On Wednesday’s episode of Who’s Talking to Chris WallaceCNN+ was a failed streaming site. Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, was interviewed by the host. Wallace challenged Psaki about a variety of subjects, instead of being softball interviews as one might think.
The first interesting moment came when Wallace challenged her on the Democrat Party’s support of teaching young children about sexual identity and orientation. “I understand that some of the supporters of the bill have used inflammatory language saying that opponents of the bill want to sexualize children or groom children”Wallace began his speech by saying.
“On the other hand, don’t parents have a right to have concerns? I mean we’re talking specifically here about teaching about sex in Kindergarten through third grade. I have to say as a parent, I would have problems with that.”Psaki replied that it was fine for her to teach children about sexual identity and orientation in kindergarten.
PSAKI: The law does not cover sex education. It’s about teaching about, gender identity. And so what do you do if a parent or a kid, should I say a kid in one of these elementary schools says “what about Sally? Sally has two moms!” Or “I’m not sure if I’m a girl or a boy.” I mean these are kids who are experiencing these moments in their lives. I also think that these are not, there’s not a big record of there being either sex education or extensive gender identity education in these schools, and this is creating a problem or a political cudgel about an issue that I don’t think exists.
Wallace then asked Wallace for her opinion. “why has President Biden been so sheltered from the press?”Psaki instantly took offense and shot back “What way? A press conference was held a few weeks back. And he takes questions from the press nearly every day!”
Wallace laid out the facts revealing how few press conferences Joe Biden has had compared to his two immediate predecessors (Donald Trump & Barack Obama):
Joe Biden hosted two news conferences at the White House in his first year. Five of those were on foreign trips. And, take a peek at this: in his first-year, Joe Biden was available for 28 interviews with journalists. This is compared to the ninety five for Donald Trump in that time period and the hundred and sixty-two for Barack Obama. By comparison, Jen that’s sheltered.
Psaki tried to defend Biden by claiming the moments when he takes questions from reporters as he’s walking out of the White House to get on the helicopter should count towards that overall total.
Wallace was understandably sceptical about Wallace’s claim that “when you’re standing there, you can take a question you can answer it, you can sluff it off and you move on”This is an additional feature “oftentimes he [Biden] gives a partial answer and walks away.” This is different from when you’re doing a sit-down interview with the reporter “you can’t duck it. You gotta sit there and answer the question and the follow-up.”
After getting schooled, Psaki meekly replied “we can agree to disagree on that Chris.”Add the excuse “I think how he has felt engaging with the press makes sense to him or works, is how he used to do it in the Senate.”
She can disagree all she wants but that doesn’t change the fact that the leftist media didn’t think it was good enough to answer reporter’s questions on the South Lawn of the White House when Trump was President.
The media lost their minds and wailed that Trump didn’t hold enough press conferences. You can’t have it both ways, Jen!
To read the relevant transcript click “expand”:
CNN+’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace
4/20/2022
Eastern at 6:09:30CHRIS WALLACE. This week was quite emotional for you when you were asked questions about Florida’s new law that bans LGBTQ education in third grade. Let’s take a look at that.
[cuts to audio]
JEN PSAKI: I’m gonna get emotional about this issue, because it’s just, it’s horrible, but uh but you know, it’s like kids who are bullied, and there’s like all these leaders are taking steps to hurt them and hurt their lives and hurt their families, and you look at some of these laws in these states, and it is going after parents who are in loving relationships who have kids. It’s completely outrageous, sorry, I… this, this is an issue that makes me completely crazy.
[cuts back to live]
WALLACE: Why so emotional?
PSAKI: You know, I will say that many of us who’ve served as long as I have in public service something that I have loved and continue to love you know we’re passionate about issues we’re passionate about what we think is right. These laws, especially in Florida, I believe are wrong morally. And that they are targeting kids and they’re targeting families and we know statistically that transgender kids are bullied. We know that they have a tough time already fitting into their schools and their classrooms and I think it’s something that hit me in my heart as a parent and a mom and somebody who wants all kids to be equally and be given kind of a loving chance by society. But yes I had a reaction because I’m a human being like we all are. It’s an outrageous issue, I thought.
WALLACE It’s an emotional issue and I can understand why some supporters have used insensitive language to suggest that the bill opponents want children to be sexualized or groomed. But parents should have their concerns. I mean we’re talking specifically here about teaching about sex in Kindergarten through third grade. It would cause problems for me as a parent.
PSAKI: The law does not cover sex education. It’s about teaching about, gender identity. And so what do you do if a parent or a kid, should I say a kid in one of these elementary schools says “what about Sally? Sally has two moms!” Or “I’m not sure if I’m a girl or a boy.” I mean these are kids who are experiencing these moments in their lives. I also think that these are not, there’s not a big record of there being either sex education or extensive gender identity education in these schools, and this is creating a problem or a political cudgel about an issue that I don’t think exists.
WALLACE What is the secretive nature of President Biden’s stance on press freedom?
PSAKI: What way? A press conference was held a few weeks back. He also answers questions almost every day from the media!
WALLACE: Okay, I’m going to come back at you on that. Joe Biden hosted two news conferences at the White House in his first year. Five of those were on foreign trips. And, take a peek at this: in his first-year, Joe Biden was available for 28 interviews with journalists. This is compared to the ninety five for Donald Trump in that time period and the hundred and sixty-two for Barack Obama. By comparison, Jen that’s sheltered.
PSAKI: Well, the statistic you didn’t include there Chris, is how many times did he take questions from reporters at the White House. I think it was about double the number—
[crosstalk]
WALLACE: He’s had two solo news conferences.
PSAKI’s Answer: Nothing beyond that! He takes questions almost every day from White House press staff.
WALLACE: Jen, yes!
PSAKI: Two questions, three questions, eight questions.
WALLACE: Jen, yes!
PSAKI: What makes this different? He’s done that two or three times more than his predecessors.
WALLACE: I’ll tell you exactly why that’s different. Because when you’re standing there, you can take a question you can answer it, you can sluff it off and you move on. This is not comparable, and often he will give a partial answer before walking away. It in no way compares to sitting down with a reporter for twenty minutes, thirty minutes, and having a– you can’t move away. You can’t duck it. The only way to avoid it is to sit down and respond. It’s not the same thing.
PSAKI: Chris, we can all agree to disagree. PSAKI: We can agree to disagree on that Chris. This is the way he did it when he was in the Senate. He used to speak to journalists after events. Answer their questions. Often, he will answer multiple questions. There may be follow-ups. He’s done that two or three times more than his predecessors and I think for most of the White House reporters that gives them an opportunity to ask questions often a couple times a week.
This post was last modified on April 21, 2022 12:37 am
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