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Jen Psaki Cries While Discussing New Florida Law, Says It Makes Her ‘Completely Crazy’

   DailyWire.com
White House press secretary Jen Psaki answers questions during the daily briefing on March 17, 2022 in Washington, DC
Win McNamee/Getty Images

In a podcast interview released Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki broke down in tears while discussing Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law. 

Psaki discussed a range of topics with News not Noise host Jessica Yellen, but the discussion became emotional when it turned to Florida’s new law that prevents teachers in K-3 public school classrooms from instructing students on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Is this sort of a predictable backlash to change? Or is this an organized political attempt to create a wedge issue ahead of the midterms in the 2024 campaign? Sort of like the way gay marriage was weaponized in 2004?” Yellen asked Psaki, referring to legislation such as Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law.

Psaki agreed with the assumption that the Parental Rights in Education law is a political weapon for Republicans. “[T]he political games and harsh and cruel attempts at laws, or laws that we’re seeing in some states like Florida, that is not a reflection of the country moving to oppose LGBTQ+ communities,” Psaki replied. “That is not what we see in data, that is not factual, and that is not where things stand. This is a political wedge issue, and an attempt to win a culture war.”

She then broke down in tears when making a bizarre suggestion that the Florida law will result in LGBTQ children being bullied in schools, even though the law simply prevents teachers from instructing 5- to 9-year-olds on gender theories. 

“They’re doing that in a way that is harsh and cruel to a community of kids, especially,” the press secretary said as she began to cry. “I’m going to get emotional about this issue because it’s horrible! But it’s kids who are bullied, and all these leaders are taking steps to hurt them, and hurt their lives and hurt their families! And you look at some of these laws in these states and who’s going after parents who are in loving relationships, who have kids. It’s completely outrageous! Sorry, this is an issue that makes me completely crazy.”

Psaki also repeated a common misconception Democrats have spread about the Florida law, saying that it would prevent teachers from talking to children with two moms or two dads about the children’s home life.

Earlier this month, another Biden administration official, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, told hosts on “The View” that he agrees the Florida law will “kill kids.” 

Buttigieg then went on to apply the law to areas it does not cover, such as high school teachers. “Is the teacher supposed to, you know, a high school teacher supposed to go through every book and make sure that if there’s ever a picture of married couples in those books they tear out any page where it isn’t a straight couple?” Buttigieg added. “Is that what we’re asking teachers to do?”

Psaki’s breakdown on air just adds to the list of Democrats who continue to make emotional arguments about the Parental Rights in Education that are not at all based in reality. 

The Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan has extensively covered what’s in the Florida law, writing, “Nowhere in the legislation is the word ‘gay’ mentioned, though the word ‘parent’ is mentioned 32 times and the word ‘parental’ is mentioned seven times. The legislation heavily focuses on parental notification and parental awareness of what children are being taught or exposed to in school.”

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