White House Press Secretary Jay Carney scolded reporter Ed Henry for asking why President Barack Obama is unwilling to sit down and talk with House Republicans -- even if he thinks they are wrong. Henry noted that the president has welcomed diplomatic talks with the Iranian regime but not the GOP.
"The president called the new president of Iran and sort of opened up diplomatic negotiations. So why not do the same with the House Republicans? You're at loggerheads, call them," Henry said.
Carney then sarcastically thanked Henry for the "reassertion of GOP talking points."
Credit: AP
"Why don't you at least talk to them, even if they're wrong?" Henry shot back.
"Ed, maybe you didn't catch up to what the president just said, but he said he would be talking to leaders of Congress," Carney said. "I have nothing new to report on the president's schedule."
CNN's Jim Acosta also pressed Carney with some tough questions, asking him if the White House was trying to "taunt" the GOP into shutting down the government for political reasons.
“In the last couple of weeks, Democrats including the president have — and he has not used all these words but I’ll throw out some of them — have referred to Republicans as arsonists, anarchists, extortionists, black mailers, hostage takers, Dan Pfeiffer talked about bombs being strapped to chests," Acosta said.
“It is as if the White House is trying to taunt Republicans into shutting the government down,” he added.
Watch Carney's response below:
(H/T: Mediaite)
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