNN’s Jarrett Frets GOP Framing on Parental Rights, Disney Not Fast Enough

You can find more information here New Day Saturday, fill-in co-host Laura Jarrett suggested that Disney has not been aggressive enough in pushing against Republicans on parents’ rights in Florida schools, complaining that Disney’s response to the law restricting the teaching of LGBT issues to young school children was done “belatedly.” Not surprisingly, Jarrett gave a forum to a left-wing professor to fret about the effect the law might have on LGBT parents or five-year-olds who might identify as transgender.

She introduced the segment using liberal terminology to refer to the “don’t say gay” bill. Aubrey Jewett, University of Central Florida, asked: “Let’s begin with the idea that’s been floated state GOP legislators I mentioned — the one about revoking state privileges Disney enjoyed for decades. All because Disney is publicly, and I would argue belatedly — against this bill. Is it realistic to reverse the bill?

Jarrett asked Jarrett why Disney didn’t push back against Republicans earlier in her second follow-up.

Disney’s strength comes from Florida’s economic impact. It’s traditionally one of the most powerful companies in the state. The company is an important Republican donor, and often gets what it needs from the government. We know Disney is powerful. It didn’t make use of it this time. It didn’t use it this time. My question?

CNN’s host quickly invited her guest to speak up about the possibility that Republicans were too extreme to the right, and she would likely face backlash.

Many of these arguments, it appears, boil down to the art of framing. The framing of this fight is one that concerns parental rights. This is a common line that Republicans use, particularly when it comes down to school choice. Think about Virginia Governor Youngkin.[I]Are politicians putting too much emphasis on Disney? It is a Disney product that many families love and depend upon because their children love. Do they fear that this will be too extreme?

The Florida professor responded that he was worried about parents filing lawsuits against LGBT students and parents, even those not old enough to go kindergarten.

A parent might feel that the school or school system violated the law. This could have an impact on simply discussing basic equality rights.

It is important to note that Jarrett was the daughter of Valerie Jarrett, a long-standing Obama family advisor. Jarrett worked as a legal analyst at CNN before she became the co-host for Early Start. This program airs on weekdays. Day of the New.

L’Oreal was a sponsor of this New Day Saturday episode. Here is their contact information.

Here’s the transcript:

CNN’s New Day Saturday
April 2, 2022
Eastern Time: 8:39 AM

LAURA JARRETT: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is signaling support for stripping Disney of its 55-year-old special status that allows the company to operate as an independent government around its Orlando-area theme park. This is just the latest incident in the ongoing feud between DeSantis and Florida’s biggest employer. This all is due to the ban on schools teaching young children sexual orientation and gender identity. Disney claims that its aim is to repeal the “don’t tell gay” law DeSantis has signed earlier in this week. The governor said that the company had crossed the line.

(…)

Eastern Time: 8:40

JARRETT [TO UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA’S AUBREY JEWETT]: We’ll start with the idea of some GOP state legislators I mentioned. It’s about revoking state privileges Disney enjoyed for decades. This is because Disney is publicly opposed to this bill, and it’s a late proposal. Is it realistic to reverse this bill?

(….)

Eastern Time: 8:41 AM

JARRETT. So Disney is in Florida and Florida has this fascinating kind of symbiotic relation — you have noted it in previous interviews — the same one you had with the Washington PostRecently, Disney has realized that its power stems from its influence — Florida’s economic impact. It’s traditionally one of the most powerful companies in the state. The company is an important Republican donor, and often gets what it needs from the government. We know Disney is powerful. It didn’t make use of it this time. It didn’t use it this time. My question?

(….)

Eastern, 8:42 AM

JARRETT. The problem with this is they get it from both ends, not just one. They think they aren’t awake enough. The right believes they’re too awake. They’ve made everybody angry. Barry Miller, the media mogul and CEO of CNN, says that companies can’t take sides on social problems. However, it begs the question: Does that miss what internal pressure companies such as Disney face from employees to respond?

(….)

Eastern, 8:44

JARRETT The argument is now about parental rights. This is a common line that Republicans use, particularly when it comes down to school choice. Think about Virginia Governor Youngkin running the ad regarding banning the book. Beloved. I wonder, Is there any concern that politicians might push this to far with Disney, which so many parents love because it is something they rely on and love? Do they fear that this will be too extreme?

AUBREY JEWETT: Well, yeah, I mean, I do think it’s possible that they can be taken too far — that the extremes in the Republican Prty will push this, and I think when they say this is for, you know, parental rights, then the question becomes — as a lot of LGBT groups have said, you know — which parents?

JARRETT: Mmmm.

JEWETT This legislation allows for lawsuits to also be filed. A parent might feel that a school or school system violated the law. This could have an impact on discussions about basic equality rights. Because of this successful framing, it is unclear whether we are seeing it. It has been supported by a large majority of Americans, according to national opinion. I will say there was a Florida poll a couple months ago, maybe a month and a half ago that said the majority did not support it, so right here in the states.

JARRETT: It’s a fact.