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On Tuesday, March 2, Dr. Seuss Enterprises—the organization that manages the estate and intellectual property of Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel—announced it would no longer be printing six of the late author and illustrator's titles due to "racist and insensitive imagery."
Conservatives everywhere lashed out against the decision, decrying "cancel culture" despite the fact the company's decision was an independent one.
Meanwhile, Fox News was running multiple segments about how liberals were coming for your Dr. Seuss books.
At the daily White House press briefing, Fox correspondent Kristin Fisher baited Press Secretary Jen Psaki, asking:
"It's also Dr. Seuss's birthday. Both former Presidents Trump and Obama mentioned Dr. Seuss in their Read Across America Day proclamations, but President Biden did not. Why not?"
Psaki seemed prepared with an answer to Fisher's question.
"The proclamation was written by the Department of Education."
"But you're right, Read Across America Day, which has only existed for a short period of time, elevates and celebrates a love of reading among our nation's youngest leaders and the day is also a chance to celebrate diverse authors whose work and lived experience reflect the diversity of our country. And that's what they hoped to do this year."
A Fox News reporter asked Jen Psaki today about why Biden didn't mention Dr. Seuss in his statement about Read Acro… https://t.co/Ffb9VpDh8w— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1614714838.0
@atrupar Psaki: we think it’s important for all children to have access to literature that shows people like themse… https://t.co/nsZ7aeWzig— Kevin Gromley 🇺🇸 (@Kevin Gromley 🇺🇸) 1614715399.0
Psaki also noted:
"It is especially important that we ensure that all children can see themselves represented and celebrated in the books that they read."
@kelliejmcnamara @atrupar They are obviously using the "cancel culture" card as they new strategy to keep their aud… https://t.co/NSg8AhXahM— Z_Energy (@Z_Energy) 1614715175.0
Fisher then asked:
"Does the omission have anything to do with the controversy about the lack of diverse characters in the authors' books?"
@Moderateleft @atrupar Dr. Seuss canceling Dr. Seuss. https://t.co/MUWp4Y95jj— Nicky Smith #KirbStomp (@Nicky Smith #KirbStomp) 1614715797.0
@atrupar I’ll just leave this here for the Republicans who forgot that Dr. Seuss wrote extensively against Nazism a… https://t.co/UXwg4mXTO0— Howard ✡ (@Howard ✡) 1614715796.0
Paski didn't take the bait, however, simply repeating:
"It is important that children of all backgrounds see themselves in the children's books that they read."
@atrupar Do they actually think Biden made that decision— 100% Cherry-Cola (@100% Cherry-Cola) 1614714906.0
@atrupar The stupid part of all this is that it was the family of the author who made the decision...no gov't entit… https://t.co/nBPg7Ltbas— Michael Martin (@Michael Martin) 1614715426.0
@atrupar Just to be clear, the books contained offensive images and tropes that were stereotypical not that it depicted just one race— Jimijams (@Jimijams) 1614716201.0
Fox News seems strangely eager to cast the Biden administration as enemies of Dr. Seuss.
@atrupar No doubt this will consume three hours of Fox tonight and three hours of Fox tomorrow. Instead of, I dunno… https://t.co/1OVRknqF7u— Michael E. (@Michael E.) 1614715038.0
@atrupar Imagine if these people cared as much about the virus, or hunger or low wages, or anything as much as they… https://t.co/fb5waxryTw— It doesn’t matter what my name is (@It doesn’t matter what my name is) 1614723891.0
@atrupar Unlike Trump, Biden does not feel the need to comment on the minutia of the latest right wing scandal. He… https://t.co/QiQLeGlC1k— Candace King (@Candace King) 1614716656.0
Fisher was dragged online for bringing such a trivial issue into the White House briefing.
@atrupar This sums up how we all felt during that…. https://t.co/O6T1CLd3ta— cm_rob (@cm_rob) 1614718267.0
@atrupar Jen is an expert at keeping her face neutral. I could never.— saki saki saki (@saki saki saki) 1614714865.0
If a private company chooses to cease publication of several of its own books, that should hardly be something the Biden administration is held accountable for.