As Twitchy reported, in a recent interview with Vox’s Matt Yglesias, President Obama referred to the four Jews murdered in a Paris kosher market as “a bunch of folks” who were “randomly” shot “in a deli.”
During this afternoon’s White House press briefing, Josh Earnest had the unenviable task of trying to explain the president’s remarks. He did about as well as could be expected. In other words, he managed to dig the hole even deeper.
Randomly shoot a bunch of folks at a deli in Paris? 'These individuals were not specifically targeted,' says Earnest.
— Byron York (@ByronYork) February 10, 2015
Press Sec Earnest "these individuals were not specifically targeted" during deli attack in Paris #DailyBriefing
— Alex L. Khan (@PoliticKhan) February 10, 2015
– @jonkarl points out that even the victims weren’t “random” because it was a kosher deli – Josh Earnest repeats past defense
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) February 10, 2015
Josh Earnest says that there were other people in the kosher deli who weren’t Jewish – and that they weren’t targeted by name
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) February 10, 2015
What the hell?
Here’s the infuriating exchange, via The Washington Free Beacon (begins around the 3:25 mark):
Transcript:
Josh Earnest refuses to say Jewish deli shooting had anything to do with Jews pic.twitter.com/AQjXHQ2ZFE
— Alana Goodman (@alanagoodman) February 10, 2015
Un-freakin’-believable.
https://twitter.com/LoganDobson/status/565211881741484032
Wow RT @ByronYork: Randomly shoot a bunch of folks at a deli in Paris? 'These individuals were not specifically targeted,' says Earnest.
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) February 10, 2015
Doubling down on random acts of violence https://t.co/Nq5bJx1TD5
— Rick (@StrokesofCandor) February 10, 2015
https://twitter.com/hboulware/status/565212646404677633
Those weren't Jews in the Kosher deli in Paris. That were "food extremists"
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) February 10, 2015
With a straight face he said this? https://t.co/0JK0DmBA4W
— Sarah (@sarah_wxtx) February 10, 2015
Oh FFS RT @ByronYork Randomly shoot a bunch of folks at a deli in Paris? 'These individuals were not specifically targeted,' says Earnest.
— Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock aka Kimberly (@conkc2) February 10, 2015
Facepalm RT @ByronYork Randomly shoot a bunch of folks at a deli in Paris? 'These individuals were not specifically targeted,' says Earnest.
— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) February 10, 2015
https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/565214140210241537
This is absolutely awful: RT @alanagoodman: Video of Earnest comments on Jewish deli @FreeBeacon http://t.co/fa2JXQJU3h
— JamesNolan (@JamesNolan) February 10, 2015
https://twitter.com/OrwellForks/status/565220471890006016
https://twitter.com/OrwellForks/status/565220824131846146
These Josh Earnest comments are almost too insane to be believed.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) February 10, 2015
This administration is literally legitimizing violent antisemitism.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) February 10, 2015
@redsteeze Who knew Jews would be in a Jewish Deli? Totally Random, nothing to see – move on.
— NetControl (@NetControl) February 10, 2015
@alanagoodman And Hitler randomly gassed folks. @continetti
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) February 10, 2015
@ByronYork That is truly insane. What kind of willful ignorance is White House engaging in?
— FloridaDame (@Fantine21) February 10, 2015
@ByronYork @BecketAdams do they really believe these things or are they just hoping we're all really stupid?
— texas tweedy (@tweedylouwho) February 10, 2015
https://twitter.com/aroadwarrior1/status/565217875141480448
Don’t worry — this administration will always find a way to sink lower.
my disgust with Obama/WH is anything but random MT @alanagoodman Josh Earnest refuses to say Paris deli shooting had anything to do w/ Jews
— Jonathan Brown (@jbpollster) February 10, 2015
***
Update:
‘Are you suuureee?’ Earnest pulls a Psaki, says WH always viewed attacks as anti-Semitic
***
Related:
‘UNREAL’: Obama calls murdered Jews just ‘a bunch of folks’ shot ‘in a deli’
‘Random?’: Scandal star Josh Malina calls out Obama on Paris terror remarks
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