Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe has made multiple claims recently about critical race theory

 

McAuliffe claim during a Tuesday interview on MSNBC’S Morning Joe, attacking Youngkin’s opposition to the controversial ideology that is fueling raucous debate across the commonwealth.

"He talks about critical race theory. He talks about having these parents meetings on critical race theory," McAuliffe said. "It really bothers me because it is a racist dog whistle."

Tuesday’s interview marks the latest in McAuliffe’s claims about critical race theory. The Democratic former governor made the same assertion in a Sunday interview, claiming that the ideology being taught at Virginia schools is "made up."

"This is a made-up. This is a Trump, Betsy DeVos, Glenn Youngkin plan to divide people," McAuliffe said. "It really bothers me. I try to unite people."

"I really hate to see what Glenn Youngkin is trying to do to Virginia what Donald Trump did to our country," McAuliffe added. " I really hate to see the division, the hatred. We're putting these children in this horrible position. Let's just be clear. We don't teach critical race theory."

McAuliffe had his feet held to the fire on the subject by a local news outlet during a roundtable discussion, claiming the ideology is not taught in Virginia schools and refusing to define the term.

"It doesn't matter," McAuliffe said. "It's not taught here in Virginia so I'm not going to spend my time – I'm not even spending my time because the school board and everyone else has come out and said it's not taught. It's racist. It's a dog whistle."

McAuliffe also came under fire in June on the subject when he called concerns regarding critical race theory a "right-wing conspiracy."

"That's another right-wing conspiracy," he said. "This is totally made up by Donald Trump and Glenn Youngkin. This is who they are. It's a conspiracy theory."

Additionally, McAuliffe was hit with backlash when he said on stage during the second gubernatorial debate that he does not believe that parents of students should not have a say in what schools teach their kids.

"I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach," McAuliffe said just miles from Loudoun County, where the debate on the subject of critical race theory is in full swing.

Earlier this year, two parents were arrested during a protest after the Loudoun County School Board cut off public comments during a fiery meeting on the subject.