We weren’t going to do a post on this since the clip is from MSNBC’s “Lean Forward” marketing push way back in 2013, but it’s being retweeted by some big names. Melissa Harris-Perry, probably best known for wearing tampon earrings on air, doesn’t even have a show on MSNBC anymore, but this clip seems especially pertinent today, considering that “parents’ rights” has been called by Juan Williams code for “white race politics.”
We also just did a post on “curriculum transparency,” which is reportedly being pushed by conservative activists (not “concerned parents”) and is threatening to increase censorship of teachers. All of this attention stems from the work of Christopher Rufo and the victorious campaign of Glenn Youngkin in Virginia, for whom Democrats sat silently as he reaffirmed parents’ rights to make decisions for their children.
Again, this is old, but the sentiment behind it is perhaps even more relevant today.
"We have to break through this idea that kids belong to their parents, or kids belong to their families".
— Aimee Terese (@aimeeterese) January 20, 2022
I didn't believe that was an actual quote until I heard it myself…
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) January 20, 2022
They’re getting more honest about their goals. https://t.co/F4R0CZAzRP
— Andrew Sullivan (@sullydish) January 20, 2022
This must be seen and heard to be believed. https://t.co/ow1c2qJyId
— Abigail Shrier (@AbigailShrier) January 20, 2022
“Kids belong to whole communities.” Right. Mao & Pol Pot also believed this. The idea has been used to justify every form of atrocity against children imaginable. Nope. Not happening here. This is my hill https://t.co/ECosc0luWe
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) January 20, 2022
MSNBC purposefully put this out there in 2013 along with its “Lean Forward” tagline, apparently thinking cable news viewers didn’t think MSNBC was biased enough.
I’ve been on her show. I like her. But this is the kind of statement that only an academic could make because of how backward it is.
— Dr. Camilo Ortiz 🤓👨🏼🎓 (@DrCamiloOrtiz) January 20, 2022
I’ve seen, I’ve heard and I can’t wrap my head around how this train of thought can be held by anyone.
— Jonathan Lane (@OmaFish13) January 20, 2022
My nephew was taken out of school because his teacher was teaching gender identity. I'm glad I don't have kids.
— Brandon Harris (@DarkSoutherner) January 20, 2022
When people and communities come together on raising children it’s because they have shared values. She missed that part. She’s about the community imposing values.
— Jeffrey Churchill (@chilljat) January 20, 2022
Destroying the nuclear family sure has worked wonders for certain groups
— Bryan (@brostoevksy) January 20, 2022
Don’t forget that the Black Lives Matter manifesto posted online included “disruption of the nuclear family” as one of the organization’s goals.
We’re not sure why this has resurfaced today, but it’s still pertinent. Harris-Perry may be gone from MSNBC, but that doesn’t mean her ideas don’t linger on there.
Related:
‘Black parents would DISAGREE with you, jacka*s’: Juan Williams REKT for claiming parents’ rights is just code for ‘white race politics’ https://t.co/GoMZLQ6Iax
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 1, 2021
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