Hard Wire

Obama Attends Rally In Virginia

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With just days to go before Virginia’s general election, former President Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail in an attempt to shore up support for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger. But while the former president's polished rhetoric focused on unity, civility, and bipartisanship, the setting — and the company he kept — told a different story.

Sharing the stage with Obama was Jay Jones, the embattled nominee for attorney general, whose candidacy has been marred by the resurfacing of deeply disturbing text messages. In those messages, Jones allegedly fantasized about the violent death of Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert and even suggested that Gilbert and his wife should have to witness their own child die. It’s the kind of rhetoric that in any other political context would lead to instant disavowal. But not on this stage — not three days before an election.


Obama chose not to mention Jones at all — a silence that said more than words ever could. Instead, he lavished praise on Spanberger, painting her as a model of political grace and bridge-building. “Abigail doesn’t just believe in working with everybody,” Obama said, “she believes in listening to everybody.” He championed her as a fix for “broken” politics — a servant leader interested in dialogue, not demonization.

But it’s a curious narrative given the facts. Spanberger had previously condemned Jones' texts but stopped well short of saying he was unfit for office. And she, too, has contributed to the very dysfunction Obama claimed she would fix. In a recent interview, she bluntly declared that she would not work with Donald Trump — even if it meant helping create jobs for Virginians. That’s not cooperation. That’s partisanship dressed as principle.


The optics of the event were undeniably jarring: a former president, who once called for a higher standard of discourse, sharing a stage — if not a direct endorsement — with a man accused of making violent political threats. A nominee for governor who claims she wants to “work with anyone” but draws a red line when it comes to a former president supported by millions of Virginians.

It’s a pattern that’s becoming familiar. Calls for unity, so long as they don’t require crossing party lines. Appeals to civility, while overlooking those who undermine it. Warnings against political toxicity — made in the company of someone who trafficked in its worst form.

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