On Wednesday, Fox News White House reporter Peter Doocy asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre if the government considers voting Republican to be a “threat to democracy.”
Democrats and the White House have warned against candidates who doubt the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, labeling Make America Great Again (MAGA) Republicans a “danger to democracy” ahead of the midterm elections.
“Following up on your observation that an alarming percentage of Republicans are refusing to accept election results, does that suggest that President Biden believes voting Republican is a threat to democracy?” Doocy inquired.
“That’s a ludicrous question,” Jean-Pierre replied.
“Why is it such a silly question?” he wondered.
“Because the American people should be able to vote for anyone they choose.” Voting is a sacred privilege that the president wishes to defend at all costs, and he has done so. He has taken efforts to defend the right to vote, and you can see Democrats in Congress doing the same,” Jean-Pierre remarked. “We’re talking about mega-MAGA Republican officials who have made it plain that they are pro-police but also pro-insurgency. You can’t be pro-police and pro-insurgency at the same time. Who also claim to want the FBI defunded. That is an issue.”
Doocy then questioned whether Democrats and Republicans should be held equally accountable for questioning election results. According to the press secretary, regardless of party affiliation, the president would “call out any speech” that threatens political violence.
“Whether you have a D or a R after your name, he will call out any speech that could lead to political violence or incitement for political violence. The president has also always, always denounced political violence, regardless of whether you’re a Republican, Independent, or Democrat,” she responded.
In previous presidential and gubernatorial elections, Democrats have a history of contesting election results. Democratic GA gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who obtained Biden’s endorsement, consistently denied the validity of her loss to Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, and former Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton declared that previous President Donald Trump was an “illegitimate president.”
The Fox News reporter pressed Jean-Pierre as to whether the country is still a democracy when Republicans control at least one chamber of Congress.
“So President Biden believes democracy can endure even if Dems. do not control Congress,” Doocy explained.
