Conway On WH Staffer Allegedly Calling Coronavirus ‘Kung Flu’: ‘I’m Not Dealing In Hypotheticals’

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 16: Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President of the United States and White House Advisor, speaks to during an on-camera interview at the White House on December 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. Conway criticized former FBI Director James Comey and fiercely defended President Trump against Democrats in the Impeachment proceedings during the interview. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
White House Adviser Kellyanne Conway speaks during an on-camera interview at the White House on December 16, 2019. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
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On Wednesday, White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway said it was “wrong” for a White House staffer to allegedly refer to COVID-19 as “the Kung Flu,” but she refused to fully address the allegation when reporters wouldn’t give her a name.

“I’m not dealing in hypotheticals,” Conway said when asked for her response to the comment. “Of course it’s wrong, but you can’t just make an accusation without saying who it is.”

She demanded to know the identity of the staffer, who had reportedly made the remark to CBS News correspondent Weijia Jian on Tuesday.

When reporters kept pressing her on the issue, Conway pointed to her half-Filipino husband, George Conway.

“I’m not going to engage in hypotheticals,” the adviser said. “I’m married to an Asian. My kids are, partly … my kids are 25 percent Filipino.”

Conway continued to demand for a name, and grew frustrated when the reporters explained that they couldn’t reveal their sources.

“Why don’t we go to the source? I certainly didn’t say it. I don’t believe it,” she said. “So why don’t we go to the source and tell them that’s very hurtful and unhelpful for what we’re all trying to do.”

President Donald Trump has recently taken to calling COVID-19 “the Chinese virus” despite warnings that doing so stigmatizes Chinese-Americans.

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Notable Replies

  1. Racist guttersnipe says what?

    kellywise-400x215

  2. geez. Crabbyanne seems extra crabby today.

  3. Too bad KAC is PAC so we could call her Crabby Patty.

  4. Fair enough with the hypotheticals…

    How about “Can you explain why the President insisted on claiming that COVfefe-45 was a hoax and how the stock markets complete lack of confidence in your buffoon of a boss can be addressed?”

  5. Maybe it explains why Bill Maher’s show in on sabbatical, he got a job working in public relations for the Trump administration. Or to put another way, having a sense of humor and telling a joke, even one in bad taste, is no reason to get a person fired.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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