Update: The book “Superheroes Are Everywhere” by Kamala Harris wasn’t distributed to migrant children in welcome packs, according to local officials. A copy of the book was donated by a community member.
Original story below:
In the latest White House press briefing, Fox News’ Peter Doocy questioned White House press secretary Jen Psaki on why — according to reports — Kamala Harris’ 2019 children’s book titled, “Superheroes Are Everywhere” is being handed out to migrants at the border and — arguably more importantly — whether Harris is profiting as a result.
“Every migrant child being brought to a shelter is being given a copy of her children’s book, ‘Superheroes Are Everywhere.’ Do you know why that is and if she is making money off of that?” asked Doocy.
“I'd have to certainly check on that, I hear it's a good book!”
Imagine if government funds were used to buy @DonaldJTrumpJr’s book, and the White House press secretary praised it. The Left would LOSE THEIR MIND.pic.twitter.com/wETIeSx8K0
— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) April 26, 2021
“Of the President, of the Vice President?” Psaki responded.
“The Vice President’s book, yeah.” Doocy clarified.
“I’d have to check with our, uh, Health and Human Services team, are you talking about if they go to shelters, or if they go to…?” Psaki answered.
“In the welcome kit, apparently, there’s a copy of her 2019 children’s book, ‘Superheroes Are Everywhere?’” Doocy clarified again.
“I’d have to certainly check on that, I hear it’s a good book.” answered Psaki.
While it’s certainly important to understand whether Kamala Harris is financially benefiting from the use of taxpayer funds to purchase her book, there is another issue at hand: one of “what if?”
During Donald Trump’s presidency, multiple members of the Trump administration and others from within his wider circle wrote books. For example, Donald Trump Jr. wrote “Triggered,” which was published in 2019, and Ivanka Trump wrote “Women Who Work,” which was published in 2017.
Now, let’s imagine the Left’s outrage if federal funds were used to purchase these books in order to distribute them to migrants at the border. It would be reasonable to assume that the Left would — correctly — condemn such behavior. After all, Trump’s alleged use of campaign funds to “to pay Barnes & Noble $55,055 for copies of his own book” was slammed as “a move that might be illegal if the GOP presidential nominee received royalties.”
Now, let’s also imagine that any of Trump’s press secretaries — be it Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, or Kayleigh McEnany — had responded to such criticisms by simply avoiding the question and praising the product.
The Left would — again, correctly — be outraged. We’d see another wave of accusations of widespread corruption, of being guilty of a delirious enjoyment in embracing all that is immoral.
People will undoubtedly respond to overwrought conservative “pouncing” on this issue by relying on the well-used “what about Trump” routine.
Well, what about Trump?
If we can’t agree that using taxpayer funds to allegedly or potentially enrich elected officials is wrong, regardless of whether they are Republican or Democrat, then there’s not much point even worrying about party any more.
We need to return to some level of consistency. Perhaps a good first step might be holding Jen Psaki to the same standard as any Republican predecessor?
Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at @ighaworth.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.