White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tore into Republicans Thursday and claimed they were 'lying' in their attacks on Democrats about education Critical Race Theory – after political pros warned Democratic candidates could face a new liability on education issues.
Jean-Pierre blasted the GOP for its posture on education after exit polls found parents with school-aged children were a key part of the coalition assembled by Republican Glenn Youngkin in beating back Democrat Terry McAuliffe – and said Republicans were being 'incredibly dishonest' with the issue.
'They're talking about our kids when it's election season, but they won't vote for them when it matters,' she said from the White House podium when asked several times about the potency of the Republican attack and whether Democrats were recalibrating to deal with it.
In tones much more pronounced than President Joe Biden's comments when he was asked about the politics of education Wednesday, the press deputy accused Republicans of exploiting children when raising issues about Critical Race Theory.
'Republicans are lying. They're not being honest. They're not being truthful about where we stand, and they're cynically trying to use our kids as a political football,' said White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre Thursday
CRT is an academic theory first developed in the 1970s that concludes race is deeply embeded in nearly all laws and other aspects of American society. The term can also be used as a catch-all term to blast doctrines or even curricula that focus on identity politics or that cast whites or institutions as oppressors.
Jean-Pierre called the U.S. a 'great country' but also called for teaching children about negative aspects of the nation's history.
'So America, as you heard the president say before is a great country. And great countries are honest. Right? They have to be honest with themselves about the history, which is good and the bad,' she said.
'And our kids should be proud to be Americans after learning that history. The President certainly is. Fundamentally we believe schools’ curriculum isn't a federal decision. It's rightly up to communities around the country, the parents, the school, the school board, the teachers and the administrators,' she said. 'And that meaning that politicians … should not be dictating what our kids are being taught.'
Virginia Republican Glenn Youngkin beat former Gov. Terry McAuliffe by stressing education
'So America, as you heard the president say before is a great country. And great countries are honest. Right? They have to be honest with themselves about the history, which is good and the bad,'
