Staff Reports
The White House wasted no time in clamping down on Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for her comment on the terror attacks in Israel. McDaniel had the audacity to call the attacks a “great opportunity” for Republican candidates to demonstrate their unwavering support for Israel. Deputy press secretary Andrew Bates swiftly responded, condemning McDaniel for her callousness and highlighting the tragic loss of American lives in these attacks.
White House condemns RNC chairwoman's Israel remarks https://t.co/g2qmoacchM
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 9, 2023
In a statement, Bates emphasized the importance of unity in the face of such heinous acts. He called on all Americans to rally behind Israel, one of our closest allies, and offer support during this difficult time. Bates made it crystal clear that the White House will not tolerate any attempts to exploit such a tragedy for political gain or to divide our country.
The controversy arose when McDaniel appeared on “Fox News Sunday” and was asked about Republican presidential candidates blaming President Biden’s foreign policy for the violence between Israel and Hamas. McDaniel seized the opportunity to underscore the Republicans’ unwavering support for Israel and to highlight what she deemed as weakness in Biden’s approach to the situation.
Unsurprisingly, the White House’s swift condemnation of McDaniel’s statement did not sit well with the Republican National Committee. They accused the White House of distorting McDaniel’s words in order to score political points. RNC spokesperson Emma Vaughn fired back, stating that the RNC and McDaniel have consistently been strong advocates for Israel, condemning the attacks immediately. Vaughn criticized the media for manipulating McDaniel’s words and offering cover to Democrats who have been critical of Israel’s right to exist.
It seems that this war of words between the White House and the RNC is far from over, with both sides determined to defend their respective positions. However, one can’t help but wonder if such petty squabbles are really what the American people need at a time like this.
