White House deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre hurled the accusation at the GOP, blaming the President's opposition party for "lying" about those matters in public education and "trying to use our kids as a political football."
The White House held its first press briefing since Republican Glenn Youngkin's stunning success in the Virginia Gubernatorial election. Youngkin’s win was in large part due to discontent over school closures, mask mandates, and the addition of critical race theory to curricula.
Jean-Pierre maintained that Americans "have to be honest with themselves about the history which is good and the bad, and our kids should be proud to be Americans after learning that history."
WATCH: "WE WILL OPEN YOU UP LIKE A SOFT PEANUT"
Jean-Pierre continued that "we believe a school's 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 that means politicians should not be dictating what our kids are being taught", an apparent answer to Youngkin's campaign pledge to outlaw the teaching of critical race theory on day one of his Administration.
A LOOK INSIDE DEMOCRATS' PLAN TO WIN BACK THE HOUSE WITH RECORD INVESTMENT
Critical race theory advocates that America's laws and governing system are meant to uphold white supremacy. Far-left activists have pushed for CRT’s expansion into K-12 schools after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last year.
WATCH: HOW WAS JURY SELECTION HANDLED IN TRUMP'S TRIAL?
"We also need to be honest here about what's going on here," Jean-Pierre stated. "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. They're talking about our kids when it's when it's election season, but they won't vote for them when it matters."
ICE BLUNDER: AFGHAN NATIONAL SUSPECTED OF TERROR TIES ESCAPES U.S. TRACKING PROGRAM IN DAYS...
The spokesperson cited Republican votes against the American Rescue Plan, which was enacted in March of this year.
"It had funding to make sure that schools were open to make sure that our kids got back to school, and they didn't vote for [it]," she stated. "We know how important it is to make sure that our kids have in person learning for their mental well being and also so that they can actually learn and so that is something that the Republicans refused, absolutely refused, to vote for. So we got to be honest here and they're not being honest or being incredibly dishonest."
Later on in the briefing, Jean-Pierre called on American Urban Radio Networks correspondent April Ryan, who explained to the Press Secretary that "in part he [Youngkin] did win because of critical race theory, and … many Republicans, many Republican strategists, are saying that this was a successful strategy, and they are intending to use it in other elections and campaigns."
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
