MSNBC News host Jen Psaki is very upset with conservatives pointing out the double-standard in the outrage over the hiring of former Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel.
During a segment of her show “Inside With Jen Psaki” Monday night, Psaki said, “You may have seen some use over the last few days about the hiring of former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel as an NBC News contributor, and some, mainly in the right-wing ecosystem, have made the comparison to others who have come from government or politics into the media, including me, and that is a comparison I felt like I had to address.”
She went on to speak about her decision to get into politics in her 20s.
Psaki continued:
“I was in the room for tough debates, for difficult decisions, for the messy and at times incredibly grueling process of governing, and that experience is something that I am extremely proud to bring to this table and to this network… But here’s the thing, that kind of experience only matters and only has value to viewers, all of you, if it is paired with honesty and with good faith.”
She added, “To quote Liz Cheney, Ronna facilitated Trump’s corrupt fake elector and his effort to pressure Michigan officials not to certify the legitimate election outcome. She spread his lies and called January 6th ‘legitimate political discourse.’ Look, this isn’t about Republicans versus Democrats. This isn’t about red versus blue. This is about truth versus lies. Service to the country versus service to one man committed to toppling our democratic system. That is the type of experience that Ronna McDaniel brings to the table. And that experience does not get us to a deeper understanding of anything in the public debate.”
Watch the video below:
Jen Psaki addresses the Ronna McDaniel story, and "right-wing ecosystem" comparisons to her.
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) March 26, 2024
Psaki says her political experience "only matters, and only has value to viewers… if it it paired with honesty, and with good faith" .. "service to the country vs. service to one man" pic.twitter.com/xaersK4DK5
Now, McDaniel has been far from the best RNC chair or face of Republicans and conservatives. And her advancement of the false claim the 2020 election was stolen was shameful.
And sure, there are concerns about how genuine she is going to be in this role. Yet if McDaniel wants to work for NBC and spout lies or give answers she thinks the audience wants to hear, then she should be called out on it by fellow commentators.
At least they didn’t make plans to give her her own show while she was the still the White House press secretary.
If she acts like a shape-shifter who suddenly adopts a more moderate tone, then call her out. Don’t be lazy. If she starts saying Jan. 6 was just fine and dandy, call her out. Have the debate and let viewers decide if she’s a crazy or sycophantic person. It is doubtful there will be many NBC News viewers who will see McDaniel and be open to thinking, “Gee, you know, she’s right, Jan. 6 really was just a tourist visit of the Capitol.”
A lot of them have spent years being fed claims about Russian collusion and the coming Trump dictatorship if he wins. And if they’re still watching, they’re probably not really going to change their minds because of what McDaniel says.
It is so disingenuous to act as though all these former Democratic operatives and communications staffers who work at NBC and MSNBC are now unbiased, bold truth tellers just giving you the cold hard facts, who never let their employer dictate what they said about a certain incident.
And it is just an extension of the hyperventilation that occurs when anyone who had any to do with former President Donald Trump’s administration, or even said something nice about him gets hired. Recall the outrage that followed after CNN announced it was hiring Sarah Isgur Flores, who was a press secretary for former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
She is not even that strong of a Trump supporter or fan, but the news reportedly “demoralized” the staff at CNN.
So don’t let Psaki or Symone Sanders sit there with and claim to have some kind of moral high ground and tell you this is just about truth versus lies or saving democracy, because it’s not.
