White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki did not hesitate to call Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Law “horrific,” but could not answer direct questions about the bill from White House correspondent Peter Doocy.
In March, Psaki claimed the bill made it legal to bully kids who identified as LGBTQ+, according to The Daily Wire.
On Monday, Doocy followed up on Psaki’s comments by asking direct questions about the law, which prohibits school teachers from instructing kindergarten—third-grade students about sexual orientation or gender identity.
Seeing the White House strongly oppose the law, Doocy asked Psaki, “At what age does the White House think students should be taught about sexual orientation and gender identity?”
“Well, I would say, first of all, Peter, we have spoken to the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in the past. I believe [that] is what you’re referring to,” Psaki replied, though the word “gay” is not referenced in the law, nor is it banned by the law.
Psaki continued but did not directly answer Doocy’s question:
“As we look at this law, what we think it’s a reflection of is politicians in Florida propagating misinformed, hateful policies that do absolutely nothing to address the real issues.”
Psaki added:
“The Department of Education is well-positioned and ready to evaluate what to do next and — its implementation — whether its implementation violates federal civil rights law. But note that parents across the country are looking to national, state, and district leaders to support our nation’s students, to ensure that kids are treated equally in schools and that is not – this is certainly not a reflection of that.”
Desiring an answer to his simple question, Doocy pressed again:
“So if you guys oppose this law that bans classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in K through 3, does the White House support that kind of classroom instruction before kindergarten?”
Psaki continued to be evasive, not answering the question and instead, asked whether Doocy for examples of schools in Florida where that had been happening.
Watch:
Psaki’s press for specifics is an age-old ploy to weasel out of directly answering a question. The tactic is particularly off-putting here as Psaki has assisted Biden in moving forward new sexual orientation guidelines, and policies, and is well aware the Florida law is designed to guard against the DNC’s intention to introduce that kind of instruction in elementary schools.
“I’m just asking for the president’s opinion,” Doocy replied.
Rather expertly blending fact and fiction, the bobbing and weaving Psaki said, “I think that’s a relevant question. I think that this is a politically charged, harsh law that is putting parents and LGBTQ+ kids in a very difficult, heartbreaking circumstance, and so I actually think that’s a pretty relevant question.”
In a previous post, the Daily Wire noted that in 1994, then-Senator Biden voted for legislation similar to the bill Gov. DeSantis signed into law.
When asked about this, Psaki indicated Biden’s opinions and views from 25 years ago were less relevant than those of the elected leaders in Florida, whom she accused of acting out of “meanness” and a desire to make life more difficult for kids.
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