White House Says Its Stance On Flag/Anthem Issue Is 'Pretty Black And White'
Well, give Sarah Huckabee Sanders points for honesty ― even if that was the last thing she intended.
On Thursday, the White House press secretary reiterated the Trump administration’s stance on whether sports stars should be allowed to protest during the national anthem.
BuzzFeed political reporter Darren Sands tweeted Sanders’ remark, which was... let’s say, interestingly worded:
.@PressSec said the issue the administration's stance on respect for the flag/anthem is "pretty black and white."
— Darren Sands (@darrensands) September 28, 2017
Sanders might want to take that one back, but there’s truth to what she says.
After all, the reason Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem in the first place was to protest police brutality and systemic racism against people of color.
That’s also the reason many NFL players have been kneeling during the national anthem this season ― although in the days since President Donald Trump denounced kneeling athletes as “sons of bitches,” a great many athletes and other public figures have adopted the kneel as a general gesture in protest of Trump or in support of free speech. This, in turn, has occasioned some dismay about Kaepernick’s original message getting diluted.
Sands noted in a later tweet that Sanders’ phrasing was “unfortunate.”
An unfortunate sequence in that characterization.
— Darren Sands (@darrensands) September 28, 2017
Many people on Twitter saw it as unintentional truth-telling:
But clearly more white than black
— Brandon M (@btmagnus) September 28, 2017
Just like police brutality
— mommalaurie101 (@mommalaurie101) September 28, 2017
Probably the most (inadvertently?) honest things she's ever said up at that podium.
— Amy S (@AYS1960) September 28, 2017
Unfortunate? Come on. Purposeful.
— Connie C. Keys (@hotelkeys) September 28, 2017
Finally an honest answer from SHS but it's a doozy 😳
— Shayna Moreau (@ShaynaLMoreau) September 28, 2017
What about their stance on people's freedom of expression & speech. That's the really stance in question.
— Netillaman 🇺🇸 (@netillaman) September 28, 2017
Others didn’t know what else to do but face-palm.
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— Pete Schramm (@pete21982) September 28, 2017
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.