OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy has been one of the only people to hold the administration of President Joe Biden’s feet to the fire.
It started when he would routinely hammer former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, whose clashes with him have become the stuff of legend.
And it has continued with the current White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, as was evidenced in their back and forth on Friday.
It started when Doocy asked Jean-Pierre if President Biden favored any limits on abortion and the press secretary danced around the question and never gave a straight answer.
“Does President Biden favor any limits on abortion?” the correspondent said.
“We’ve been very, very clear here. Since you’re talking about my topper, I was talking specifically about Senator Lindsey Graham, the press secretary said, in reference to what she said at the start of the press conference where she spoke about Sen. Lindsey Graham proposing a 15-week ban on abortion for the entire nation.
“And your position on his plan is clear: 15 weeks is unacceptable,” the reporter said.
DOOCY TIME: Does…Biden favor any limits on abortion?
KJP: We've been very…clear here…I was talking specifically about Sen. Lindsey Graham–
Doocy: And your position on his plan is…15 wks is unacceptable?
KJP: I was speaking to…what Republicans are trying to do. pic.twitter.com/xpuFEpyVdC
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 23, 2022
Doocy: "A limit at 15 weeks, right?"
KJP: "It's a national ban, which will take us backwards & will put at risk the health of women…We're talking…privacy…contraception…marriage. That is what extreme [GOP] officials are trying to do. I'm not going to get into specifics." pic.twitter.com/pQ75xoT72p
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 23, 2022
“And I was — I was speaking to — directly to what Republicans are trying to do. They are calling — they are calling for a national ban, which takes us backwards,” the press secretary said.
“A limit at 15 weeks, right?” the Fox News correspondent said.
“Which will — which will — it’s a national ban which will take us backwards and will put at risk the health of women,” the press secretary said.
“And here’s the thing about this, Peter, it’s not just national ban on abortion. We’re talking about privacy. We’re talking about contraception. We’re talking about marriage. That is what extreme Republican officials are trying to do. That’s what we’re speaking to.
“I’m not going to get into specifics here. I’m just going to lay out what — what they have said that they’re going to do,” she insisted.
“Why not get into specifics? The Republicans are saying, “We don’t want abortion after 15 weeks.” Why can’t you say how many weeks the President thinks the limit should be?” he said.
“So — so, as you know — as you know, Kevin McCarthy put out the GO- — GOP agenda,” the press secretary said before Doocy interrupted her.
Doocy: "How many weeks?"
KJP: "I'm answering your question. What Republicans are trying to do is take us backwards. They're trying to take away the rights & freedoms of Americans. That's what we're calling out…We should really listen to what [they] are trying to tell us" pic.twitter.com/LAahis9k2q
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 23, 2022
Doocy: We are all covering the Republican plan…[W]hy can't you say how many weeks for Biden?
KJP [to another reporter]: Okay, go ahead.
Doocy: No.
KJP: No…I answered your question.
Doocy: You did not answer my question.
KJP: I did. I did.
Doocy: Why can't you say–(5/5) pic.twitter.com/MPCTdQ3g7R
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 23, 2022
“I am not asking about Kevin McCarthy. I’m asking about Joe Biden and his,” he said before the press secretary interrupted him.
“I am answering — I am answering — Peter,” she said before the correspondent finished his question.
“— position on abortion. How many weeks?” he said.
“Peter, I’m answering your question. What Republicans are trying to do is take us backwards. They’re trying to take away the rights and freedoms of Americans. That’s what we’re calling out and that’s what we’re going to continue to call out,” the press secretary said, not actually answering the question.
“House Republicans oppose a pharmacy bill that would deny women essential medications. As of September, 166 House Republicans have signed on to a heartbeat bill that would decide abortion at the federal lev- — level, even though 28 of those members have since said decisions on abortion should be left to the state,” she said.
“And this week, a Michigan GOP official said he wa- — he — he wants to ban contraception.
“So we should really listen to what Republicans are trying to tell us. And that’s what we are speaking out against. And that’s what we’re going to talk about — about the national ban that Republicans are continuing — continuing to push when majority of Americans do not want that,” she said.
“We are all covering the Republican plan. I’m just — Why can’t you say how many weeks,” he said as the press secretary called on another reporter.
“Why can’t you say how many weeks for Biden?” he said.
“I answered your question,” she said.
“You did not answer my question, Karine!” he said.
