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Unusually direct words from White House press secretary Josh Earnest, as the House Republican leadership unites to defend Majority Whip Steve Scalise despite his association with a white supremacist group founded by former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.

“There’s no arguing that who Republicans decide to elevate into a leadership position says a lot about what the conference’s priorities and values are,” Earnest said during the briefing.

“Ultimately, Mr. Scalise reportedly described himself as ‘David Duke without the baggage,’” he continued, referring to a comment Scalise allegedly once made to a reporter. “It will be up to Republicans to decide what that says about their conference.”