White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued statements to the media yesterday suggesting that House Republicans, who will only serve a two-week majority, will be responsible for higher gas prices in the coming days.
Jean-Pierre’s comments fueled President Biden’s desperation to pivot media coverage away from the ongoing classified documents scandal. And he was absolutely smiling in his face.
“As many of you have been tracking, this week House Republicans will vote to raise gas prices on American families,” he opened a joint press conference with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
“The contrast in priorities could not be more clear,” added Jean-Pierre. “As you know the president has done everything possible to lower gas prices for American families over the past two years, and prices have dropped to about $1.60 a gallon since last summer.”
“Now, House Republicans are using their narrow majority to force the American people to pay higher gas prices, even as big oil companies are collecting record profits.”
Jean-Pierre: “House Republicans are using their narrow majority to force the American people to pay higher gas prices.” pic.twitter.com/L6thGbjCOV
β Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 23, 2023
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Weapons-grade level of gas lighting
Karine Jean-Pierre’s objections stem from a bill by House Republicans that would prohibit the Energy Secretary from tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) without a backup plan to increase oil and gas leases on federal lands.
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In other words, the GOP is trying to coax the administration into increasing domestic oil production, which would leave the SPR intact and prevent the need to beg for oil production from countries like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
The SPR, of course, is for national security emergencies, not to be drained so Biden can claim “lower gas prices.”
President Biden has repeatedly tapped reserves and met with foreign leaders to pry them into higher oil production as a way to curb skyrocketing gas prices since last year.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm insisted not Allowing the president to wipe out America’s reserves would undermine national security, cause crude oil shortages and raise gasoline prices.
All these, in reality, come from a a failure To increase domestic production. But this administration rarely engages in reality-based initiatives.
Instead, they engage in gaslighting (pun intended) the American people with their effortless lies.
The *biggest* gaslighting administration in world history. And this is not an exaggeration.
β Nick Flore π₯+πΊπΈ (@ProfessorF) January 24, 2023
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Karine Jean-Pierre mocked for taking on gas prices
Karine Jean-Pierre takes on gas prices, worried that the American people are suffering at the pump, with prices hovering above $3 a gallon for nearly 20 months.
Twenty. months.
She is touting the national average of $3.45/gallon. The day former President Trump left office, the national average was roughly $2.39/gallon.
On the one hand, this administration has spent months blaming high gas prices on ‘Putin price gouging’ but are they now celebrating a slight reduction? Isn’t Putin still involved in a war with Ukraine? Shouldn’t this be a ‘cost saving’?
However, Jean-Pierre’s comments sparked heavy criticism on social media.
“There has never been a worse, more blatantly dishonest and gaslighting press secretary [Karine] Jean-Pierre,β tweeted Canadian lawyer David Freiheit.
There was never a worse, more openly dishonest and gaslighting press secretary @PressSec Jean Pierre. https://t.co/Q8dNzu3AoX
β Viva Free (@thevivafrei) January 24, 2023
My team of fact-checkers ran that statement through the winger and concluded: True.
Townhall Senior Editor Matt Vespa was shocked by Jean-Pierre’s brazen attempt to deflect blame for skyrocketing gas prices from President Biden.
“She didn’t say this … your boss has been beating us at the pump for months,” he wrote.
She didn’t just say this… Your boss has been bugging us at the pump for months pic.twitter.com/mgSK8WHu2i
β Matt Vespa (@mVespa1) January 23, 2023
RedState columnist Buzz Patterson railed, “She’s not very good at her job.”
Hey! We are not sure that such remarks are permissible despite the obvious fact. She is female, black and gay. Mr. Patterson, what other credentials do you need to prove his superior qualifications for the job?
She is not very good at her job. https://t.co/FL6VK8xjDH
β Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) January 23, 2023
And while the White House is suddenly taking credit for low gas prices again by setting an arbitrary goalpost ‘last summer,’ the real story is that they In fact It has risen again.
12 states saw the average #Gasprise Up from 15c/gal a week ago:
CO +28c/gal (Suncor refinery shutdown)
DE +24c
OH +21c
WV +18c
MD +17c
GA +17c
MS +16c
NM +16c
SC +16c
TN +16c
VAT +16c
LA +15c– Patrick de Haan β½οΈπ (@GasBuddyGuy) January 23, 2023
Damn those House Republicans and their energy independence platform. He’s been in the majority for less than 3 weeks and his SPR bill – not voted on and promised to veto by the president – has already raised gas prices.
That’s literally what Karine Jean-Pierre is trying to point out.
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