Demonstrating once again that he is the only reporter in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Fox News’ Peter Doocy squared off with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday and asked, “When are you guys going to admit that you were wrong about inflation?”
Last week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen admitted as much to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and said she was “wrong” when she assessed the situation in March.
“Is there a risk of inflation? I think there’s a small risk, and I think it’s manageable. I don’t anticipate that inflation is going to be a problem, but it is something that we’re watching very carefully,” Yellen said at the time.
So, as much as the left-wing would like to defend the new, woefully-inept press secretary and the myriad failures of the Biden regime, Doocy’s question was not only fair but rather important to every single American outside the protective bubble of the D.C. swamp.
(Video: Forbes/YouTube)
The exchange was as follows:
Doocy: Okay. Another big topic. When are you guys going to admit that you were wrong about inflation?
Jean-Pierre: (Laughs.) No easy questions today, huh?
Doocy: The Treasury Secretary says that she was wrong, so why doesn’t anybody here at the White House?
The WH spokesperson proceeded to fall back on what has become an even more frustrating and annoying crutch than Jen Psaki and her “circle back” defense: The constant referral to the trusty binder of talking points she seems unable to do without.
Jean-Pierre: Okay. Okay. So, look, what — what the Secretary was pointing out — this was talking about yesterday, when she was doing her hit with — her TV hit with CNN — is that there have been shocks to the economy that have exacerbated inflationary pressures, which couldn’t have been foreseen 18 months ago, including —
Doocy: Why not?
Jean-Pierre: Well, let me — I’m — I’m trying to answer your question.
Doocy: It’s a big problem.
Jean-Pierre: I — I — hold on. I was just getting to the “Why not?” Including Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine, multiple successive variants of COVID, and lockdowns in China.
As she also noted during that interview, there has been historic growth and record job creation. And our goal is now to transition to steady and stable growth as inflation is brought down, as Brian Deese said yesterday to all of you when he was standing behind this podium.
So, the President’s economic plan, as we see it, is working. Just today, we learned that the manufacturing was up in May, building on the 545,000 manufacturing jobs that have been created since he took office — further proof that companies are investing in America, we are on a path to stable growth, and we are addressing supply chain problems.
Our plan to tackle inflation, lower costs reduces the deficit and respects the FDA’s [Fed’s] independence. It’s the best way for us to achieve sustainable and durable economic growth. So that’s how we’re — we’re doing — what — the work that we’re doing every day to make sure that we (inaudible) lower costs — well, higher costs.
Doocy: And just so that I under- — just that I understand: The Treasury Secretary says that she was wrong, but the White House was not wrong about inflation.
And again to the binder went Jean-Pierre, confirming she is way out of her depth in the job of WH spokesperson.
Jean-Pierre: So here’s the thing: We have — we have achieved a — first of all, I explained to you what she was trying to say. So, I just laid that out. So those are your words, not my words. I just laid out what she was trying to say and try to explain in full- — in fullness her part and her answer.
We have achieved an historic recovery through an extraordinarily unprecedented economic moment. The President has consistently noted that the primary drivers of inflation are the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The twists and turns of both these monumental events have affected energy prices and also food prices that we have seen these past several months. This is Putin’s price hike, which the President refers to, and that is what Secretary Yellen was referring to if you — if you read the entire transcript. And that’s what I’m — I’m trying to say to you, hopefully. Hopefully that lands.
Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Frank (Chip) Webster is a musician and composer, former teacher of percussion and U.S. Army Infantry veteran. He holds a degree in English from Arizona State University.
- Ukraine lawmaker pleased with Dem performance, says early results from midterms ‘very good’ for us - November 9, 2022
- Casey Anthony sits for first TV interview since being acquitted for murdering her 2-yr-old daughter - November 9, 2022
- Part-time Uber driver in FL rides anti-gun platform to become first Gen Z ‘progressive’ in Congress - November 9, 2022
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
