White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest opened today’s press briefing with a stern condemnation of the national Republican party, suggesting it is out of touch with the rest of America on issues surrounding the Confederate flag and race.
After praising the South Carolina House of Representatives for voting to take down the Confederate flag from the State Capitol, Earnest quickly turned his fire on National Congressional Republicans and their party whip, Rep. Steve Scalise.
“A sizable number of House Republicans are eager to protect the status of the Confederate flag on National Park service grounds,” he said. “These are the same House Republicans who voted for a party leader who once described himself as ‘David Duke without the baggage,’” he said.
House Speaker John Boehner pulled the bill after it became a political fight over the Confederate flag.
Referring to Donald Trump, Earnest added that “these are the same congressional Republicans who have declined to criticize the race bating rhetoric of a leading Republican presidential candidate.”
“That’s to say nothing of the Senate Republican who has saluted that candidate,” he added, referring to Sen. Ted Cruz.
UPDATE: Boehner spokesman Cory Fritz reacted quickly to the White House attack with the following statement:
“Distorting fact to try and score cheap political points is no way to honor the victims of the horrific crime in Charleston. These childish attacks are completely dishonest, and beneath the dignity of the office of the presidency.”