NBC’s Alcindor: GOP Leans in on Culture Wars, Dems Care About Economy

You may still be under the impression that Yamiche alcindor (NBC News Washington correspondent) was an objective journalist. The next segment will prove you wrong. In a conversation on MSNBC’s The 11th Hour Anchor Stephanie Ruhle posed a question to Alcindor about Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s decision to ban puberty-blockers for minors. Alcindor replied that Republicans were waging culture wars while Democrats are focusing on the economy. 

“Is the state of Alabama in such great shape? They’ve got huge issues with poverty, water problems, voting rights” Ruhle snarked. “How is it that an anti-LGBTQ legislative agenda is more important than issues that are impacting the daily lives of thousands of people in that state?” She then asked “How does this become their number one priority?” 

Alcindor replied by claiming “critics of what’s happening in Alabama say this is all about politics. It’s all about an election year”She accused Republicans then of playing politics with children being abused and protecting them from it “Republicans in some ways understand what really motivates their base.” 

Then she sought to draw a contrast between the priorities of Republicans versus Democrats. 

They don’t want to discuss crime; they want to speak about critical race theory. They are trying to make Americans feel like America is falling apart. Democrats in some ways are trying not to pay attention to the details. They’re trying to focus on inflation, they’re trying to tell people that their student loans are deferred, they’re trying to say look we are doing something for you.

Alcindor chalked it up to “a messaging war” between the two parties heading into the midterms, and whichever party wins that war will win in November. 

If that’s the case, and it’s a choice between Democrats who are “focused” on the economy that has led to 40-year high inflation, or Republicans who seek to protect children from sexual abuse and grooming, the contest won’t even be close. 

This segment biased MSNBC segment was made possible by Volvo, Angi, and AT&T. This link allows you to contact them about the propagandist they support. 

To read the relevant transcript of this segment, click “expand”:

MSNBC’s The 11th Hour
4/13/2022
Eastern, 11:41:21 

STEPHANIE ROHLE: Alright, Yamiche. We won’t go into detail about the law. Alabama Governor has signed an anti-LGBTQ bill. Here’s the thing I don’t understand about Alabama and other Republican states that have done this. Are the Alabama state in such good shape? They’ve got huge issues with poverty, water problems, voting rights. What is the point of a legislative agenda that is anti-LGBTQ? It is not more important than issues that impact daily life of thousands in this state. This is how they make it their top priority.

YAMICHE ALCIINDOR: Stephanie, that’s a fantastic question. Alabama critics claim this is about politics. It’s all about an election year. Republicans do understand the motivations of their base. It’s that they make this argument about culture wars. They would like to be more supportive of transgender rights. They don’t want to just talk about crime. They are trying to make Americans feel like America is falling apart. Democrats in part are trying focus on the nuts. They’re trying to focus on inflation, they’re trying to tell people that their student loans are deferred, they’re trying to say look we are doing something for you. This is not a war of words. That’s what a lot of election years are about. But James’s frustration, the idea that it’s like Democrats need to make sure that they have a message that’s clear. This frustration can be felt across the Democratic Party. 

Last week, the former President Obama told Peter Alexander, NBC News, that Democrats had a message and that they needed to communicate that message. They need to have the ability to share their stories in this election. They won’t win if they don’t achieve that. This is also the message that Democrats are trying to convey. Republicans also have their message. It is America is changing too fast. We are here to help your children. It might be a message that’s problematic, It might be a message that’s even filled with some falsehoods, but it’s a message that is riling up their base and getting them to the polls.

RUHLE : James, I’d guess that you would be able to predict jobs and health care. This would bring Republicans up to the polls. What makes an anti-LGBTQ agenda so attractive to them?

JAMES CARVILLE : First, they have no other agenda. Mitch McConnell said that he would see him after the election. They’re not running on anything, so let’s take six-tenths of one percent of the population. These children who are, I don’t know, five times more likely to commit suicide, have mental health problems. They are being picked on. They aren’t trying to help trans children. They should be able to get along with everyone else in this world. You can have them get along with the world, and not suffer from their terrible mental issues. The point is cruelty. This is just to make people feel bad, to listen to some vulnerable people, and then let’s go and place them in the center. Make them the issue in the election because we don’t have anything other to run on than Rick Scott and Ron Johnson’s plan to raise taxes on 40 percent of the people in America who can’t afford it.

ROBERT RUHLE: This makes Republicans more excited about voting? 

CARVILLE, I’m not Republican. CARVILLE: I don’t think I would be excited to vote. As a Democrat, the thing that gets me excited about voting is Judge Jackson. I am excited about voting because hourly workers are now offered more choices and they have better healthcare. But I can’t explain it to you. The fact that I am flawed and sometimes cruel doesn’t make me a good person. This is not cruel, it’s just compassion for people who don’t need cruelty. 

RUHLE: Well, it sounds like you’ve got a lot to be excited about come the midterms. James Carville. It’s great to be with you. Yamiche Alcindor also thanks you.