Obama Has No Regrets About Using ‘N-Word’ on WTF Podcast
As the media collectively loses its mind over President Barack Obama’s use of the “n-word” while discussing racism with Marc Maron on the WTF podcast, multiple reporters asked White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest today what message the president was trying to send by using it that context.
Asked right out of the gate if, given the strong reaction, Obama “regrets” using the “n-word” during the podcast interview, Earnest said, “He does not. The president’s use of the word and the reason he used the word could not be more apparent from the context of his discussion on the podcast. The president made clear it is not possible to judge the nation’s progress on race issues based solely on an evaluation of our country’s manners.”
Later, describing Obama as a “student of the language” who crafts his statements “very carefully,” CBS News’ Major Garrett asked “Did he believe he needed to say something in a more provocative way in order to drive a point he thinks had been previously missed in his earlier references to race, which as you said is consistent? Did he feel he needed to use something that would grab the country’s attention in a more provocative way? And if so, does he therefore believe the use of the word has at certain moments an arresting and provocative value to it?”
“I think that the president was answering a question in a pretty informal setting,” Earnest replied, while acknowledging that “the way the president designed his argument in this scenario is more provocative” than it has been in the past.
Earnest told Garrett that Obama is “not surprised” by the strong reaction to the moment. “But, again [he] is eager for people to have a good sense of the argument that he’s trying to make, which is why we have gone to great lengths to make sure all of you in this room understand the argument the president was trying to make.”
Watch both clips below, via C-SPAN:
And listen to the relevant clip below, via WTF:
[Photo via WTF]
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