Doocy GRILLS Psaki on Lib Mobs Harassing SCOTUS Homes, She Shrugs

The Psaki Show got off to a late start Thursday, owed to Jen Psaki announcing she’s leaving the press secretary position (while still playing coy about going to MSNBC). Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy interviewed her about the topic of leftist activists pxxing conservative Supreme Court Justices, and plotting to attack their homes (opening them to violence), as well as the draft decision to repeal Roe v. Wade. But Psaki wasn’t concerned.

After some light sniping back and forth about her leaving, Doocy called out how President Biden smeared Republicans as “extreme” and wanted to know if “the progressive activists that are now planning protests outside some of justices’ houses are extreme?”Psaki, who was ignoring violence in their own homes, simply shrugged. “Peaceful protests are not extreme,” she said.

Doocy Immediacy pointed out “some of these justices have young kids” and “their neighbors are all not public figures.” And when asked if Biden would be “waving off” these leftists that were planning to descend on peaceful “residential neighborhoods in Virginia and Maryland,” Psaki couldn’t care less.

“Peter, look. I think our view is that peaceful protests, there is a long history in the United States and the country of that,” she condescendingly argued. “And we certainly encourage people to keep it peaceful and not resort to any level of violence.”

And even as Doocy was explaining that these liberal extremists had put out a map to where the justices could be targeted, Psaki wouldn’t budge in her indifference (click “expand”):

DOOCY: The activists made a map that showed the homes of Supreme Court justices. Does that sound like the type of thing the President would want to assist your side with?

PSAKI: Look, I think the President’s views is that there is a lot of passion, a lot of fear, a lot of sadness from many, many people across this country about what they saw in that leaked document. People’s privacy is important to us. People should be able to peacefully protest if they wish. It is certain that this would be the President’s opinion.

DOOCY: So, he doesn’t care if they are protesting outside the Supreme Court or outside someone’s private residence?

PSAKI – I do not have any official U.S. government positions on the issue of protestors. I want it – We want it, of course, to be peaceful. Although the President may want to protect people’s privacy, we can’t forget the important point.

Owen Jensen, EWTN White House correspondent, later stood up to press Psaki aggressively about how he was doing. “a Catholic church was just vandalized with pro-abortion slogans in Colorado.” She said she had “not seen that report” but “obviously, we don’t condone vandalism.” And as Jensen continued to press, Psaki just spewed polls at him about support for Roe.

These two weren’t the only journalists in the White House Briefing Room who pressed her about the threats of violence stemming out the leak. CBS senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe did as well.

O’Keefe was actually the first to bring it up by noting “there’s a stepped-up monitoring among law enforcement across the country for potential violence,” including stepped-up security for the justices. “Curious” about Biden’s reaction, he wondered: “What the message might be to those who are upset by this and are contemplating the unthinkable?”

Psaki stated that he supports peaceful protests. Adding: “We should not be resorting to violence in any way, shape, or form. That’s certainly what he would be conveying.”

This exchange is not included on the CBS Evening News later in the evening, despite O’Keefe delivering a segment.

In another rather surprising exchange, NBC chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander peppered Psaki with questions about why the administration refuses to condemn the SCOTUS leak when they’ve condemned other leaks (Click “expand”):

PSAKI: Have you ever reported on anything that’s been leaked to you?

ALEXANDER – I did. And you guys have criticized leaks before as it’s been provided. So, you’ve criticized in the past, why not criticize this leak?

PSAKI: Again, because I think is happening here and what we think is happening here is there is an effort to distract from the actual issue here, which is the fundamental rights—

ALEXANDER: But can’t both be true?

PSAKI: I don’t think they’re at the same level.

“So, they’re not at the same level, but would you agree it’s worthy of condemnation,” He probed once more before she dismissed concerns over the leak as distractions, and moved on with a new journalist.

Also, this exchange wasn’t featured. NBC Nightly News.

You can find the transcript below. To read it, please click on “expand”.

C-SPAN White House Press briefing
May 5, 2022
Eastern, 5:23:23

(…)

ED O’KEEFE: There have been concerns and there’s a stepped-up monitoring among law enforcement across the country for potential violence around this draft majority opinion and the ultimate decision by the Supreme Court. In the past few days, justices had to have their security increased. I’m curious to know what the President thinks of this. If he’s aware that has happened? This is what the message could be for those affected by the situation and who consider the impossible.

JEN PSAKI, PRSECRETARY OF THE PRESS: The President is the first to be commended for listening to all those who are outraged or scared. He also shares their concern about what he has seen in his draft opinion. It’s not the final opinion.

