VIRGINIA – At last night’s debate, Winsome Earle-Sears flailed, fibbed, and flopped as she proved to Virginians once again that she will always put her loyalty to Trump and her extreme and dangerous agenda ahead of the Commonwealth. In a key moment, Sears said that her opposition to marriage equality and support for Virginians being fired just for being gay are “not discrimination.”

SETTLING THIS WEEK’S SCORE 

Winsome’s Wins:

• No Medicaid Mention: While Sears has backed Trump’s unpopular sweeping cuts that will take healthcare away from 350,000 Virginians and has repeatedly lied about Virginians losing healthcare, the moderators did not get to any questions on Medicaid. 

Winsome’s Losses:

• Defining Discrimination: In a key moment, when Abigail Spanberger raised Sears’ “moral opposition” to same-sex marriage and support of letting Virginians get fired for being gay, Sears said “that’s not discrimination.” (FACT CHECK: it is.) 
•  I Am Speaking: During and following the debate, Sears came under fire for constantly interrupting and talking over Abigail Spanberger, and even outright ignoring the moderator’s multiple requests to stop talking so voters could listen. 
• Begging for Trump’s Endorsement: When asked if Sears would take an endorsement from Trump who has fired thousands of federal workers and cut healthcare for 350,000 Virginians, Sears said yes – although after her performance last night, an endorsement seems far off.  
• Shutdown Receipts: When asked if she would ask Trump to reopen the government in the wake of the on-going shutdown, Sears refused to give a straight answer, but good thing we have the receipts.   In an interview on NBC News Now last week, Sears repeatedly refused to call on Donald Trump to stop firing Virginians as he threatens even more mass firings if the Republican-led federal government shuts down. 
• “More Disturbing”: Ahead of last night’s gubernatorial debate, the Spanberger for Governor campaign released a new ad featuring unearthed audio highlighting Sears’ extreme record and rhetoric when it comes to reproductive rights in Virginia. While talking about supporters of reproductive rights, Sears said “murder is murder. And one day it’s going to be your turn.” 
• Lying About Abortion to Cover her Extreme Position: When asked about abortion and the constitutional amendment that Virginians will vote on next year enshrining reproductive rights in the Virginia constitution, Sears conveniently left out that she supports an abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest and is “morally opposed” to the constitutional amendment … She left a note on the document so Virginia voters would know exactly where she stands. 

As Sears lies about her record, doubles down on her allegiance to Donald Trump, and comes unglued in front of the cameras, the debate was more proof that Virginians can’t trust Sears and with her, it’s Virginians who stand to lose the most.
 

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