White House press secretary Jen Psaki reminded observers of the importance of not relying on deceitfully edited footage this week after a clip went viral of President Joe Biden saying that there’s “no federal solution” to the COVID-19 crisis. The point of Biden’s remarks was not to distance himself from responding to the pandemic at all — rather, he was reiterating the need for state leaders to deal with their responsibilities, which is something that he has discussed previously in reference to Republican governors who’ve refused to act more aggressively against the virus. A longer clip showing more of the context of Biden’s comments makes that clear.
The economy I inherited nearly a year ago wasn’t just in crisis — it wasn’t working for working people.
We passed the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help change that.
We’re rebuilding our economy from the bottom up and middle out — not the top down.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 29, 2021
Biden’s full comments, made during a teleconference with governors, said that “there is no federal solution. This gets solved at a state level. I’m looking at [New Hampshire] Governor [Chris] Sununu on the board here. He talks about that a lot. And then it ultimately gets down to where the rubber meets the road, and that’s where the patient is in need of help or preventing the need for help.” As Psaki observed:
‘Sometimes context and the full clip is important (or almost all the time)’
Watch it below:
Sometimes context and the full clip is important (or almost all the time) https://t.co/CkY8u2aJm3
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) December 28, 2021
Individuals across the echo chambers of modern conservative politics spoke out about Biden’s comments, which these people didn’t accurately represent. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), for instance, used the opportunity for an attempted gotcha moment, asking: “If there’s no federal solution, why’s there a federal vaccine mandate?” The main Twitter account for the national Republican Party added: “Biden has no solution for COVID. He failed.” Rudy Giuliani chimed in too, rambling: ‘Last year Biden said he had a plan for Covid. Yesterday he said “there is no federal solution.” Maybe he lost it driving back and forth to Delaware? Check the basement.’ It’s December 2021, and Giuliani is still on the whole Biden spends too much time in the basement thing, a right-wing jab that just will not disappear. All of this nonsense, and more, was aptly shut down by Psaki’s comments.
Last year Biden said he had a plan for Covid.
Yesterday he said “there is no federal solution.”
Maybe he lost it driving back and forth to Delaware?
Check the basement.
— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) December 28, 2021