(PatrioticPost.com)- Last week, Politico ran a scathing report based on twenty-two anonymous sources that spoke of the hostile work environment within Vice President Kamala Harris’ office. These twenty-two sources, who, according to the writers, were current and former aides, administration officials and other associates of Biden and Harris, chronicled the high turnover, low morale, distrust, and “porous lines of communication” among the Veep’s staff.
When asked about the Politico piece in her daily press briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki dismissed the report saying that she does not “speak to or engage on anonymous reports or anonymous sources.”
Psaki then delivered the official administration talking point that Kamala Harris is a valuable member of the administration and blah-blah-blah.
Press Secretary Psaki deflects on question regarding alleged "abusive environment" of Vice Presidential staffers: "I try not to speak to or engage on anonymous reports or anonymous sources." pic.twitter.com/RELZS48D5V
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 2, 2021
But Bloomberg News reporter Jennifer Jacobs found Psaki’s ding against anonymous sources rather ironic. Jacobs said on Twitter that Psaki’s comms team routinely organizes anonymous briefings on news topics.
None too happy that a reporter would criticize the White House, Psaki tweeted back at Jacobs that there is a difference between anonymous briefings on upcoming policy announcement and anonymously attacking someone to a reporter.
NYT reporter Peter Baker then got in the mix, tweeting back to Psaki that, while her point is fair, why should holding briefings to provide details on policy announcements be done anonymously in a “transparent and open democratic society?”
Good point. Maybe because Biden people are Obama people and they don’t believe in transparency.
In addition to Psaki’s dismissal of anonymous sources, Axios ran a report last week in response to the Politico piece that included comments from White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and Biden senior advisor Cedric Richmond – both of whom attacked this “whisper campaign” against Harris and derided Politico’s use of “anonymous sources.”
Klain, like Psaki, repeated the talking point that the President has “trust and confidence” in Kamala Harris and blah-blah-blah. But Klain went even further, really laying on the praise for the Kamala and laughably claiming that “she’s delivering for the American people on immigration, small business, voting rights, and economic growth.”
But, again, Biden people are Obama people. And those people do not leak, unless the people in charge instruct them to.
Which begs the question, was the Politico attack on Kamala Harris coordinated from within the White House? Are the attacks on anonymous sources performative? And are the carefully-constructed talking points defending Kamala Harris performative as well?
