The White House appeared to cut out remarks made by a reporter during Friday’s press briefing from the administration’s official transcript of the event.
The exchange in question happened between Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Doocy asked Psaki about remarks that Biden made where he compared opponents of his voting rights agenda to segregationists.
Here’s what was said:
DOOCY: But as he talked about a year ago and working with Republicans, now he is talking about Republicans that don’t agree with voting rights – he’s describing them as George Wallace, Bull Connor and Jefferson Davis. What happened to the guy who — when he was elected said, “To make progress, we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy”?
PSAKI: I think everybody listening to that speech who is “speaking on the level,” as my mother would say, would note that he was not comparing them as humans, he was comparing the choice to those figures in history and where they’re going to position themselves if they — as they determine whether they’re going to support the fundamental right to vote or not.
The White House, however, did not include the following remarks from Doocy: “[Biden]’s describing them as George Wallace, Bull Connor and Jefferson Davis.”
The White House transcript of Doocy’s remarks states:
“But as he talked about a year ago and working with Republicans, now he is talking about Republicans that don’t agree with voting rights. What happened to the guy who — when he was elected said, ‘To make progress, we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy’”?
When Joe Biden compared people who opposed his voting rights bill to Jefferson Davis, George Wallace, & Bull Conner, Jenn Psaki wants y’all to know Biden wasn’t comparing them to humans. She really said this: pic.twitter.com/xkciMG1ucY
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 15, 2022
Doocy was referring to the following remarks that Biden delivered this week during a speech in Atlanta:
I will defend the right to vote, our democracy against all enemies — foreign and, yes, domestic. … At consequential moments in history, they present a choice: Do you want to be the on the side of Dr. King or George Wallace? Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor? Do you want to be on the side of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis? This is the moment to decide to defend our elections, to defend our democracy.
Biden’s remarks were criticized by many Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard.
- Durbin: “Perhaps the president went a little too far in his rhetoric.”
- Pelosi: “Nobody knows who Bull Connor is. You know, if we’re making the case to say, ‘We’re going to be with Martin Luther King or Bull Connor’ – who’s that? ‘If we’re going to be with Martin Luther King or the people – Martin Luther King and John Lewis, or the people who unleashed the fierce dogs on them’ – that’s who Bull Connor is. Strom Thurmond – none of us have a lot of happy memories about Strom Thurmond.”
- Gabbard: “Hillary’s calling tens of millions of Americans deplorables was divisive & disgusting. But Biden has gone further, calling those who disagree with his actions & policies domestic enemies, traitors, and racists. Biden promised to unite us, but he is doing all he can do divide us.”