Is Voting Republican a Threat to Democracy? Jean-Pierre: 'That's a Ridiculous Question' (November 2, 2022)

Six days before the 2022 midterms, the White House warned that democracy itself was on the line. So a reporter, whom Jean-Pierre addressed as Peter, asked the obvious question: “Does that mean President Biden thinks it is a threat to democracy if somebody votes Republican?”

“No. That’s a — that’s a ridiculous question. No,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered. “Why is that a ridiculous question?” the reporter asked. The video above shows the exchange from the Nov. 2, 2022, White House briefing, hours before Biden’s prime-time speech on democracy. Quotes are from the official transcripts published by the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”An Alarming Number of Republican Officials”

Jean-Pierre opened the briefing with the White House’s closing message. “Democracy is under assault, and we cannot pretend otherwise,” she said. “Unfortunately, we have seen mega MAGA Republican officials who don’t believe in the rule of law. They refuse to accept the results of free and fair elections, and they fan the flames of political violence through what they praise and what they refuse to condemn” [1].

Later she said the president was giving his speech “because we’re seeing an alarming number of Republican — Republican officials who are saying — they’re being very clear — they’re not going to accept the results of these elections. That’s a problem” [1].

”Why Is That a Ridiculous Question?”

The reporter picked up on her words. “Following up on your comment that there’s an alarming number of Republicans who are saying they’re not going to accept election results, does that mean President Biden thinks it is a threat to democracy if somebody votes Republican?” [1]

After calling it “a ridiculous question,” Jean-Pierre explained: “Because American people should have their right to vote for whomever they want. Voting is a sacred right” [1].

Then she went back on offense. “We are talking about mega MAGA Republican officials who have been very clear about this, who say — who say, you know, they are pro-police, but then they are also pro-insurrectionists,” she said. “You cannot be pro-police and be pro-insurrectionists who also say they want to defund the FBI. That’s a problem” [1].

”A ‘D’ or an ‘R’”

He then asked whether Biden would hold both parties to the same standard. “In the context of calling out election deniers then, is he going to call out Republicans that denied election results and Democrats that deny election results?” [1]

“It doesn’t matter if there’s a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ after your name; he will call out any rhetoric that is a pol- — that leads to, potentially, political violence or that calls political violence — for political violence,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”He’s an Optimistic Person”

His last question went to the heart of Biden’s message. “So, President Biden thinks democracy can survive, even if Democrats are not in charge of Congress?” [1]

“The President is optimistic. He is an optimistic — you know, this, Peter — he’s an optimistic person,” Jean-Pierre said. “And he understands there is a majority of the Americans out there who do not believe in election — in denying an election; who believe in actually protecting our democracy” [1].

The Speech That Night

Biden delivered his warning at 7:01 p.m. from the Columbus Club in Washington’s Union Station [2]. “Extreme MAGA Republicans aim to question not only the legitimacy of past elections, but elections being held now and into the future,” he said. “It’s estimated that there are more than 300 election deniers on the ballot all across America this year.” And: “As I’ve said before, you can’t love your country only when you win” [2].

It was his second prime-time speech on the theme that fall. On Sept. 1, 2022, in Philadelphia, Biden had said: “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic” [3].

The White House had a separate problem that day. At the same briefing, Jean-Pierre answered for a deleted White House tweet that credited Biden for the 2023 Social Security increase. “The tweet was not complete,” she said [1]. HYGO News covered that tweet in its page on Biden’s Hallandale Beach speech.

By the Numbers

6: days between the briefing and the Nov. 8 midterms [1].
300-plus: “election deniers” Biden said were on the ballot [2].
222-213: the Republican House majority voters elected six days later [4].
2: prime-time Biden speeches on democracy that fall, Sept. 1 and Nov. 2 [2][3].

What Happened Next

Voters picked a split decision. Republicans won the House, 222-213 [4]. The day after the election, Biden held a news conference where he celebrated the “red wave” that never came, as HYGO News reported in its page on his “lots of luck in your senior year” answer.

The “mega MAGA” line came back to haunt her. In June 2023, the Office of Special Counsel found that Jean-Pierre had violated the Hatch Act, which limits federal employees’ political activity, by using the term “Mega MAGA” to attack Republican policies, Fox News reported [5]. HYGO News covered her response in its page on the Hatch Act finding.

More of Jean-Pierre’s answers, checked against the record, are on HYGO News’ Karine Jean-Pierre record page.