Photo: ROD LAMKEY JR/AFP/Getty ImagesSticking to their true colors, the Republicans in Congress anointed Steve Scalise as their new House Majority Whip, the same Steve Scalise who gave a speech at a David Duke white supremacy event in 2002. That Steve Scalise is now the third ranking Republican in Congress. And the White House is weighing in on that sad fact.
During his Monday briefing, one day before the start of a new congressional session, Earnest said it will be up to House Republicans to decide if Scalise should keep his leadership post despite his admission that in 2002 he spoke to a Louisiana group created by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. But, Earnest went on, if Republicans do keep Scalise as one of their leaders, it will reflect on their party’s values at a time when the GOP is trying to reach out to voters of color.
“There’s no arguing that who Republicans decide to elevate into a leadership position says a lot about what the conference’s priorities and values are,” Earnest said during the briefing.
“Ultimately, Mr. Scalise reportedly described himself as ‘David Duke without the baggage,'” he continued, referring to a comment Scalise allegedly once made to a reporter. “It will be up to Republicans to decide what that says about their conference.”
