Joseph Curl, a writer with conservative news outlet The Daily Wire, penned an opinion editorial that was published Friday, stating it’s time for the White House Press Corps to demand that Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to be booted from her current position. This isn’t the first time that Curl has given a negative critique of KJP and other liberal individuals who have occupied the job of being the president’s spokesperson. In fact, Curl said he believes that in order to be press secretary, it’s necessary to be very good at lying.
Curl pointed out that one of the main skills a person in this position must have is the ability to duck, bob, weave, and pivot while being asked questions in order to give the appearance that you answered it without actually saying anything of substance. And while those who came before Jean-Pierre were superb in their ability to spin a yearn, this is a skill she lacks.
KJP took a metaphorical beating at the hands of the media on Friday, even taking a few shots from Peter Baker of The New York Times by coming to the defense of his fellow reporters when she refused to answer questions. Curl’s article said:
“The daily briefing’s questions centered on new information from IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, who told members of Congress that Hunter Biden once threatened Chinese business associate Henry Zhao by saying his father was sitting right next to him and that Zhao would ‘regret not following my direction,'” Curl said in his op-ed. “Jean-Pierre tried to divert (as she often does) by putting White House National Security Council John Kirby at the podium first. But when it was her turn, Newsmax’s James Rosen, formerly of Fox News (and a guy who can do a spot-on impersonation of Howard Cosell) asked about Biden’s previous claims that he knew nothing of Hunter’s business dealings.”
When Rosen didn’t get anywhere with Jean-Pierre, Baker took a crack at it. “Can I follow up on that? So Kirby wouldn’t answer James’ question though, are you gonna’ answer the question? It’s not an unreasonable question to ask when the president of the United States was involved, as this message seems to suggest, in some sort of coercive conversation for business dealings by his son. Is that something? If he wasn’t, maybe you should tell us,” stated.
“I appreciate the question. I believe my colleague at the White House counsel has answered this question,” Jean-Pierre replied, attempting to redirect reporters back to the Department of Justice and Kirby. Curl then pointed out that he’s been covering the White House for over 12 years and can recognize a diversionary tactic when it’s being deployed. The folks that KJP is trying to send the press to don’t typically talk.
Curl noted this was the first time in quite a while that members of the press actually supported one another. Steven Nelson with The New York Times, asked a follow up question to Jean-Pierre, requesting she answer the questions being posed to her by his colleagues. “No, you didn’t: Yes or no, was the president involved in the shakedown attempt?” Nelson asked the press secretary.
“Steven I just answered the question … It’s not up to you how I answer the question,” Jean-Pierre said, going on to add that her answer was that she replied to the question that was asked. It was at this point in the exchange that Rosen got back in the proverbial ring, asking the press secretary if she stands by the declaration that President Biden possessed no knowledge of his son Hunter’s foreign business dealings. “Nothing has changed,” KJP responded.
Curl then recounted how Jean-Pierre attempted to shut the whole thing down by calling on a different reporter, one from a network that he says is typically friendly toward the administration. However, things did not go the way she thought they would, as CBS News’ Weijia Jiang asked the same question. “To follow up on what my colleague was saying in regard to this text message and what the president’s son was alleging: Was the president there or not?” the reporter asked.
“I would refer to my colleagues at the White House counsel,” Jean-Pierre responded, seemingly dodging the question once again.
Another journalist with a major network followed up by asking, “Karine, have you spoken to the president about this? Have you asked him whether he was there with his son on July 30th — ” And that’s when Jean-Pierre cut her off, responding with, “This is not a conversation I’ve had with the president and again, I’d refer you to the White House counsel.”
“Do you plan to have that conversation with the president?” Alba then asked. She responded with a “no.” It’s for this reason that Curl says it’s time for KJP to go.
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