White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López of the taxpayer-funded PBS served as an unofficial member of President Biden’s staff Thursday as she lobbed a question at Biden during a press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that spewed falsehoods and hate at “anti-LGBTQ, anti-transgender laws” and how such supporters have “turned violent.”
In response to a supposedly totally organic question, Biden preceded to read from prepared notes calling Americans “callous,” “cruel,” and “prejudiced” if they believe in biology, protecting elementary school students from being shown graphic sex images, and protecting women from biological men in sports. And we know how the last presser went with the questions about it being scripted.
Barrón-López began by lamenting that “[a]ll over the country, Mr. President, Republican-led states are passing laws — passing anti-LGBTQ, anti-transgender laws that restrict rights and medical care.” Instead of reporting on behalf of Americans who believe men are men or women are women, she chose to view them as the enemy.
She went further, claiming “[i]ntimidation is on the rise” as “[t]his week, anti-LGBTQ protesters turned violent in California.”
Fact-check: Pants on fire. As reported by our friends at the Daily Signal and Townhall, that’s, at a minimum, debatable with Antifa having played a role in a Glendale, California event with Armenian-Americans enraged by the pro-LGBTQ indoctrination in the school district.
Barrón-López’s faux question eventually culminated in a question mark that tied back to a Monday segment for the PBS NewsHour:
[R]ecently, I spoke to the parents of a transgender girl in Texas who told me they’re afraid and that they’re considering leaving not just their state, but the country. Sir, why do you think this is happening, and what do you say to parents like the ones that I spoke to — to those families who are contemplating leaving the country because they don’t feel safe anymore?
After asking for that family’s phone number, Biden buried his head in his notes by citing things he’s done for “LGB — LGBT Americans,” but fretted there are too many “hysterical and...prejudiced people” led by “extreme officials” engaging in behavior that’s “totally, thoroughly unjustified and ugly.”
Biden then falsely claimed someone “can be married in the morning in the United States and fired in the afternoon by their employer because they are — they’re gay.”
Later, he explained the Justice Department will target those engaged in “civil rights violations” against LGBTQ students and the administration will appoint someone “to protect LGBT students from book bans, which make it harder for kids to learn and may violate their civil rights at the same time.”
No pushback, no fact-checking.
At the end of the presser, Biden took two shouted questions, one serious and one from the left.
The New York Post’s Steven Nelson used this rare opportunity to question Biden on new claims from the House Oversight Committee: “Bribery allegation — Congresswoman Nancy Mace says there’s damning evidence in the FBI file that you sold out the country. Do you have a response to the congressional Republicans?”
With a smirk, Biden blurted out, “Where’s the money? I’m joking. It’s a bunch of malarkey.”
And, for the latter, NBC’s Peter Alexander served as a counterweight to Nelson’s real question: “[W]hat do you say to Americans to convince them that they should trust the independence and fairness of the Justice Department when your predecessor, Donald Trump repeatedly attacks it?”
Biden responded that he’s “never once...suggested the Justice Department what they should do or not do relative to bringing a charge or not bringing a charge” because he’s “honest.”
To see the relevant transcript from June 8, click “expand.”
White House press conference [via ABC News Live]
June 8, 2023
2:36 p.m. EasternLAURA BARRÓN LÓPEZ: All over the country, Mr. President, Republican-led states are passing laws — passing anti-LGBTQ, anti-transgender laws that restrict rights and medical care. Intimidation is on the rise. This week, anti-LGBTQ protesters turned violent in California. And also recently, I spoke to the parents of a transgender girl in Texas who told me they’re afraid and that they’re considering leaving not just their state, but the country. Sir, why do you think this is happening, and what do you say to parents like the ones that I spoke to — to those families who are contemplating leaving the country because they don’t feel safe anymore?
(....)
2:37 p.m. Eastern
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: First of all, maybe quietly when we finish this, you can give me the number of that family, and I will call them, let them know that the President and this administration has their back and I mean that. Look, as President, I was proud to end the ban on transgender troops in our military, sign the Respect for Marriage Acts, strengthen the civil rights protection for LBG — LGBT Americans and advance LGBT human rights around the globe. But our fight is far, far from over because we have some hysterical and I would argue prejudiced people who are engaged in all that you see going on around the country. It’s a — it’s an appeal to fear, and it’s appeal that is totally, thoroughly unjustified and ugly. It’s wrong for that a person can be married in the morning in the United States and fired in the afternoon by their employer because they are — they’re gay. It’s wrong that the violence and hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people is rising. It’s wrong that extreme officials are pushing hateful bills targeting transgender children, terrifying families, and criminalizing doctors. These are our kids. These are our neighbors. It’s cruel, and it’s callous. Not somebody else’s kids, all our kids. The kids — and our children are the kite strings that hold our national ambitions aloft. It matters a great deal how we treat everyone in this country, and the fact is that I’m announcing today a series of new initiatives that we are taking to protect the LGBT community, I was going to do this at the fore on the South Lawn. We were having Pride day, but we have to postpone it because of the climate and the weather and the pollution out there — because of the fires. But, number one, we’re going to strengthen the physical safety. Dedicated resources, federal coordination to better protect Pride celebrations, marches, community centers, healthcare providers, and small businesses. Secondly, we are addressing the civil rights violations. A new coordinator to protect LGBT students from book bans, which make it harder for kids to learn and may violate their civil rights at the same time. We’re also engaging mental health and — and other supports, more mental health resources and funding to help families support their kids, new efforts to protect LGBTQ kids in foster care and steps to end the absolute end of LBTQ homelessness. Congress has to pass — and I’m not giving up on this, just like you told me we couldn’t get the marriage act passed — Congress must pass — must pass equality act and send it to my desk. LGBTQ Americans, especially children: You’re loved, you’re heard, and this administration has your back and I mean it. We are not relenting one single second to make sure that they’re protected.
(....)
2:57 p.m. Eastern
STEVEN NELSON: Bribery allegation against you [INAUDIBLE] — bribery allegation, Congresswoman Nancy Mace says there’s damning evidence in the FBI file that you sold out the country. Do you have a response to the congressional Republicans?
BIDEN: Where’s the money? I’m joking.
PETER ALEXANDER: Mr. President — Mr. President —
BIDEN: It’s a bunch of malarkey.
PETER ALEXANDER: Mr. President, what do you say to Americans to convince them that they should trust the independence and fairness of the Justice Department when your predecessor, Donald Trump repeatedly attacks it?
BIDEN: Because, you notice, I have never once — not one single time — suggested the Justice Department what they should do or not do relative to bringing a charge or not bringing a charge, I’m honest.