This has resulted in a greater effort from the administration as well Congress to make every possible step to safeguard women’s healthcare. To anyone feeling frustrated, his direct message would be that peaceful protests should not be held. Let your voice be heard. It is wrong to resort to violence of any kind. That’s certainly what he would be conveying.

(…)

Eastern at 5:33 p.m.

PETER DOOCY: Thank you, Jen. We are sorry to say goodbye.

PSAKI: Do you know?

[Laughter]

DOOCY: Yes. Your sport has been good all your life.

PSAKI: I’m grateful. You are welcome.

DOOCY – So, in behalf of everyone, I’m sorry.

PSAKI: We are grateful.

DOOCY – I cannot wait to see Karine up there.

[Laughter]

Yesterday, you spent your time talking about the Republican Party’s extreme wings. Are you adamant that the radical progressive activists who are planning to protest outside of some justices’ homes are not moderate?

PSAKI: There is no peaceful protest. PSAKI: Peaceful protests, no.

DOOCY – Some of the justices mentioned have children. All their neighbors aren’t public figures. Would the President consider inviting activists to visit residential areas in Virginia or Maryland?

PSAKI: Peter, look. My view is that peaceful protests have a long history both in the United States of America and throughout the world. We encourage peaceful protests and refrain from resorting to violence.

Now let me explain what I meant to say and what the President meant yesterday.

DOOCY: It’s not all about yesterday. It’s all about progress. They created a map that showed the homes of Supreme Court justices. Does that sound like the type of thing President Trump wants to assist your side with?

PSAKI: Look, I think the President’s views is that there is a lot of passion, a lot of fear, a lot of sadness from many, many people across this country about what they saw in that leaked document. People’s privacy is important to us. People should be able to peacefully protest if they wish. It is certain that this would be the President’s opinion.

DOOCY: So, he doesn’t care if they are protesting outside the Supreme Court or outside someone’s private residence?

PSAKI – I do not have any official U.S. government positions on the issue of protestors. I want it – We want it, of course, to be peaceful. While the President certainly would like people to have their privacy respected, I believe we should not lose sight of the main point.

Protests are being held because of concerns about women’s fundamental rights, which were established in law 50 years ago. They fear that their freedom to decide about their health and bodies is under threat. That’s why people are protesting. They’re unhappy. They’re scared.

(…)

Eastern, 5:37:52

PETER ALEXANDER : I have a question for you. Yesterday you were asked – In know that you guys – that the White House has been focused on the substance, obviously as it relates and that’s the biggest impact on Americans probably.

You were then asked what your view was on the actual leak. And given the historic nature of the leak, which was so unprecedented, as you acknowledged, you said, “I don’t think we have a particular view on that other than to say we certainly note the historic” or “unprecedented” – excuse me – “nature of it.” Why wouldn’t the White House condemn this leak? Do you have any concerns? Have you ever worried about the increased politicization in one branch of government?

PSAKI: Have you ever reported on anything that’s been leaked to you?

ALEXANDER – I did. And you guys have criticized leaks before as it’s been provided. So, you’ve criticized in the past, why not criticize this leak?

PSAKI: Again, because I think is happening here and what we think is happening here is there is an effort to distract from the actual issue here, which is the fundamental rights—

ALEXANDER: But can’t both be true?

PSAKI: I don’t think they’re at the same level.

ALEXANDER: So, they’re not at the same level, but would you agree it’s worthy of condemnation?

PSAKI: Well, look. There has been an appeal for leaders at the Supreme Court to investigate. Decisions on that and how it will be pursued will be made by the Department of Justice and others; and that’s certainly space and right to make that decision in government. That’s how the government is set up.

But, at the same time, what we’ve also seen, Peter, is many Republicans who are trying to overturn a woman’s fundamental rights to make this about the leak. It’s not all about the leak. This is not about the leak. It’s about women’s access to healthcare, their ability to choose with their doctors and how they can best care for themselves.

(…)

Eastern, 5:45:28

EWTN: I have an inquiry. Colorado just saw a vandalism of a Catholic church with anti-abortion slogans. This happened just recently. Do you think the White House is aware of this, or not?

PSAKI: That report has not been seen by me. Obviously, we don’t condone vandalism. We condone peaceful protests. And that is something we’re certainly encouraging we everyone who feels passionate.

JENSEN: [Inaudible]Specifically targeting Catholic churches that involve Roe. That’s’ what they’re basically focusing on.

PSAKI: Again, we don’t condone vandalism. We condone peaceful protest. I think it’s important to note that 60 percent or 70 percent, depending on the poll you look at, of the American people do not want Roe to be overturned. I’m going to move on.

(…)