CNN journalists suffered a full-on meltdown during Thursday’s White House press briefing, screaming, waving their hands and offering repeated outbursts of emotion. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee dismissed CNN analyst Brian Karem and zinged journalist Jim Acosta, telling him: “I know it's hard for you to understand even short sentences.”
Talking to another reporter, Karem, who is also a Playboy correspondent, and Sentinel Newspapers editor, suddenly screamed interruptions about illegal immigration detention centers. Karem lectured: “Come on, Sarah! You’re a parent! Don’t you have any empathy for what these people are going through?”
After letting him yell for a bit, Sanders dismissed: “Hey, Brian, I know you want to get some more TV time.” As the White House representative ignored him, Karem continued to scream:
Answer the question! It’s a serious question. These people have nothing. They come to the border with nothing. You’re a parent! You’re a parent of young children. Don’t you have any empathy for what they go through?
Earlier, Jim Acosta demanded of Sanders: “The Attorney General earlier today said that somehow there's a justification for this in the Bible. Where does it say in the Bible that it's moral to take children away from their mothers?”
After Sanders suggested that it’s biblical to follow the law, the CNN reporter continued to seek answers about Attorney General Jeff Sessions, insisting, “You just said it’s in the Bible.” The White House aide replied: “That's not what I said. I know it's hard for you to understand even short sentences, I guess and please don't take my word out of context.”
A transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more.
White House press conference
6/14/18
3:22
JIM ACOSTA: A second question completely unrelated on these children being separated from their families as they come across the border. The Attorney General earlier today said that somehow there's a justification for this in the Bible. Where does it say in the Bible that it's moral to take children away from their mothers?
SARAH SANDERS: I'm not aware of the Attorney General's comments or what he would be referencing. I can say that it is very biblical to enforce the law. That is actually repeated a number of times throughout the Bible. Hold on, Jim, if you'd let me finish. I'm not going to comment on the Attorney's specific comments.
ACOSTA: You just said it’s in the Bible.
SANDERS: That's not what I said. I know it's hard for you to understand even short sentences, I guess and please don't take my word out of context. But the separation of an illegally family are the product of the same legal loopholes the Democrats refuse to close and these laws are the same that have been on the books for a decade and the President is simply enforcing them.
ACOSTA: How is it a moral policy to take children away from their parents?
SANDERS: It’s a moral policy to enforce the law.
ACOSTA: Can you imagine the horror these children must be going to, suddenly they're pulled away from their parents and then they’re suddenly pulled away from their parents. Why is the government doing this?
SANDERS: Because it's the law. And that’s what the law states.
ACOSTA:It doesn't have to be. You guys doesn't have to do that.
SANDERS: You’re right. It doesn't have to be the law. The president has called on Democrats in congress to fix those loopholes. The Democrats have failed to come to the table, failed to help this President close these loopholes and fix this problem. We don't want this to be a problem. The President has tried to address it a number of occasions, we've laid out a proposal and Democrats simply refuse to do their job and fix the problem. Paula. Sorry, Jim, I’ve given you enough time.
...
3:26
SANDERS: Jill, go ahead. Jill, go ahead.
BRIAN KAREM: Come on, Sarah! You’re a parent! Don’t you have any empathy for what these people are going through?
SANDERS: Jill. Brian! Guys, settle down!
KAREM: Seriously! Seriously!
SANDERS: I’m trying to be serious, but I’m not going to have you yell out of turn.
KAREM: These people have nothing!
SANDERS: Hey, Brian, I know you want to get some more TV time.
KAREM: It’s not about that! It’s about you asking the question, Sarah!
SANDERS: Jill?
KAREM: Answer the question. It’s a serious question. These people have nothing. They come to the border with nothing. You’re a parent! You’re a parent of young children. Don’t you have any empathy for what they go through?
SANDERS: Jill, go ahead.
