White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki used Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) own words against him after he called it “offensive” that President Joe Biden promised to nominate a Black woman for the Supreme Court.
“The fact that he’s willing to make a promise at the outset that it must be a Black woman — I gotta say, that’s offensive,” Cruz said on his podcast over the weekend. “Black women are, what, six percent of the U.S. population? He’s saying to 94 percent of Americans: ‘I don’t give a damn about you. You are ineligible.'”
Related: Jen Psaki fires back at Ted Cruz’s threat to impeach Joe Biden
“It’s actually an insult to Black women,” he continued, saying that the Black woman Biden picks wouldn’t be the “most qualified” person for the Supreme Court.
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At the White House press briefing yesterday, NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Psaki about Cruz’s comments. And Psaki came prepared.
“Just over a year ago, the previous president also promised to select a woman for the Supreme Court,” Psaki said, referring to Donald Trump’s nomination of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. “Not only were there no complaints about choosing a nominee from a specific demographic — from the same corners — but there was widespread praise of now Justice Barrett on those grounds, with Republican lawmakers widely highlighting that they thought this was positive for women in America.”
And “the same corners” includes Cruz.
“He had no objection to Donald Trump promising he’d nominate a woman in 2020,” Psaki said. “I repeat: No objection at all.”
“In fact, he praised her on these grounds during— praised her on these grounds, the nominee. During her confirmation hearing, Senator Cruz said, quote, ‘I think you’re an amazing role model for little girls. What advice would you give little girls?'”
Psaki also brought up Ronald Reagan, who made a pledge to put a woman on the Supreme Court, which he honored by nominating Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
“The president’s view is that after 230 years of the Supreme Court being in existence, the fact that not a single Black woman has served on the Supreme Court is a failure in the process, not a failure — or a lack of qualified Black women to serve as Supreme Court justices.”
Psaki: Just over a year ago, the previous President also promised to select a woman for the Supreme Court. Not only were there no complaints for choosing a nominee from a specific demographic but there was widespread praise.. *reads statements from Ted Cruz* pic.twitter.com/r6qeSi5dSt
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 1, 2022
