Karine Jean-Pierre was unable to differentiate President Biden’s view of “ultra MAGA” and regular GOP voters
On 8/31/2022, during press briefing, a reporter asked Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “when it comes to voters, how does the President differentiate between the ultra-MAGA folks who he sees as an extremist threat to democracy and the average GOP voter?”
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, can’t talk about voters from here, as you know.
Reporter: (Inaudible) average individuals.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No — oh, no. I get you. Not going to — I just need to say that, right? Just to — just to be clear.
I mean, the President has been — has been really clear about the leadership — right? — the MAGA Republicans in leadership. They’re the ones who have the platform. They’re the ones who — again, the extremist part of the Republican Party; they’re the ones who, you know, folks listen to in their own party … they’re the ones who are the legislators and trying to take away our rights, trying to take away our freedoms. And that’s who the President is speaking to. Right? He’s being very targeted in that way and calling that out and saying, you know, “We can’t allow our democracy to be attacked in this way.”
And they have a responsibility — right? — they have a responsibility in how they’re doing their business on behalf of their constituents.
Reporter: So, for folks sitting at home, when the President is talking about preserving the soul of the nation and these threats to democracy, he’s not referring to those individuals; he’s talking about Republican leadership?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, let me be — be very clear: It’s not just Republican leadership. It’s not just that blanket. Right? He is talking about an extre- — an extreme portion, like extreme part of the party. He’s been very, very clear about that … When you are — when you are supporting an authoritarian figure, as we have seen, who is leading — currently leading — the former — the former President, you know, and — and saying the — inciting the violence that you are or wanting to take away our freedoms, you know, it — we need to say something. He’s not going to shy away from that.
You know, the President thinks that there is an extremist threat to our democracy. The President has been clear as he can be on that particular piece. When we talk about our democracy, when we talk about our freedoms, the way that he sees it is the MAGA Republicans are the most energized part of the Republican Party. That extreme — this is an extreme threat to our democracy, to our freedom, to our rights. They just don’t respect the rule of law.
Look, he believes that it continues. He believes that we need to continue to fight for our democracy. And he’s been very clear. You look at the extreme wing of a party — the MAGA Republicans — it’s not stopping. It is continuing. And we heard it over the weekend, as you’re asking me about the President talking directly with legislators. And this is — this is an important time. And he is — again, he’s not going to shy away from it. He’s going to continue to lift that up and what he sees and what he’s going to call out. And, you know, he believes that there are a majority of Americans who disagree with that …
Reporter: Thanks, Karine. Over the past week or so, we’ve heard many Republicans argue that this President ran as a uniter and now he’s calling MAGA Republicans, which is a very large swath of the American populace, semi-fascists. He is arguing that they’re a threat to democracy. Does the White House believe that this is a fair criticism by Republicans that this is not unifying language?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I’ll say this, Nancy: Sadly, there are more examples than I can count on how we have seen recently … And historians, I would argue, would say the same.
https://facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/1126171251643246
WH unable to differentiate “ultra MAGA” and regular GOP voters, continue call out ultra MAGA